End of the Line for Hummers?
A recent article in the New York Times deals with the changes in car buying choices by American consumers now that gas has hit $4 a gallon. Many of us in bicycle advocacy wondered where the “tipping point” would be for people to start making lifestyle and transportation choice changes. Looks like $4/gallon is the answer.
Several interesting tidbits from the article include the fact that compact and fuel-efficient cars such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla now outsell the Ford F-Series trucks, which until last year had been the best selling vehicles in the country since the early 1990s. Additionally, General Motors is now considering selling off the Hummer brand as according to Rick Wagoner, GM’s chairman, the move towards more efficient cars he believes is, “by and large permanent.”
What do you think? How many of you are bicycling more now that gas has doubled in price in two years?
June 10th, 2008 at 8:16 am
i bicycle because i’ve loved it since i was a kid. also, whenever i tried to get a motored vehicle, fate never allowed it to happen. glad it did.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I too have liked cycling but it’s been too easy living in Atlanta to always take the car because it’s more “practical” to get groceries, haul the family and the like. But as the kid gets older (now 10) she’s getting stronger and more comfortable riding in traffic with us.
I’ve gotten an Xtracycle and tonight after work I’ll be stopping by the pet store for the 40# bag of dog food. This also because the pet store’s about 2 miles from the house and on the way home.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I definitely commute by bike more. I usually ride the 6 miles through a scenic marsh highway to get to the neighboring “big city”.
What I’m wondering is with all of the rising costs will cities pony up and paint more bike lanes and build bicycle racks around the city.
Also, I hang out with my cycling friends more than my non-cycling friends since they’re more willing to ride their bike to the bar than drive.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Does this mean Hummer owners no longer need to be told that they were an idiot for buying one and it’s now become obvious to absolutely everyone? Trek I mean GM is very much a flavor of the week comapny, it’s no wonder they can’t make money.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:17 am
the gas prices are going up? hmm i didn’t even notice
June 10th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Halleluia!
I am lucky enough to live just around the corner from where I work. If you factor in the time it takes to carry my bike up the basement stairs, it’s actually quicker for me to walk to work than to bike!
But I’m definitely using my bike more for errands, like shopping and running to the post office. Also, for going to visit my girlfriend, which is 14 miles each way. I also got an Xtracycle, which I love, and have more miles on it than any of my other bikes! I also put a lot more thought into planning my shopping and other errands so that I can combine trips to save time, whether I’m driving or going by bike.
The area that I’ve really cut back on driving is in leisure travel. My immediate family lives about 100 miles away, and I miss being able to see them as often as I used to.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I used to have 2 hondas, a beater and a street/track race car… sold the beater and
the street car is now the garage car!!! due to the gas prices!!!! theft is also an issue, but it is dumb to sit in traffic for an hour or more, with $4 a gallon burning away.
i can go wherever i want on these Chicago streets, and just burn beer on my bike!!!
June 10th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
I have been bike commuting for 10 years and it has always made sense. Hummers were always a bad choice unless you worked on a farm. I never understood how hummer owners found parking in the city? I live in Baltimore, MD and I have never seen this many bikes on the road.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
started commuting a few years back, but always had a car in the driveway for the grocery trips and what not. once the car died i just decided not to get another one and have been riding everywhere ever since. the only thing i regret is not taking this route sooner.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Haven’t driven a car in over two years, since I left Las Vegas for the Bay Area. Having a car there was something of a necessity when temps got over 110 in summer, not to mention everything was 30 minutes away.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
we ride to work as often as possible, and give incentives to our employees to do the same. also use bikes for most weekend errands, or stay in the hood and walking distances. when we do drive it’s planned out to maximize as much as possible in one mapped out trip. we’ve also virtually curtailed all regular trips to the beach for surfing - much as we love it, that’s now a 60-70$ tank of gas to drive there and back for usually crap waves. if it’s 6-10 and absolutely firing, then it’s on, otherwise we’re reading surf mags. living here in los, the land of the H2, it’s sad to be still seeing so many mommie/bling tanks on the road.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
110 is that all? Cycling is the past, present and future of human transportation and i welcome the demise of larger cars, being hit by a 4wd hurts much less than being hit by a hybrid.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
As a bike mechanic, I’ve certaqinly seen a lot more people coming in to the shop who want to either start riding or return to riding more as a result of increased fuel prices.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Hasn’t stuck in this neck of the woods; dually diesel crew-cabs are still the favorite for runs to the liquor store. And those saps are nearing $5 a gallon.
I think it’s going to take “two behind the ear” to cure them.
June 10th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I saw it coming. My new years resolution for 07 was to move to the city and go car-less.
I moved. However, I am having a hard time selling my car.
I stopped putting gas in it in February.
(It’s a 4cylinder import w/ 30mpg that is somehow worth less than I still owe on it.)
Biking to work is awesome! If it’s really rainy / snowy out, then I walk to the train.
As soon as I sell the car I’m getting a new street bike.
This new bike will cost less than 1 month of car ownership.
Gas powered cars will leave this world faster than they arrived!
I’ve always hated the consumer Hummers… melt them down I’m sure
there’s some good steel in there.
Although, I do feel bad for most of my family that still rely heavily on SUV’s.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:05 am
I’m so happy gas is 4+ a gallon:)
This is the only way to get rid of the older cars that smoke like crazy, and the infamous SUV. As much of a life change it has been to commute 22 mile a day it is getting easier.
My wallet is thicker and the air is slowly gong to be fresher.
I’m hoping that fuel costs get to about 7 or 8 bucks a gallon.
The only down fall for me is I work in the motorcycle industry.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
$4 bucks a gallon - it that all!!! up here in canada we produce the stuff and we are already paying $6 bucks a gallon ($1.50/liter). the high prices have had an effect and the revolution has begun! ride! ride! ride!
suck it up buttercups and get on your bike!
June 14th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
dude, i just got a hummer…
June 16th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Bikes and cars both have their place in this world. Sensible cars. Glad to see, finally, that the States may be forced (kicking and screaming. I love it…) back into the cities. back on bikes. Back to shopping more often at neighborhood market, for local produce. Support your local businesses. East End brew, anyone?