Reply #134: Funny, that's exactly what happened in the 1970's [View All]

[CAcyclist]

10 % of people were riding their bikes to work during the gas crisis in the 70's as opposed to the .2 - 1% that do today.

I ride my bike to work and I'm not poor, but I am something of a cheapskate. Having to pay more for gas is that little extra kicker to keep me from being lazy and driving. Having a car and keeping it up costs much more money than the mere cost of gas,too but people don't pay attention to the other costs - they just look at the gas costs. It is absolutely not classist or elitist to want gas prices to go up so we can start to develop a more sane transportation system. However, I don't think we should let the gas companies gouge people and make a ton of money either - I think we should control the prices they can charge and install a gas tax that will fund the changes that need to be made.

I also think rationing of gas would be fair - give the average person a very generous allowance, but stop the wastrels that buy a frickin' plane so they can fly to work and back in California - that's ok if you live in Alaska, but not here.