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Drive slower, go electric, don't drive at all? Americans weigh options for saving gas (www.kuow.org)

submitted 4 months ago by grimpy@lemmy.myserv.one to c/fuckcars@lemmy.world

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Nationally, gasoline prices are averaging more than $4 a gallon. That's not an all-time record, but it's up sharply from just over a month ago, and the rapid change has left many car owners reeling … but unwilling, or unable, to give up on driving. Americans have been logging more miles since the war with Iran started, according to the analytics company Arity, which tracks driving habits…

Another option, of course, is to pursue alternatives to driving.

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[-] TheGoldenV@lemmy.world 29 points 4 months ago

Still only $5.60 or so a gallon. I’m still holding out hope for $10+ a gallon.

[+] Montagge@lemmy.zip -26 points 4 months ago

Yeah, fuck poor people!

[-] psx_crab@lemmy.zip 28 points 4 months ago

Poor people should demand for better public transport because owning a car is very much a costly asset, from purchasing to maintenance to daily usage. At this point demanding for anything other than a good public transport definitely are asking to be fucked.

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 8 points 4 months ago

All people, but yes. Also more bike infrastructure.

[-] pet1t@piefed.social 18 points 4 months ago

there's alternatives to driving, even for those that are financially struggling. crazy, right?

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 7 points 4 months ago

Can't really be that poor if you can afford to drive a car, for a long time I only had enough to ride a bike and pretty sure my bike was older than most cars on the road.

[-] FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe 1 points 4 months ago

I know this post is about driving, but the more expensive gasoline is and the less we have available in general then we’re going to start having energy issues eventually since we don’t have a renewable energy grid (and won’t anytime soon even if we start building now). Energy issues means that hospitals and stuff will potentially have trouble powering all their equipment and you know it’s gonna be the poorest communities that are hit the hardest and soonest. I know that seems like it’s not gonna happen bc America is huge and all, but if this goes on for too long or if they actually just fucked up all oil production and distribution in the area (about 20% of the global supply iirc) then that is a very real danger

Like yes, I want this country to no longer be car-based and to have good public transit and renewable energy grids, but if this continues for too long it will absolutely devastate poorer communities and countries. Just look at what’s going on in Cuba right now bc of Trump restricting oil to the island

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 3 points 4 months ago

I live in a country with communist healthcare so at least that isn't too much of an issue. Looking to move my house to ~100% renewable energy within ideally the next few years at most, got a few other things to look at first like replacing all the windows to hold heat in better. Already moved completely off gas, but as the grid isn't doing it any time soon I guess I will just build my own solar generation instead, my usage is already low enough it should be pretty achievable too.

[-] FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe 1 points 4 months ago

I mean, that’s great for you. Genuinely, I hope everyone can live that kinda life. For most of the world though, that is not the case. Trump’s damn ego and this stupid war are already devastating poorer countries and it’ll only get worse the longer it goes on

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

I am not even rich though, I earn barely over minimum wage.

If I can consider going fully renewable (partly driven by pure spite toward energy companies and the oil industry) then surely many others could too.

[-] FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe 1 points 4 months ago

Most people don’t live in countries with communist healthcare. Many people do not even currently have the option of getting renewable energy either bc there’s not enough sun where they live to make it feasible on its own or there’s just no companies/infrastructure near them to switch to

You may not be rich but it sounds like the country you live in has a higher base standard of living than many other places in the world. That’s great! It’s just sad that other countries do not have those social safety nets and infrastructure

[-] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

I live in a northern area that has very short days in the winter and we have a ton of off grid solar and even large scale solar farms. When shifting to renewable energy you also have to consider the efficiency of your appliances and alternative options, like saving energy by using a clothes line whenever possible instead of using a dryer.

Also being opportunistic if possible. If your batteries are already at 100% by noon on a sunny day, it would be wise to do any energy intensive chores like laundry, central vacuuming, charging tool batteries etc while the batteries are full and charging.

[-] FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe 1 points 4 months ago

That’s fantastic! I hope more places can be like that in the near future!

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 0 points 4 months ago

There are countries with less sun than the UK?

Joking aside, don't people in poor countries use less energy in general. Being poor means they can't afford much energy in the first place.

But another point, if I can afford to do it myself on below average income, why can't the country do it with the benefits of scale for bulk ordering things? Not only can I afford it, but the payback time is getting surprisingly short.

[-] Montagge@lemmy.zip 0 points 4 months ago

It's nice that you turned poverty into a contest

[-] Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

Its more that I have seen for over a decade now "think of the poor" often used to talk about things I couldn't even dream of being able to afford in the first place. Its as if people only care about poverty when it is convenient to them. I am pretty sure that the disabled get the same treatment. Disabled people need cars! Ignoring the fact that some are disabled because of cars, or completely unable to drive because of their disability while being able to walk/cycle or take the tram if those options are available and safe to use.

When the cost of living became popular I saw a lot of "I make <8x my income> and am struggling to afford food" on TV from middle class people, at the time it felt very much like no one gave a shit about the poor until they were also struggling to afford what I had always considered to be a luxury. To them food was now £150 a week, to me it was £20 a week largely comprised of things like fried onions and beans, rice, potatoes and various other root vegetables.

[-] Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

its not a contest, I also rode a bike when I couldnt afford a car. 8+ years I had a license but no car. The worst was when I rode 8miles to work each morning, but the best was going grocery shopping with a five minute ride and a backpack, and going to friends houses this way. Had a car a few years when I lived rurally, and beater cars were stull under a grand. Back to no car now, again, because poverty.

Do you know how feeing it is to not have to depend on a car to go places? No insurance, no registration, no gas fee.

Was $1.25 to slap my bike on the front of the bus and go nearly anywhere outside range.

freeing.

no contest

[-] jtrek@startrek.website 19 points 4 months ago

Living someplace with usable mass transit is pretty nice.

Gas is too cheap relative to its real costs anyway.

[-] GutterRat42@lemmy.world 10 points 4 months ago

In the words of Freddy Mercury: Bicycle, Bicycle 🎶

[-] mesamunefire@piefed.social 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

People are using ebikes q bit more right now. If it gets to 6-7 a gallon we will see more drastic changes.

A month ago it was 3-4 to give some perspective.

[-] humorlessrepost@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

6-7

Guys! He did the thing! Hey guys!

[-] CarterAva@thelemmy.club 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Rising fuel prices are forcing drivers to rethink habits: from thrifty driving to switching to electric cars or public transport. As energy costs become more and more tangible, it is important to look for ways to optimize not only on the roads, but also in your own homes . In this context, many pay attention to service providers like https://american-power-and-gas.pissedconsumer.com/review.html . User feedback suggests that choosing the right energy plan can help balance the family budget, although it is worth carefully studying the terms of contracts to avoid unexpected rates.

[-] jeffep@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Work from home, live next door to McDonald's

[-] DFX4509B@lemmy.wtf 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I'd ideally not drive at all if I were in their position and deciding what to do, but since North America is crippled by decades, nearly a century of car dependency.....

this post was submitted on 08 Apr 2026

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