These corny gas prices (2010, home, buying)

[Wild Style]

So yeah, gas price due to inflation is up! Seems Broward now has few cars on the street than two years ago. Partly because 55,000 plus more people left Broward than came in but also because people are diving less. Here is the article.

How have you guys altered your driving habits? What will you guys do once it hits 5 bucks a gallon? Will bus become a option for you? It sure as heck will be a option for me until I can get a bike (motorcycle).

[Wild Style]

Interesting figures on tri rail ridership. Who said mass transit in S. Florida would never work?!

Tri-Rail has regularly hit record passenger levels this spring. In April, ridership grew 28.2 percent compared with last year, said Bonnie Arnold, Tri-Rail spokeswoman.

In 2006, the commuter rail led the nation in increased riders with a 21.2 percent boost in passengers. Last year, it was one of the few commuter rails in the nation that had a double-digit growth in passengers, with a 10.3 percent increase.

[heydade]

I filled up this morning and premium was 3.99 a gallon. I need to use premium because I have a high compression engine that requires it. It hurt my wallet indeed. What will I do ? Just grin and bear it I guess. I average 18mpg between city/highway.

[Wild Style]

18 mpg, what are you pushing a 350z? Man that must be a punch to the gut

[compelled to reply]

My job to a degree DEPENDS on driving. It's really starting to hurt...if I plan to keep on doing this for a while I'm going for a hybrid car. My car gets about 27-28 mph so I'm not too bad but I am definitely not taking those random "cruises" though SW Ranches at night anymore.

[doggiebus]

OP - I plan out my day now, so I take the shortest route. I try not to speed off the starting line of traffic light. Last weekend when we took a trip out to the Redlands, we left the big car at home, and took the more fuel efficient car. I have started ordering more things online, less trips to the store and less driving around to find what I need. Online always has it. I have started buying many things in bulk from BJs/Costcos so hopefully that will cut down on trips to the store. I actually now pay attention to the prices, and so know where to not go and where to go to fill up the car.

[JSnFla]

how does anyone live in broward anymore? seriously

[Wild Style]

^^

I have been trying to leave since December. I got my Degree then and have been filling out applications in Three states (that includes florida). I graduated at a bad time because of the economic downtown. If I have my way I will definitely be out of here soon.

[chisoxfan]

Originally Posted by doggiebus

OP - I plan out my day now, so I take the shortest route. I try not to speed off the starting line of traffic light. Last weekend when we took a trip out to the Redlands, we left the big car at home, and took the more fuel efficient car.

Sounds like our strategy. If we're going someplace and it's a choice of taking my car (a beat-up, 9-year old Honda Civic, but it still gets great mileage) or my wife's (a Chevy Trailblazer), it's a no-brainer.

I live only about 7 miles from the office and she's able to do her job from home about 75 percent of the time, so at least we don't use a lot of gas commuting. But we've tried to cut out unnecessary trips, and we definitely attempt to stay closer to home when we do go out.

[Spac3d]

Just wait until 1/1/2010 when the new law hits in Florida that requires gas stations to be using double wall fiberglass underground storage tanks.

Something like 1/3rd of the stations in S Fla will have to close because they
- Do not have the right equipment to legally operation in 2010+
- Not enough supplies/labor to have every site completed by 2010
- Cannot afford the equipment (about $500,000 per gas station)

It is going to be scary. I believe maybe half of the current stations in S Fla have the required tanks right now.