This is getting totally ridiculous!! Gas prices in Holland

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Thu Aug 04, 2005 10:55 pm

been up to her brain in discussions of the semiotics of comics and manga for toooo many days in a row is been up to her brain in discussions of the semiotics of comics and manga for toooo many days in a row ?

dbzmomma · Post by **dbzmomma** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:40 am

Good gloivin, that's a lot of moolah!! I drive a Honda - gets 35 miles to the gallon, but it still fries my butt every time I fill up, and it costs over $20. Guess I can stop complaining now. Yeesh.

Riding one's bike to work sounds like a good idea. Too far for me, though - 15 miles one way - and winter is pretty harsh around here. Working on getting a job closer to home. Now THAT would save energy!

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:41 am

Mmm. Nice car.

soda · Post by **soda** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:03 am

I'm a strong believer that the price of gas SHOULD be high. It's not renewable and it forces people to think and combine their trips. It also forces people to start to think about taking the bus or carpooling. The best part is that it also makes people start to realize that they can ride a bike and maybe get some fitness along the way. As a commuter since 1994 and having logged over 27,000 miles on my bike, I can say that it's a viable alternative. At the same time; however, I realize that many people cannot ride a bike either due to fitness or distance but that shouldn't stop you from trying to commute. These can be overcome.

Regarding the "I can't ride because I"m not fit" reason, let me show you these two riders: PWRDbyTRD and Mikabike. Both weigh 300+ (in fact, Mike is 572 lbs) and started riding to lose weight and have made progress. Check out Mikabike's blog and his video It can be done. These two guys are great inspiration on the board. PWRDbyTRD is an active commuter and Mikeabike is working on it but he'll get there eventually.

As for the "I can't ride because it's too far" reason, it too can be overcome. I was fortunate that I was a commuter before I bought my house here in Cincinnati. When we were looking for a house, one of my requirements was that it be within commuting distance from campus. Don't go jumping down my throat about having to live far away from work so that you can afford a house etc.. because I realize this is a fact of life for many people. This just means you have a bit more work to do. I'd like to direct you to this thread: Very long commute club. The distances these guys ride is insane and frankly, I would have decided to live closer but maybe they didn't have a choice. Regardless, they're on their bike.

This post wasn't meant to insult anyone. I just wanted to show you that if you really are serious about commuting by bicycle, you can find a way. It may not happen next week, month or year but if you decide that it's something you want to do, you can make future decisions (if they arise) with the idea in mind that you'd like to commute and maybe it can happen. It's not for everyone though. It really requires a "life change" with a focus on cycling for an individual and in many cases, the entire family. Some people have even given up their cars: Living car free forum For the record, I'm not that crazy to think that giving up a car is a viable option.

One point of this post is that if you don't like the gas prices, you can ease the pain on your wallet by taking the bus, carpooling, walking or riding your bike when the opportunity arises. Another point of this thread is that gas prices should be high so that it forces the consumer, the goverment and the auto industry to rely less on gas and rely more on alternative fuels and transportation options. Consider these:

Diet Snapple 16 oz $1.29 ....... $10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $1.19 ...........$9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $1.59 ..... $10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz $1.25 .......... $10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $3.15 ........... $33.60 per gallon
Vick's Nyquil 6 oz $8.35 .... $178.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $3.85 ... $123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $1.39 ........ . $25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $0.99 .....$84.48 per gallon
Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon?!

Now I realize that nobody goes out and buys 15 gallons of Evian water at one time but the point is that people do buy things that are much more expensive and not as necessary as gas, yet DON'T complain. Gas isn't renewable--it should be high. For those of you waiting for gas prices to come back down, don't hold your breath. It will be less of a shock to your system when gas becomes more expensive if you start using these alternative transportation options sooner.

In_Gabriel_We_Trust · Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:00 am

soda wrote:I'm a strong believer that the price of gas SHOULD be high. It's not renewable and it forces people to think and combine their trips. It also forces people to start to think about taking the bus or carpooling. The best part is that it also makes people start to realize that they can ride a bike and maybe get some fitness along the way. As a commuter since 1994 and having logged over 27,000 miles on my bike, I can say that it's a viable alternative. At the same time; however, I realize that many people cannot ride a bike either due to fitness or distance but that shouldn't stop you from trying to commute. These can be overcome.

I have to partially agree with Soda here...

... hey .. wait... didn't the two of us have this argument about a year, year and a half ago ? ...

Anyhoo... I completely go along with the reasoning that all the other modes of transportion should get promoted.
But I do not believe it should be done by making gasprices higher.

People should carpool, bike or use public transport because it would be the best, easiest and fastest solution. Not because they are forced to.
You should be able to have to say to yourself : "I'd better take the bus because taking the car will be too much of a hassle."

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:00 am

Umm. Do you consider yourself a moral person? It is one of my newer functions still under development.

In_Gabriel_We_Trust · Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:02 am

Cloud wrote:Umm. Do you consider yourself a moral person?

Can't we just talk about your dress ?

Baakay · Post by **Baakay** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:10 am

soda wrote:I'm a strong believer that the price of gas SHOULD be high. It's not renewable and it forces people to think and combine their trips.

Totally agree with everything in your post. I'd *love* to be able to ride my bike to work but I can't pack the 2 kids onto the back of it

Otherwise, I would. 3 miles is nothing. Buuutt... there are other times of the day / week than going to work...

I'm going to check out those sites you mentioned just for a little encouragement

(a gallon of Pepto-Bismol. Just thinking of that makes me queasier than I was last time I needed Pepto-Bismol!)

dbzmomma · Post by **dbzmomma** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:23 am

soda wrote:I'm a strong believer that the price of gas SHOULD be high. It's not renewable and it forces people to think and combine their trips. It also forces people to start to think about taking the bus or carpooling.

I do tend to agree with that.

How about the excuse "I'm too OLD to ride 30 miles a day?" Would that work for you? LOL

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:23 am

I don't care.

Not Sir Phobos · Post by **Not Sir Phobos** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:43 am

soda wrote:Evian water 9 oz $1.49..........$21.19 per gallon?!

Soda is saying what I've always been thinking. We are such a wasteful society. Someone pays a buck fifty for a bottle of water when it comes out of the tap for a tenth, or less, of the price. Then complains about how expensive this and that is.

Not to say we all aren't getting jacked by the oil companies of course. But the water buying really puts it into perspective.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:44 am

soda · Post by **soda** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:33 am

I don't have time to respond as much as I'd like so I'll be brief and write more later if it moves me:

IGWT: yeah.. we did have this conversation before and I see your point. At some point I think we'll be a society that thinks that way. Until then...

Baakay: Buy this Burly trailer and throw your kids in there for the 3 miles. Three miles is easy, even for beginners. The trailer is great training too! I tow my son Evan on this AlleyCat. It's 6 miles to his preschool and then I leave his bike attachment at the school and then bike 8 miles to work. Then do the reverse at the end of the day for a total of around 30 miles. I love spending time with my son this way. Yeah, it takes longer to get there but I'm not complaining. More time with Evan = good. It's also teaching him good things about cycling.

dbzmomma: Check out the Fifty Plus (50+) forum on bikeforums.net. You might also be interested to know that I went out twice this weekend for group rides. Saturday we went for 60 miles and on Sunday we did 100 miles. Even averaged 19 mph on Sunday for the 100 miles. I'm not bragging but that's fast for 100 miles. Anyway, the part you'll be interested in knowing that Grant was there both days and as always is a machine. Always takes long hard pulls at high speeds and climbs very well for a 55 year old man. Tye, well let's just say I didn't know he was in his 50's until he took his helmet off. Crikey... I can only hope to ride like him when I'm his age. Another finely tuned machine. The age excuse won't work. Got another? In all seriousness though, I do realize that it's not the same to start cycling at an older age than to have started in the 20's.

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 11:41 am

Riding a bike sounds fine and dandy for most commuters that have things close by.. but considering I have to lug around 30lbs worth of canvas, books, and portfolio briefcases everyday and my skool is about 30 mins away this is just not convenient.

Not many places have bus stops eiether.

I looked into bus transportatibn when I came to college but unfortunately the closest stop to my college is right smack dab in the ghetto

where I was once car-jacked /wah

(well they attempted it but I nearly ran the guy over lol! Im sure most of you remember that story

)

So I dont agree w/ eliminating personal car transport as a way of getting rid of the gas issue. I say getting rid of those fuel hogs on the road from being marketted like certain kinds of pickup trucks, suv's, and STOP putting hummers in the market. Seriously its an army vehicle-- what purpose would someone have of buying one for personal ride? No offense to those that have any one of what I mentioned, I myself am guilty of owning a SUV thou it was my 18th b-day present from my mother so yea like Im gonna turn it down! LOL!

Also, I think the US has to start thinking bout alternate transportations like a very efficient subway system much like Japan has. Also maybe making hybrid cars cheaper so ppl can start switching over to them, just testing out more models that rely on an alter. power.

In_Gabriel_We_Trust · Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:37 pm

Shampoo wrote:So I dont agree w/ eliminating personal car transport as a way of getting rid of the gas issue. I say getting rid of those fuel hogs on the road from being marketted like certain kinds of pickup trucks, suv's, and STOP putting hummers in the market.

Hear, hear ! I couldn't agree more !

Oh, except for the Hummers. You really should be able to buy a Hummer.
And the second you sign for it, you get punched in the face.
When you wake up, you're in Irak with a jerry can and you need to get the fuel yourself.
See how many tough guys want to drive a Hummer then.