High fuel cost changes driving

OUR OPINION
Published: May 21, 2008

Gas prices continue to creep upward like ivy up a tree, strangling consumers’ ability to travel.

In some areas of the country, prices have reached $4 a gallon, and even in our area the cost is rapidly approaching that mark.
It wasn’t so long ago that many of us were complaining about prices shooting past $2 a gallon. Those days are beginning to feel like a golden age of driving.

But perhaps high gas prices aren’t all bad.

For a while, the threat of global warming and pollution has been leading some, including those who put out this editorial page, to exhort the public to be more environmentally conscious.

Travel less, pollute less, buy smaller cars, drive hybrids, walk, take public transportation ... do your part.
But the law of capitalism is the law of supply and demand and appeals to human consciousness and reason don’t always get the job done. When a situation hits a person’s wallet or pocketbook however, his or her behavior may change.

So, with prices skyrocketing, perhaps now people will be willing, or forced, to drive less.

Maybe the glut of SUVs, dominating our roads will make way for smaller, more fuel efficient cars.

Hopefully people will take up walking and bicycling for short trips which they might have otherwise taken in their car.

Possibly people will look for, and demand, more public transportation to avoid dropping $60 for a tank of gas.

Consequences to the health of the planet and the people in it don’t seem to stir people to action as much as taking a financial hit. So, maybe we should be happy that the price of gas continues to soar.

It may be bad for us in the short term, but if it forces us to examine and change some of our damaging behaviors, it may ultimately turn out to be one of the best things that could have happened.