Are you going to change your driving habits?

[chicagopizza]

Our state has asked us to limit our consumption of gas and, with many unprepared for this high an increase-including us-it won't be hard to comply. My husband and I are seriously considering buying bikes for non-necessary trips - say, to the mall, the movies, etc., but have not decided yet. His job is 20 miles away, so no way to bike there. Is anyone else thinking about changing their driving habits due to the steadily rising costs in gas?

[Miss Mary]

I've already started. Our college age daughter is coming home for the holiday weekend, catching a ride one way. Hoping we'd take her back on Monday. Now we're encouraging her to arrange a ride back with this fellow student and don't worry about loading up our car with more stuff for her dorm. I'm running less errands or if I have to make one, I bunch them together and plan my route better.

Small changes like this will likely made all of us more appreciative of our transient way of life.

It also makes me look twice at small communites, with sidewalks and working close to your home. We live in a driving community, spread out over miles. Very few sidewalks. You can walk places but you often walking thru homeowners front lawns. When I grew up, we walked or rode our bikes everywhere. You needed a book from the local library for school? You had your own card and hopped on your bike. Mom didn't drive you b/c most likely your family only owned one car anyway and your dad was still at work.

Ah, the good ole days.....one neighbor on my street works just outside of Columbus, and he makes the commute each week, staying in a small apt. there, Mon. thru Fri., coming home on weekends to be with his family. I'm wondering how long that will last now. He's tried transfering to a local office here, but so far that hasn't been possible. We've asked him how this has been going and it's been rough. Their kids are entrenched in the local school district up until now and they didn't want to pull them out. I imagine this family will now seriously consider moving.

So all over this country, families will be making difficult decisions I predict. If gas prices climb and supplies are scarce.

Mary

[chicagopizza]

Mary,

That's too bad about your neighbor (and about you not being able to drive your daughter back). If things do not change, we will most likely move when our lease is up so we can be closer to what we need.

You reminded me of my childhood, Mary. That is exactly how it was. One car - our bikes, busses or trains were our cars. I am now so spoiled and not at the correct BMI, so it would be hard to get used to again. Then again, to watch the news recently, many people would kill for these problems, so can not complain too much.

If there is a bright spot in the gas crunch is that it may help conquer the obesity problem in our nation as people may be forced to walk more.

[Miss Mary]

Ellen - see normally I'd hop in the car, willingly driving my daughter back to school on Monday. I(t's a 3.5 hour drive, one way. Almost all of it interstate driving though.) Thinking - ooooh, Mom/Daughter time.....lots of time to talk with her. But we are going down just 5 days later (parent weekend) and with gas so high, AND a ride going the same way, but the timing might not be ideal, you can see why my husband has been calling home a few times - "really push for her to go back with this girl!" LOL So I keep trying, I've only zinged off half a dozen emails this morning, that's more than I did all of last week!

I also need gas for our lawnmower and I've only put Shell in it, these past 5 summers. Almost ruined a previous mower with cheap gas (what's that now, he he). I really hope they let you fill up one can in my area! I think I can squeeze out one more grass cutting. Drop by drop....

Mary