Many of us on this page like to think that as gas prices go up, people will switch to commuter rail and more TOD will occur. I myself often dream of a turning point(maybe 10 bucks a gallon) where real estate prices of exurbs plummet, and TOD highrises near rail stops start springing up like weeds. I wonder though about the impact on working class families that have no other means to get to their jobs. In a city like chicago, many within the city limits have the options of taking public transport, but what about all these far flung manufacturing jobs that aren't linked by rail. Living in CA for school, I realize that there are many working class people that would be screwed if the gas prices were to go up so high. Not to mention the added cost for transporting goods. What effect would this have on say grocery prices? I just wonder whether it would be too painful a process to withstand, and I wonder whether this would necessarily benefit cities as much as we think it would. Anybody have any thoughts on this or seen any good studies?
Chicago Gas Prices....
This is going to be a very important link this summer, maybe someone should pin it, but it is very useful. Chicago gas prices get very high, usually around the highest in the nation.
http://www.chicagogasprices.com/
Today in the Chicago metro area, lowest price is:
$3.05 in Boilingbrook
Highest price is $3.70 at Shell on 26th/Western
http://www.chicagogasprices.com/
Today in the Chicago metro area, lowest price is:
$3.05 in Boilingbrook
Highest price is $3.70 at Shell on 26th/Western
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just gone and filled up my gas its 327 at the corner of north and kingery hwy, shell
Many of us on this page like to think that as gas prices go up, people will switch to commuter rail and more TOD will occur. I myself often dream of a turning point(maybe 10 bucks a gallon) where real estate prices of exurbs plummet, and TOD highrises near rail stops start springing up like weeds. I wonder though about the impact on working class families that have no other means to get to their jobs. In a city like chicago, many within the city limits have the options of taking public transport, but what about all these far flung manufacturing jobs that aren't linked by rail. Living in CA for school, I realize that there are many working class people that would be screwed if the gas prices were to go up so high. Not to mention the added cost for transporting goods. What effect would this have on say grocery prices? I just wonder whether it would be too painful a process to withstand, and I wonder whether this would necessarily benefit cities as much as we think it would. Anybody have any thoughts on this or seen any good studies?
Well, your outlook is a bit grim. Let's look at it the other way. Say gas prices do skyrocket (10.00/gl is a bit drastic). The average blue/white collar commuter finally gets fed up with paying 5$ per gallon and waiting 2 hours in traffic to get to work and then again on his/her way home. So Joe/Jane decides to either move closer to work or start using more public transit. Less gas is used now because the avearage Joe/Jane is now driving less. Prices stabilize and even go down. Truck drivers are not only having to pay less for gas, but are dealing with less traffic because Joe/Jane has learned that it is less expensive and more convienient to take public transit. Before you know it, milk is down to .50 a gallon and everyone is happy.
re
It's nice that you can live in such a dream world when you live in a big city. In 90% of this country, public transportation is nowhere close to being more convenient than driving. Outside of a few large cities, we are a country of suburbs and medium to small sized cities. Any dramatic spike in gas prices, such as to 10/gallon...which i seriously doubt the oil companies would ever allow to happen...would cripple the economy long before your dream scenario takes place.Well, your outlook is a bit grim. Let's look at it the other way. Say gas prices do skyrocket (10.00/gl is a bit drastic). The average blue/white collar commuter finally gets fed up with paying 5$ per gallon and waiting 2 hours in traffic to get to work and then again on his/her way home. So Joe/Jane decides to either move closer to work or start using more public transit. Less gas is used now because the avearage Joe/Jane is now driving less. Prices stabilize and even go down. Truck drivers are not only having to pay less for gas, but are dealing with less traffic because Joe/Jane has learned that it is less expensive and more convienient to take public transit. Before you know it, milk is down to .50 a gallon and everyone is happy.
I would have to agree with MRichR on this one. I am in sales and my clients are all throughout the Chicagoland area. I don't know of any public transportation that can take me from Aurora to Park Ridge to a certain home or office. I guess I could take a train downtown then head back to Park Ridge, get on a bus, then walk to the home, oh wait then there is the appt in Palos Hills on the south side. Take the bus back to Park Ride Metra, go downtown, switch trains to head to Palos HIlls, get on bus near appt, walk to appt, walk back to bus, take bus to metra, head back downtown, take train back to Aurora, take bus to home. That was just 2 appts and my head is spinning!!!!!!!!! Or I could drive to Park Ridge, take 294 south, then 294 north to 88 west.
Hmmmmmmm, which one.
MichR is right, gas going up is only a bad thing
Hmmmmmmm, which one.
MichR is right, gas going up is only a bad thing
oh u guys are not the only ones here in miami we have gas prices around 3.50 or so and expected to get up to 4.00.
Well, as far as Palos Hills goes, it's pretty east. Just take the Orange Line to Midway and then the 379 Pace Bus to Palos Hills.I would have to agree with MRichR on this one. I am in sales and my clients are all throughout the Chicagoland area. I don't know of any public transportation that can take me from Aurora to Park Ridge to a certain home or office. I guess I could take a train downtown then head back to Park Ridge, get on a bus, then walk to the home, oh wait then there is the appt in Palos Hills on the south side. Take the bus back to Park Ride Metra, go downtown, switch trains to head to Palos HIlls, get on bus near appt, walk to appt, walk back to bus, take bus to metra, head back downtown, take train back to Aurora, take bus to home. That was just 2 appts and my head is spinning!!!!!!!!! Or I could drive to Park Ridge, take 294 south, then 294 north to 88 west.
Hmmmmmmm, which one.
MichR is right, gas going up is only a bad thing
Well it is official, we have the highest gas prices in the nation!!!!!
^^
Yeah. I was really sweating it, as I rode the Brown Line to work and back today.
:banana: BTW, it was quite summery out there high I think reached 88F......
On the other hand, it cost my wife 65 dollars to fill up her Pathfinder yesterday.......hno:
Yeah. I was really sweating it, as I rode the Brown Line to work and back today.
:banana: BTW, it was quite summery out there high I think reached 88F......On the other hand, it cost my wife 65 dollars to fill up her Pathfinder yesterday.......
hno:
People need to give up on their selfish ways of driving gas guzzling, smog spewing SUVs. While I think it is unfortunate that people of lesser means are having to suffer from these higher fuel costs, all drivers should be more considerate of how they use their cars. When compared to the rest of the world (Middle East not withstanding) we have among the lowest prices for gas to be found (try $6.50 a gallon in London).
People who drive long distances to jobs make the choice to do so, and in my opinion, if there is public transit available, then they are being selfish by choosing to not make use of it. I do feel for cab drivers, they don't make much money as it is, and they have to put up with a lot of idiots.
This is my planet as much as it is any one elses, I not as good at minimizing my carbon footprint as I would like to be (I hate compact flourescents, they are just so ugly), but I resent those who live a life of self importance and ignore the environment and how there actions impacts others.
People who drive long distances to jobs make the choice to do so, and in my opinion, if there is public transit available, then they are being selfish by choosing to not make use of it. I do feel for cab drivers, they don't make much money as it is, and they have to put up with a lot of idiots.
This is my planet as much as it is any one elses, I not as good at minimizing my carbon footprint as I would like to be (I hate compact flourescents, they are just so ugly), but I resent those who live a life of self importance and ignore the environment and how there actions impacts others.
Cool...because now rather than going the course we have been going people like you who need cars will start forcing the market to come up with better solutions...be it cars with way better gas miliage, way better public transportation options, living close to areas we work and play in.....or my perferred a combination of all the above. Then we can have change and improvement.I would have to agree with MRichR on this one. I am in sales and my clients are all throughout the Chicagoland area. I don't know of any public transportation that can take me from Aurora to Park Ridge to a certain home or office. I guess I could take a train downtown then head back to Park Ridge, get on a bus, then walk to the home, oh wait then there is the appt in Palos Hills on the south side. Take the bus back to Park Ride Metra, go downtown, switch trains to head to Palos HIlls, get on bus near appt, walk to appt, walk back to bus, take bus to metra, head back downtown, take train back to Aurora, take bus to home. That was just 2 appts and my head is spinning!!!!!!!!! Or I could drive to Park Ridge, take 294 south, then 294 north to 88 west.
Hmmmmmmm, which one.
MichR is right, gas going up is only a bad thing
It cannot stay the course it is on now.
DID YOU ALL SEE THE FRICKEN "HAZE" this morning? From all the smog from the burbs and city....blowing east.
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