Over the next four years, we are likely to witness the greatest mass exodus of vehicles off America’s highways in history. By 2012, there should be some 10 million fewer vehicles on American roadways than there are today—a decline that dwarfs all previous adjustments including those during the two OPEC oil shocks. Many of those in the exit lane will be low income Americans from households earning less than $25,000 per year. Incredibly, over 10 million of those American households own more than one car.
Soon they won’t own any.
- Jeff Rubin, CIBC World Markets
I don't know, Europe has been dealing with fuel prices even higher than we have now for decades without that kind of dramatic impact. Of course, Europe is pretty small compared to North America. Oh, and they also have transportation systems that don't SUCK ASS! It takes my wife an hour and a half to travel roughly 32 km (20 miles) to get to work. One way. During peak hours. Off hours it can take over 2.
Before my impending job loss we were seriously looking at downsizing from our gas dinosaur of a mini-van to a Honda Fit but that's been pushed to the back burner for the time being. I'd get a scooter in a second if it weren't for Bern's shifts being all over the god damned place. They're economical and tres cool but a bitch for carrying two children.
I had a good laugh on Friday when I heard about Translink's latest problems. (If you're not from the Lower Mainland of BC, think giant, money-sucking bureaucratic nightmare that magically taxes EVERYTHING and doubles the price of your gas but still manages to make it completely impractical for anyone outside of Metropolitan Vancouver to take transit.) Translink has been making a KILLING off fuel taxes now that the price of gas is so high. And, of course, the whole time their mantra to everyone is "take transit!" Well, now a lot more people are taking transit and not driving. And not buying gas. And not paying the taxes on that gas that lines Translink's coffers. Life's a bitch.
Oh well, I'm sure they'll think of another tax. They're good at that.
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I'm not going to lie, the non existent freeway system here makes driving anywhere a pain the butt. Our dentist used to be next to UBC, we are in New West. Not so many miles to drive, but it took us 45 mins to an hour. Ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya. I had to find a new dentist myself. I saw the same guy in East Van for 10 years but it just takes too long to get there now that I live in Richmond. Guess the whole no-freeway thing sounded like a great idea back in the early 60's when Vancouver was really small. Bastards.
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