Driving miles are dramatically down: You CAN teach an old dog new tricks

The AP reports that driving in America has undergone its most dramatic decline in history, as Americans drove 100 billion fewer miles during the 12-month period ending October 2008 compared with the prior year.

“The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping,” said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, “confirms that America’s travel habits are fundamentally changing.”

More importantly: The fact that the trend persists tells you that Americans WILL change their habits when presented with a better option.

Mass Transit is homeland security - - lower oil dependence may mean Dick Cheney's post-political career is a bit leaner, but it'll also means we rely less on the countries that comprise OPEC. Pressure will be kept on Barack Obama to deliver via his infrastructure spending plan.

This may baffle the right wing, who characterized (absolutely legitimate) criticism of G. W. Bush as "Bush derangement syndrome," but Obama's supporters will keep pressing him on specific issues and will feel free to publicly disagree with him along the way. This is how Change works.

In other words: If Obama thinks we should spend $850 billion on asphalt as usual, I'll be at the head of the line expressing my displeasure.

The same goes for right here in Franklin. Local municipalities have to do their part to create communities that can be navigated with OR without a vehicle. Still, over and over again we see one-stop developments go up that do little more than provide parking (yes, I'm talking about the downward-trending - - Cousin's Subs! - -  Shoppes at Wyndham Village). Even our elaborate and overbuilt "Law Enforcement Center" embarrassingly adheares to that principle.

When your civic buildings are that cynical, it's hard to make improvements in the surrounding community.

Comments

[Dave Reid]

I hope this trend continues though I believe it is also connect to the economic collapse. That said the time is right to expand transit and capture those new riders.

[J. Strupp]

Interesting choice of words.

"capture" indeed.

[J. Strupp]

“The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping,” said Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, “confirms that America’s travel habits are fundamentally changing.”

Assuming that American consumer demand for fuel has "fundamentally" changed is absolute hogwash.

The Amercian consumer will increase fuel consumption based on lower gas prices and vise versa. This has always been the case and always will.

As a case and point: SUV and truck sales have far outpaced hybrid and economy class auto sales in the last quarter and will probably be the most purchased car class in 2009 because of the drop in gas prices. This will eventually lead to an increase in domestic fuel consumption, which won't show up in economic data for some time.

The downward trend in miles traveled has failed to increase sharply simply due to current economic conditions.

It won't last.

[John Michlig]

Well, I'd have to agree with some of your blind assertions before swallowing something like "As a case and point: SUV and truck sales have far outpaced hybrid and economy class auto sales in the last quarter and will probably be the most purchased car class in 2009 because of the drop in gas prices." Everything after "2009" in that sentence is an assumption you make with which I patently disagree.

Here's the fact: HYBRIDS are still over the purchase-price threshold for most consumers. Period. It has nothing to do with the price of gas. Perhaps the day is soon coming (i.e government mandate as a bailout condition) when a hybrid will be more affordable - - watch what happens then.

SUV and truck sales outpacing hybrid sales? Not impressive given the above fact. Plus, many pundits who are unfamiliar with midwestern weather assume purchasing an SUV or truck is a choice based on antipathy toward gas conservation concerns. Wrong. I've driven a four-wheel drive SUV and now have the de-rigeur Dodge Caravan Van to cart around the kids and groceries. Guess what? The van is garbage in the snow/ice conditions that Wisconsin faces almost HALF the year. My next vehicle will be a fuel efficient SUV-type of thing.

Now, if you buy a Hummer, that's a different story ...