You are not the average American commuter. 75% of them commute less than 40 miles per day, so 200 miles per week isn't even average, the number is smaller than that? People who make the choice to invest huge portions of their lives droning to and fro in a cage don't get to complain about the cost of their choice, particularly when it is nowhere near the "average" commute of an American. More like the "drive till you qualify" nonsense that only a Californian could dream up, or someone desperate to live two lives, one firmly anchored in BAU and the American car culture, the other on a hobby farm.vtsnowedin wrote:Lets see... 230/20=11.5 gallons x100mpg =1150 mile A Year? Yah Righttt. I got to tell you Ralph or (whatever) I'm a real American commuter and when I'm working which recently is about thirty weeks a year I put on at least 1100 miles each week.Ralph wrote: It is not. Unless you are ramping up actual consumer costs to account for what might be better described as "societal" costs. My scooter gets about 100 mpg, at $20/g it would run me about $230/year for commuting to and from work. As well as minor grocery shopping, collecting one of the children from school on occasion. At todays prices I don't even notice the fuel I use for it, taking it from the lawnmower can when it needs a gallon.
The miles I put on my scooter are approximately just as you've calculated. I can also bicycle, walk, or take a motorcycle. The school for the children is closer than work. All schools, elementary, middle and high. Mass transit is closer yet.
Why in the world would anyone worried about peak oil ever live outside of the reach of mass transit, light rail, bicycling to places? A lifestyle choice involving the most CO2 emissions humanly possible? Sort of a counter-environmentalist?
I recommend you not confuse your situation with that of folks who understand peak oil, the costs associated with our current expensive energy environment, the emissions that a lifestyle choice like yours creates, and choose to do better. While glorious excess is undboutedly desired by some, the idea of peak oil folks doing it seems a bit….surprising?vtsnowedin wrote: I'm semi retired so don't work in the off season and then put on less then 100 miles a week. just a beer and milk run is ten miles. The Mrs. who works in town puts on at least 18 miles each workday on her car Then drives a 60 passenger school bus another 50 for
175 days a year(5mpg) but lets not worry about that. so 50 weeks x 5 x 18 = 4500 miles all without leaving town. Edit to avoid confusion: She works two jobs ,bus driver at each end of the day when school is in session and town clerk mid day every business day. The school is on the way to her office so no extra miles to get to that job.
