Americans Taking The Bus Or Bicycle As Gas Prices Rise

American drivers are doing something we have not done in the last FIFTY SEVEN years except for seven other times – consume less gasoline.
gas consumption so far this year is down about 0.2 percent compared to last year, according to the Energy Information Administration. The federal agency is predicting that gas demand will be down 0.4 percent this summer and 0.3 percent for the year.
I know that is a small percentage but it adds up to a tremendous amount of oil and it would be the first time in the last SEVENTEEN years that there was any annual decline at all. And this is something that has happened a total of only SEVEN times since 1951!
The federal government noted that the decline was occurring in part because of a slowing economy. But it also said that higher gas prices were having an effect on demand.
“Sustained higher gas prices are beginning to show up in lower gas consumption,” said Tancred Lidderdale, an analyst for the Energy Information Administration.Both gas and diesel prices are now at record levels.
Although higher gas prices were expected to have an effect on demand, it wasn’t clear just how high they would have to go to do so. Many market watchers believed prices would have to stay above $3 per gallon for several months or even a year. That tipping point for gas demand may have arrived.
Mike Right, a spokesman for AAA Club of Missouri, said that a decline in gas usage shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. A survey conducted in January by AAA found that many motorists were already deciding to change vacation plans for this summer by planning for shorter trips. “We are starting to see some signs of that,” he said.
There are indications that a fundamental shift in consumer driving habits may have started in December, when total miles traveled in the U.S. dropped 3.9 percent compared with the same month a year earlier. Miles traveled in the Midwest were down 5.8 percent.
There is already a shift in demand from gas guzzline SUVs towards higher MPG vehicles.
The government today plans to release a proposal to raise gas efficiency standards for new cars and trucks, putting the nation’s fleet on track to reach 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
The nation’s fleet of new passenger cars is currently required to meet a 27.5 mpg average, while sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans have a target of 22.5 mpg.
Democrats have said the new gas economy requirements will save motorists $700 to $1,000 a year in gas costs.
While this has been going on many house owners have been living in tents and many car owners have taken to public transport. The increase in people taking busses across the country last year was 4% and this year, so far, it is at 9%.
A decline in gas demand could help give some relief from high prices. Although prices are surging as the traditional summer driving season approaches, some market followers expect prices to ease back later this summer.
So all of this zeroes in on one fundamental question. Will people have to all start driving Subarus, bicycles and taking the bus or be forced to stay at home because of soaring gas prices or is there some other solution?
There sure is and it is called Water4Gas

Article Source: http://www.rightarticle.com

Entrepreneur, songwriter, activist and consumer advocate, GARKO, shows you tips on how to get better mpg and that a water powered car is now reality and is one of the best things that you can do to save on gas For a list of current gasoline prices in your neighborhood email garko@startlingdiscoveries.info

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