Pinch at the Pump

I read two interesting posts over the weekend about people using bicycles and public transportation as the preferred method of travel. I concur! If I didn't need my car to chase down stories for work, I would get on the band wagon.

On my own, I walk a little bit more to the store/bank and I think about whether I REALLY need to take a drive to go some place. Still, I feel the "pinch at the pump." To fill up my ride it's $53. When I first got the car, it was about $30 to fill it up. Meh.

Here are some fuel-efficient cars. I'm not in the market for a new ride, and I think the Prius' are a little pricey for my budget. But then again, with more people considering fuel-efficient rides, maybe prices could go down. It would be nice if South Florida could get a public transportation system like Washington, D.C. or Chicago. I'm over vehicles.

What's it like where you live? Do you own a car? How much does it take to fill up the tank? Are you taking public transportation more? Are you riding  your bike or walking more?  Tell me all about it.

*Don Tate III AMERICAN-STATESMAN ILLUSTRATION

Comments

[$ out of .15]

I moved from Cincinnati to Boston six months ago and I can tell you that as far as transportation goes, the Midwest sucks. The only public transportation they have here is buses, which is to say they have none given for an adult with a busy schedule, a bus is only viable if you're only making one stop, coming back in the same direction and not coming home with many bags.

What's worse is that Cincinnati actually has a subway tunnel that they built decades ago and never used, and even worse still is that with as high as gas prices are, politicians are actually debating whether it's a good idea to build a light rail line from downtown (which they're trying to redevelop) to uptown, which is where all the hospitals and universities are. Meanwhile, the roads suck and everything in the neighborhoods is too far away to walk to anything.

[savvy]

I live and work in the suburbs so having a car is pretty much a necessity. I spend ~$45 to fill up but I use premium gas and have a small tank. One tank will last me about two weeks though (short commute).

People frequently ask if I'm going to start riding my motorcycle to work now but it's really not that serious to me. Helmet-hair isn't cute and I try to avoid wearing jeans to work too much.

However, I have noticed hubby has started driving our pickup to work sometimes. His car is a V-8 and uses premium gas so I know he hates filling up. It's probably close to $60 for him.

[frugaleconome]

I have a scooter and it cost me about $3.50 to fill my tank! I love it. Plus, it is great to avoid traffic jam :)

[Coco]

Thinking of gas prices, I smiled a little when I forced my way into an already packed NYC subway car this morning. I'm mad that a monthly pass went from $76 to $81, but y'all don't want to hear about that.

[Kiauna]

OMG...over the past few weeks my normal $35 fill-up has morphed into some type of ugly beast. It now takes no less than $45 to fill up my mid-sized sedan. Yes, it's only $10, but please keep in mind I fill up at least twice every 5 days. It's killing me! I know that it's going to get much worse, so I've started saving even more to accommodate for the horrendous gas price increases.

[The Frugalista Files]

Keef-sprawl can be a problem. I guess because housing's cheap, people aren't as anxious.

Savvy-OHH you ride a motorcyle? How neat is that!??

Frugal-Where do you live? I would love a scooter. Krystal at Give me back my five bucks drives a scooter, too.

Coco-I'm jealous.

Kiauna- $10 is A LOT. It adds up because you are always driving. That's $10 that you could spend on a manicure! Down with gas prices. Literally.

[savvy]

Frugalista, I'm actually about to sell it. For a variety of reasons, I don't ride like I used to. It's definitely a thrill though. I've always had a 'need for speed'. Who knows, maybe I'll get another one someday, probably not another crock rocket though.

[Vanessa]

I'm with you and having to drive when ripping and running down stories. Especially since I'm an ambulance chaser. Lol.

It's a small town (Lake Charles, La) so most places aren't as long a drive as Baton Rouge where I'm from.

I just make sure to get my oil changed on time and make sure my tires have the right amount of air.

[Lou]

Hey Vanessa, make sure you change your air filter too! And get one of those permanent air filters that you can clean. They cost about $30. But 5 regular filters later you are making money off it. I wasn't sure about getting one until I heard the "Car Talk" boys on NPR singing the new filter's praises. I have a diesel and prices for a gallon are anywhere from $4.29 to 4.39 a gallon here. We have been over $4 for over a month.

[Allison]

$ out of .15 - I'm from Cincinnati too! I moved out of there to the East Coast as well, and I am amazed at how many people don't have cars here. I still need mine to get to football practice, otherwise I'd get rid of it too - I take public trans everywhere possible.
I was at Xavier when Cinci tried to get people interested in re-doing the subway. My apartment was right next to the old tracks, so I was excited that I could finally get to work downtown from campus without having to drive, but as you said...didn't happen.
Now, I take the Amtrak from Bmore to Philly and have my choice of bus, sub, trolley, or regional rail to my job. While at home, I take the bus or the light rail into the Harbor, and I try to take the MARC to DC and the Metro around it. The East Coast transit systems are by far the best way to travel!

[Charger (Not)]

Well, I filled up this morning and went above $50 for the first time...Ouch...it hurts...and I'm now driving more...I live 7 miles from my job..buying a bike is looking more and more promising....the exercise wouldn't kill me...but the motorists might! Headline: Frugal woman who saved $ by biking becomes roadkill under SUV.

[frugaleconome]

Frugalista, I live in Montreal, so I can only ride my scooter 6 or 7 months a year. In Florida that would be the best!