Comments on: Have Gas Prices Finally Reached a Tipping Point? http://blog.getdowntown.org/2008/06/17/have-gas-prices-finally-reached-a-tipping-point/ a blog about commuting to downtown Ann Arbor and all things therein Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:23:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-beta3-9791 hourly 1 By: Todd Austin http://blog.getdowntown.org/2008/06/17/have-gas-prices-finally-reached-a-tipping-point/comment-page-1/#comment-1341 Todd Austin Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:28:26 +0000 http://blog.getdowntown.org/?p=271#comment-1341 Fuel prices are beginning to impact behavior, but I think we're still far from a tipping point. When prices reach 6 or 7 dollars a gallon and stay there for a few years, the total stock of personally-owned vehicles will have changed character substantially. Voter pressure will have been sufficiently vocal and long-lasting to force politicians to invest in expanded bus systems in medium-sized communities and rail in large cities. Alternative fuels will have seen demand of sufficient size and duration that they will become real and available. Change takes time and, in this country, takes widespread pain. I doubt we will ever see here the political will shown in European countries years ago to raise the tax on fossil fuels high enough to actually modify behavior (think $3-4/gallon). We prefer to ship our cash to those who pump, mine, and refine fossil fuels. I suspect it will be another 3-4 years before things change in a noticable way in the US and that includes Ann Arbor. Fuel prices are beginning to impact behavior, but I think we’re still far from a tipping point. When prices reach 6 or 7 dollars a gallon and stay there for a few years, the total stock of personally-owned vehicles will have changed character substantially. Voter pressure will have been sufficiently vocal and long-lasting to force politicians to invest in expanded bus systems in medium-sized communities and rail in large cities. Alternative fuels will have seen demand of sufficient size and duration that they will become real and available.

Change takes time and, in this country, takes widespread pain. I doubt we will ever see here the political will shown in European countries years ago to raise the tax on fossil fuels high enough to actually modify behavior (think $3-4/gallon). We prefer to ship our cash to those who pump, mine, and refine fossil fuels.

I suspect it will be another 3-4 years before things change in a noticable way in the US and that includes Ann Arbor.

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