Should we be complaining about petrol prices?
Posted by ecosrights, 935 days ago
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Reading article "Should we be complaining about petrol prices?" - Reply to this / 33 comment(s)
We can't control or really influence petrol prices, so rather than everyone complaining about them (although I've noticed they aren't complaining as much as a couple of years ago) shouldn't we decide that we'll take other action to reduce the impact of the increases on our budget?
If you think about it, how many of your journeys REALLY have to be made by car? Can't you walk, get the bus or train? And (although now is probably not the time to really discuss this one) do you really need the great big gas guzzling car? Can't you have a smaller car that you use on a day to day basis, and if you need a larger car for holidays, then hire one as and when?
If I was to look at how I use our car (we only have one as we take the train to work). Personally I've always been an advocate of the "leave the car at home" thinking. It's nothing unusual for the car to sit on the drive untouched for a couple of days... my son and I walk to the shops (he's only 2, so walks part way and then gets in his pushchair when he's tired), and sometimes we walk / get the bus to nursery.
Just look at the advantages - by walking to the shops, I'm saving petrol and car parking money, getting exercise for me and my son, spending time with him doing something that is educational to him (he LOVES pointing out all of the cars, buses and trucks, the colour of things and so on and we are much more likely to bump into someone we know that way), we're more likely to support the local shops and we're getting outside. It encourages him to accept that walking is normal - you don't automatically jump in the car to go somewhere. I've neighbours who drive to the same shops to get one or two bags of shopping! OK, so once a month a great big trip is done to another shop where I bulk by certain heavy items, but the fruit and veg comes from local shops and the market each week. Much better all round.
Then there is the trip to nursery.... Well, yes it's more convenient to take the car. And yes, I do use the car quite a bit for this. But, if there's a bit more time (to be honest, because of traffic it doesn't take much longer) I'll walk there and get the bus back with him, which makes it all a big adventure. With a bit of planning, we can walk or take the bus. OK, the bus costs 80p one way, but just the petrol costs about 50p now, never mind the wear and tear on the car and of course the environment. Then just think about the exercise you get! I've got a back pack to carry my son in, so a combination of his weight and the walking means there is no need to go to the gym - more money saved!
That reminds me of something else - the people who take the car to the gym to run on a treadmill and do a few weights! Why???? Why not go for a run and buy a set of weights for home... more flexible, you're outside and you don't use the car. Just invest one month of your gym membership in the weights and you are sorted. Admittedly it's worth going to the gym for some things, so walk or run and get double the exercise.
So, think about it next time... do you really need to take the car? Can't you walk (OK, the food may be slightly more expensive, but you've not paid for petrol)? Or take the bus - with the increase in bus lanes about the country, it may not take any longer. If you are going to petition and complain about anything, complain if they threaten to put up the price of bus tickets - that would be frustrating. Yes, petrol is more expensive for them as well, but if there are fewer people using petrol (because they are walking or on the bus) then there isn't the pressure on the production, so costs wont shoot up as much (and what there is will last for longer). Reply to this
We can't control or really influence petrol prices, so rather than everyone complaining about them (although I've noticed they aren't complaining as much as a couple of years ago) shouldn't we decide that we'll take other action to reduce the impact of the increases on our budget?
If you think about it, how many of your journeys REALLY have to be made by car? Can't you walk, get the bus or train? And (although now is probably not the time to really discuss this one) do you really need the great big gas guzzling car? Can't you have a smaller car that you use on a day to day basis, and if you need a larger car for holidays, then hire one as and when?
If I was to look at how I use our car (we only have one as we take the train to work). Personally I've always been an advocate of the "leave the car at home" thinking. It's nothing unusual for the car to sit on the drive untouched for a couple of days... my son and I walk to the shops (he's only 2, so walks part way and then gets in his pushchair when he's tired), and sometimes we walk / get the bus to nursery.
Just look at the advantages - by walking to the shops, I'm saving petrol and car parking money, getting exercise for me and my son, spending time with him doing something that is educational to him (he LOVES pointing out all of the cars, buses and trucks, the colour of things and so on and we are much more likely to bump into someone we know that way), we're more likely to support the local shops and we're getting outside. It encourages him to accept that walking is normal - you don't automatically jump in the car to go somewhere. I've neighbours who drive to the same shops to get one or two bags of shopping! OK, so once a month a great big trip is done to another shop where I bulk by certain heavy items, but the fruit and veg comes from local shops and the market each week. Much better all round.
Then there is the trip to nursery.... Well, yes it's more convenient to take the car. And yes, I do use the car quite a bit for this. But, if there's a bit more time (to be honest, because of traffic it doesn't take much longer) I'll walk there and get the bus back with him, which makes it all a big adventure. With a bit of planning, we can walk or take the bus. OK, the bus costs 80p one way, but just the petrol costs about 50p now, never mind the wear and tear on the car and of course the environment. Then just think about the exercise you get! I've got a back pack to carry my son in, so a combination of his weight and the walking means there is no need to go to the gym - more money saved!
That reminds me of something else - the people who take the car to the gym to run on a treadmill and do a few weights! Why???? Why not go for a run and buy a set of weights for home... more flexible, you're outside and you don't use the car. Just invest one month of your gym membership in the weights and you are sorted. Admittedly it's worth going to the gym for some things, so walk or run and get double the exercise.
So, think about it next time... do you really need to take the car? Can't you walk (OK, the food may be slightly more expensive, but you've not paid for petrol)? Or take the bus - with the increase in bus lanes about the country, it may not take any longer. If you are going to petition and complain about anything, complain if they threaten to put up the price of bus tickets - that would be frustrating. Yes, petrol is more expensive for them as well, but if there are fewer people using petrol (because they are walking or on the bus) then there isn't the pressure on the production, so costs wont shoot up as much (and what there is will last for longer). Reply to this
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If they could build up a rock-solid atmosphere of security, then car sharing schemes could certainly help here. Schemes like liftshare and National CarShare would be a great way to get started.
http://www.liftshare.org/
http://www.nationalcarshare.co.uk/
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Further to that, the Observer has a piece about the Dutch driving test which has a green section to teach drivers how to cut emissions - http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,... - which is also due here in, wait for it... 2008.
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And here's a little quiz called 'How green a driver are you?'
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/quiz/questions/0...
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Just saw this post. Great article. Green driving habits! Priceless. But who pays attention to the revs anyway?
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OK, so this is an American article, but it talks about how just being more aware of how we are driving can save money on petrol by being much more efficient - no more screeching away from junctions or leaving breaking until the last minute. Also, keep a steady speed on the motor way - more cars run at their most efficient round about 60 miles an hour..... NOT 80-90!!!
http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/01/Autos/driving_f...
Have a read through, it'll get you thinking
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While I completely agree that we should all reassess how much we could decrease auto usage,
I also think the tier levels of taxation on fuel oils needs to be rethought. After the past winter's exhorbitant heating fuel prices, I think we all know something needs to be done.
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I agree.... it's not just the taxation on fuel, but meaningful rates of taxation on cars as well (if you can afford a gas guzzler, then you aren't going to think twice about an extra £80 or so a year on the tax!)
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You need to complain about that lack of Alternative energy sources. The oil companies are fine with these prices as they make more money this way! Hydrogen and biodiesal need to start making more of a prominent appearance SOON.
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YOu have a point about complaining about alternative energy sources, but we also need to work with existing situations as well. For instance, I read in yesterday's Telegraph that one of the reasons there are so many cheapie flights in and out of the U.K. to other EU countries is that the fuel isn't taxed. Now, tell me why the taxes are so high on home heating fuel and petrol, and not on the airlines operating within the EU.
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There is something for us all to do. We can't just sit around and take these high prices. Something must be done. I'm ready to buy an electric car, and get rid of the fossil fuel beast.
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likewise.. I'm waiting to replace our car, but I'm not going to until hybrid cars are more accessible price wise. In the meantime I'll continue to run the car I have, even if it is smaller than we really need (a three door with a toddler is tricky, but doable!)
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I think we can all look toward alternative methods of saving on petrol, but what about the home fuel oil situation, etc.? Not everyone can afford to install their own solar or wind systems, and this winter many people in Scotland went back to using coal because it is so much cheaper than heating oil. That's a bad sign for the environment.
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just think about how to combine your trips - don't take a trip just for milk, go for more than one item and do more than one thing if you can...
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quite... like so much of "living green" it's all about doing things sensibly.... save time and money by combining tasks, don't waste things just for the sake of it. A little bit of effort and planning is all it takes and it saves you money in the long run
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Funny thing about living green is that it really does simplify things and save you money. You're right about that!
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You're right. While high petrol/diesel prices don't help anyone, plenty of other countries have them too and people could help themselves by eliminating all their unecessary journeys. The irony is that these ultra-short journeys to the shops/neighbours/etc are the most costly to the environment as cars running on urban cycle with cold engines have the worst possible fuel consumption. People ought to take a little more responsiblilty themselves before complaining...hmmm!
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well said!
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I'm sure that alternative fuels for cars is probably potentially very available right now - a lot of the major oil companies are investing a lot of money and time into creating alternative methods of running cars.
The thing is that, while they've still got petrol to sell at such insane prices, they're not going to be so eager to bring out these alternative, cheaper fuels.
(Wasn't there something about cars that run on vegetable oil somewhere?)
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That's a valid point.. I hadn't thought of that. They'll do what they know best, what's easiest, but most of all, what makes them the most money. Crazy really when it affects the future of their businesses!
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Yeah, I know - it's a bit tragic how this isn't really a matter of environment to oil companies, but money and business.
I know that there's a lot of work going into a car by BMW I think which runs on water and produces only water.
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I cycle nearly everywhere since I live in Holland and the roads are made for it. People would drive a LOT less in London if proper cycle routes were created. Cycling in England is terrifying.
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More so now that we have a few, highly trained cycle police here in London. Some cyclists are so dangerous that they seem to have been brought in to calm everything down. As a pedestrain, you're easily the lowest in the food chain.
Holland is a fascinating place to visit and see how seriosuly bikes are taken - especially for taking kids along in those wheelbarrow-shaped extensions on the front! Takes a bit of getting used to though, I found that crossing the road was like playing Frogger, what with the trams, cars and bikes to avoid.
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Other places are quite good for cycling - I know that Oxford's a pretty bike-ridden place and there are probably more towns/cities like that. Cycling's definitely become much more popular in London, but I find that London cyclists are scarily-aggressive...
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Cycling in the United States is even more terrifying! I feel like I need a suit of armor here.
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Haha, yes, it's incredibly weird when you first get here. I'm from London originally and not used to cyclists at all but you soon learn to figure out where they come from! but bikes are used for EVERYTHING. People get dressed up for dinner and cycle to the restaurant, for example. In England, people won't cycle without a helmet, padded clothes and bicycle trouser clips!
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I happen to be one and I can honestly say that most of them don't give a hoot about conservation or how much gas they use. Smaller cars will never be "in" here. High gas prices will not deter them from their big cars! I don't even own a car and if I did it would be a mini!!!
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It's not just in the States that a lot of people don't care. Unfortunately cars are too much of a status symbol with a lot of people. They must have the biggest and the best to show how important they are (or think they are anyway!!!!). I've got my Clio - we could get something bigger and even justify having something a bit bigger considering it's 3 door and we've a young son, but it's fine for us. I don't care what people think (just my back when lifting Ryan in and out!)
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It's true - it's a real consumerist sense of Not In My Back Yard. Global warming, the ozone layer, polar ice caps melting - they're all phrases that have been batted about by the media so often that I think they mostly fly right over peoples' heads and have become meaningless.
Unless we start taking a more long-sighted view on the world and general situations, we're not gonna start caring that much. Which is a real shame.
But it's the small things, still. Even if you don't think it'll affect you, it's all about trying anyway. My granddad asked to be buried in a cardboard/wicker coffin to save the environment just a little bit - and he was. It was really sweet.
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Interesting about the wicker coffin. I would not have thought of such a thing. Good for your grandad! It's a great idea. And, why not?
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Yes, you are right. that is what it is --a status symbol. Big SUVs are an indication of power as well. Don't mess with or I'll ram you and run you over!Ugh.
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That's a really great idea and really touching too. I think more people should take this approach. I've never heard/thought of this before, even!
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It would be so much better if we had to pay less for public transport to make sure that we could all afford to travel on the bus etc instead of taking the car.
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I've read a few articles of late about the impact of fuel prices in the US...
apparently people have opted not to take holidays (often driving ones) because of the cost of fuel and they are cutting back on other spending. Not only this, but car dealerships are finding they are "stuck" with big fuel guzzlers - GM being affected in a big way - as people opt for smaller cars and ones made by Toyota and Hyundai as they are generally more economical in terms of fuel consumption.
Well, it seems that the way to change the way a lot of Americans think is to raise the prices..... if that's the case, long may it last. Yes, it's costing us more in the short term, but long term it will save a lot.
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