That's right to the point, pparks1! Those drag races to the next stop light or those experts that park their cars with running engines in front of the local deli every morning to pick up some breakfast. Even those who use the car for "targets" in walking distance. Another aspect is the size/weight of cars. In this one-horse town we have like 16 contractors but I count at least 120 Trucks :)
A couple of quick conversions gives me a current rate of $8.06 per US Gallon for petrol in the UK today, perhaps that's why we have fewer large capacity engines than you in the states
Some garages (Service Stations ) are now asking for your first born as deposit before you can fill up
[£1.36.2 per Litre / 3.785 Litres per US Gallon / $1.57870 = "£1]
My plan for saving fuel:
Move to an area where you are:
1. Within a five-minute walk of a shopping centre, health centre, library and regular bus service.
2. Within a ten-minute walk of a garden centre, two pubs, McDonalds, Frankie & Benny's and Chiquitos.
3. Sell your car saving £3,000 a year on road tax, car insurance, servicing and fuel.
4. Have an account with a local car hire company and rent a car whenever you need one - hell, they even bring it to you and take it back as part of the deal.
I'm quids in, I've lost a stone in weight and my bank balance is far healthier. :)
Our prices bounce around and go through semi predictable weekly cycles.
I need to fill up today currently $5.60 per US gallon.
We had a phase of those "magic gadgets" - scams!
I'm fortunate to live in an area with far "cheaper" prices than those mentioned here, but that doesn't make me feel any better.
seavixen32,
That is how many in my financial condition deal with the matter, but even if one has the health to walk to stores (I do not), it doesn't matter if they are close, unless you make that walk each day, or possibly several times a day, because you can't carry more than a small amount of groceries in your arms, unless you take a taxi, or become a cart man or woman, taking the store's shopping carts for transport.
There are a number of people in my complex that do just that, and there are grocery carts strewn around the halls within the building and around the parking lots. That makes it handy to get groceries from the vehicle to the apartment, and aids in some other chores necessary, but I for one would not want to have to depend on this for a regular means of shopping.
Despite all of the issues related to oil production, there is no excuse for the current market prices, either in the USA or elsewhere. There is no shortage of fuel, as there was during the Iranian war or for a time afterward. Prices now are being controlled by forces that exist due to profit considerations.
I fully accept all the points you make, and yes, I do live in a pleasant retirement complex where both me and my wife are currently in reasonably good health.
That said, the supermarket will deliver orders made online and the pharmacy carries out free deliveries of prescriptions where required.
You are right though, fuel prices are high everywhere and while demand is high and supply curtailed for whatever reason I can't see prices falling anytime soon.
As far as grocery stores making deliveries to the door, I have not found one that will do so here. I did find one chain that advertised home delivery, but when I entered my zip code, it said that it was not available here. Not having access to that kind of service, I do not know what it would cost, but I would bet that it is not cheap, but even if it were, that wouldn't solve the problem, because there are many other types of shopping needed, and other issues requiring transport. I know that others here in my complex have found some alternatives, but none that I would, or possibly could use. As long as a person can afford a vehicle and has the health to drive it, it should be possible for them to have the choice to do so, without being put over a barrel, either by the oil industry or the government. I included the latter, because I believe that the price situation is something that is being promoted by the government.
I couldn't agree more on prices being controlled by governments.
On this side of the pond around 70%+ of the pump price goes to straight to the Treasury in the form of fuel duty and value added tax.
That said, as a direct result of the recession, petrol consumption has gone down by around 15% as people walk, cycle or use public transport in an effort to reduce their motoring costs, which in turn puts further pressure on Treasury revenue.
There's no easy answer, I guess.
There is no easy answer, so long as people are willing to accept the situation. However, the government only does what it's citizens allows them to do.
Unfortunately Governments generally run their term and can do a lot of damage in the process. We need an instant mass vote eject button.
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