I would agree with you for every country besides America. In America, especially in states like Indiana, you’re completely dependent on gas because there’s no other way to get to your job. So it does nothing to stop car usage and only finanically cripples people who are already barely keeping their face above water.
And then the very small minority who can’t do those things, they pay the higher prices for their gas guzzlers.
Why do you think monster pickup trucks only exist in the USA? Pickups exist in other counties, but they’re sensibly sized with smaller engines. Other counties figured out many decades ago that it’s the most efficient (cost-wise and emission-wise) to use a vehicle appropriate to the job, instead of getting the biggest extended-bed, 4 door crew cab, 5.8 litre 8 cylinder truck with oversized offroading tires to pickup the damn groceries.
If gas is expensive, people tend to buy more fuel-efficient cars (or even electric cars). They drive slower and more fuel efficient. They consider whether a trip is actually worth it and bundle trips. So e.g. instead of driving to the shop for a handful items every day they instead do a weekly shopping trip where they get everything they need for the week.
Just with changing your driving style you can often save a ton of fuel.
The increased prices also mean that shopping in general goes down. If you don’t have money for unnecessary garbage you buy less unnecessary garbage, thus again helping the economy.
So yes, even in Indiana where you have to drive to your job, higher fuel prices will lead to benefits for the environment.
What do you mean? I LOVE spending $350/mo on gas!! I’m in Illinois, I feel INs pain.
I just bought an electric scooter that goes 20mph, it’ll take 30 minutes to get to work, when it’s not cold or snowy, but saving a tank of gas a month is $100 right there. I’ve already saved multiple trips to the local grocery store with little pick ups here and there. Looking forward to more fuel saving!
I would agree with you for every country besides America. In America, especially in states like Indiana, you’re completely dependent on gas because there’s no other way to get to your job. So it does nothing to stop car usage and only finanically cripples people who are already barely keeping their face above water.
I bet you in Indiana it’s still 50% (or more) stupid sized trucks or SUVs. Higher gas prices will:
And then the very small minority who can’t do those things, they pay the higher prices for their gas guzzlers.
Why do you think monster pickup trucks only exist in the USA? Pickups exist in other counties, but they’re sensibly sized with smaller engines. Other counties figured out many decades ago that it’s the most efficient (cost-wise and emission-wise) to use a vehicle appropriate to the job, instead of getting the biggest extended-bed, 4 door crew cab, 5.8 litre 8 cylinder truck with oversized offroading tires to pickup the damn groceries.
Gas use is pretty elastic, even in Indiana.
If gas is expensive, people tend to buy more fuel-efficient cars (or even electric cars). They drive slower and more fuel efficient. They consider whether a trip is actually worth it and bundle trips. So e.g. instead of driving to the shop for a handful items every day they instead do a weekly shopping trip where they get everything they need for the week.
Just with changing your driving style you can often save a ton of fuel.
The increased prices also mean that shopping in general goes down. If you don’t have money for unnecessary garbage you buy less unnecessary garbage, thus again helping the economy.
So yes, even in Indiana where you have to drive to your job, higher fuel prices will lead to benefits for the environment.
What do you mean? I LOVE spending $350/mo on gas!! I’m in Illinois, I feel INs pain.
I just bought an electric scooter that goes 20mph, it’ll take 30 minutes to get to work, when it’s not cold or snowy, but saving a tank of gas a month is $100 right there. I’ve already saved multiple trips to the local grocery store with little pick ups here and there. Looking forward to more fuel saving!
Even in places like that, it might cause people to avoid additional, less necessary, car trips.