One of the more interesting ongoing discussions on Columbus Underground lately was started with a link to a Dispatch article back on December 30th which predicted the cost of gasoline surging up to $4 per gallon by Memorial Day 2008. When the article was published, gas was averaging $3 per gallon, so that was a 33% increase in a mere 5 months.
Some people who commented in the discussion had trouble believing gas would climb that high that quickly. Others predicted it would be higher come Memorial Day.
Well, we’re still 12 days away from Memorial Day, and gas in Columbus hit an average of $3.904 per gallon. It could dip back down in the next two weeks, but typically there’s a holiday surge in prices, so it’s not too likely we’ll see that. I’m glad that I can easily bus and walk to plenty of the destinations I need to get to, but I do still drive a bit as well (would have been hard to take that new lawn mower home from Lowe’s on the bus last night). It sucks to put a quick $10 in the tank and hardly move the needle at all anymore.
I’ve never been someone to buy into doomsday scenarios, and I believe that a gradual change is already underway in how we all get around in this country. It’s going to be a crunch for a lot of people for awhile, but hopefully everyone is able to see the multiple lights at the end of the tunnel as they slowly approach us.
Look for my piece on the proposed gas-tax holiday in the May 22 “Vote Yourself” column. Talked to many experts who said that removing the tax could actually increase gas prices.
Weak.
Thank goodness I have my trusty Trek road bike.
Cool. Will look for it. I think the gas tax holiday is one of the most short-sighted ideas of recent history, and we’re going to really get screwed in the long run on slighting the funding for our infrastructure if it actually happens.