Gasoline Paradigm Shifting Fast
Oh the howling and wailing we have heard in the news lately. The price of gasoline is just cents away from $4/gallon on average. Well I say "put a skirt on it people?"
Finally market forces have caught up with those people that have had their heads in the sand. For the first time in history various petroleum forecasting organization have started estimating the supply of oil available. This is a major shift in market attitude since prior to now it was assumed OPEC could just pump faster or more oil to fill demand. With oil hovering around $120/barrel that no longer seems to be the thinking around the world. Hence my assertion that we have hit a shift in our current gasoline paradigm.
Those that failed to plan for the future(which seems to have arrived now) by buying gas guzzling cars, shunning or failing to invest in public transit, buying a McMansion or living miles from work in sprawling suburbs are paying a steep price. Our culture of cheap gasoline fueled development and mega stores available to only those that can drive long distances to reach them is coming home to roost. Remember the parable about the ant and the grasshopper? You know what, I don't want to hear it any more from the grasshoppers.
I just filled up my car this morning and I did pass a new milestone. Total charge to the credit card for one tank of gas, $53.69 for 13.666 gallons. However, I live in the convenient part of the city, close to public transit if I need it (as bad as our bus system is locally), and shop and live locally as much as I can. With that said, the impact to my life has been minimal so far and hopefully the price rise will make us all think about what kind of city we want to live in in the very near future, how we will get around and what it is going to cost us starting now (read investing in the future rather than for immediate gratification).
Fuel for thought...
Finally market forces have caught up with those people that have had their heads in the sand. For the first time in history various petroleum forecasting organization have started estimating the supply of oil available. This is a major shift in market attitude since prior to now it was assumed OPEC could just pump faster or more oil to fill demand. With oil hovering around $120/barrel that no longer seems to be the thinking around the world. Hence my assertion that we have hit a shift in our current gasoline paradigm.
Those that failed to plan for the future(which seems to have arrived now) by buying gas guzzling cars, shunning or failing to invest in public transit, buying a McMansion or living miles from work in sprawling suburbs are paying a steep price. Our culture of cheap gasoline fueled development and mega stores available to only those that can drive long distances to reach them is coming home to roost. Remember the parable about the ant and the grasshopper? You know what, I don't want to hear it any more from the grasshoppers.
I just filled up my car this morning and I did pass a new milestone. Total charge to the credit card for one tank of gas, $53.69 for 13.666 gallons. However, I live in the convenient part of the city, close to public transit if I need it (as bad as our bus system is locally), and shop and live locally as much as I can. With that said, the impact to my life has been minimal so far and hopefully the price rise will make us all think about what kind of city we want to live in in the very near future, how we will get around and what it is going to cost us starting now (read investing in the future rather than for immediate gratification).
Fuel for thought...
posted by Mr Midtown at 12:35 PM
1 Comments:
Did Omaha ever install that shuttle/metro system on the old railroad from West O to downtown?
How long WILL it take for smaller cities to embrace sustainable public transportation.
I admit - you'd never find me on the bus... but in cities like Wash D.C., Chicago and San Fran - the Metro or BART are AMAZING!! So good you'd be silly NOT to take them!
Post a Comment
<< Home