Save A Dollar And Take A Hike
Oregon Fuel Prices Churn Stomachs
By Joseph Friedrichs, 5-02-07
With the price of gas soaring so high in Oregon it’s become painful to even drive past the fuel pumps, it’s time for Bend residents to take action that will protect their bank accounts and mental health. Our advice: don’t drive at all.
The writing staff at NewWest.Net/Bend has refused to start their cars for the past 10 days. During that time we’ve walked or biked to any needed destination. Although it might take a tad longer to get somewhere, it also provides a certain sense of satisfaction each time we pass some poor soul spending their hard-earned dollars on fuel that will be used to drive to nowhere worthwhile.
After all, in the past week alone, the average cost for a gallon of gasoline in Oregon jumped more than 15 cents to $3.28, the third highest in the nation. Sickening? Yes. Chance of improving any time soon? No.
California, with the highest average price of $3.41 a gallon, has the most expensive gas across the country, followed by Washington state, at $3.30, according to AAA.
Analysts blame the upswing in prices - before the Memorial Day weekend - on strong demand and soft inventories, according to the Oregonian.
For those who have children or other obligations that make driving a necessity, try to eliminate those late night trips to the store or local tavern. Instead, take a walk. It’s healthier and safer. Also, if you’re planning a road trip, check out Oregon’s public transportation system as an alternative. Every step taken can lead to dollars saved.
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Quit crying, prices will be going higher so the oil companies can again have record profits.
We live in Santa Fe, NM rather than Bend, but I imagine the community is similar. With the majority of trips by car being under three miles, it doesn't make sense not to bicycle for those trips. An intelligent future would find most of the populace bicycling rather than waiting for the technology gods to deliver a new fuel or burning up our food crops in our gas tanks.
The reason oil companies have record profits is because people keep buying their products.
http://carfreefamily.blogspot.com
In fact, there are 6 oil refineries in Washington:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/industrial/oil1.html
Most of the oil in the Pacific NW arrives by tanker from Alaska. We have an oil pipeline that runs from British Columbia to Eugene, OR. Unfortunately this pipeline doesn't connect to the rest of North America's pipeline network.
Paul,
Bend, OR has a huge area in relation to its population, and public transport is just getting started there. I would not be surprised if most people in Bend travel more than 3 miles each way (by car) for groceries.
Thanks,
Brook
As this country consumes 25% of the worlds oil with 5% of the population, the "chickens are coming home to roost"
P.S. In part for fun and in part because of my frustration with the joke that Bend is a "Bicycle Friendly Community" I very recently created a little blog attempting to address road cycling for recreation and transportation issues in Bend / Central Oregon. The blog is pretty minimal right now but a bit of feedback would be welcome. Visit Bike Bend at bikebend.wordpress.com. A bit of looking and an email address can be found.
It's smart that you started riding your bikes. Blaming big oil for everything is so last century!
Rumor is prices are going to peak in summer above $4/gal.
Jesse from Holland: yes $7.70 per gal. gasoline would get our attention to the point that our economy would probably crash until we developed a mass transit system & more efficeient cars. In addition there would probably be riots in the streets.