Sigh. For the first time in 10 years, Oregonians are using more gas. A report out today from environmental research group Sightline shows that this past year we’ve reversed a decade-long trend in declining gas use. In 2009, the average person from Oregon, Washington and Idaho consumed 392 gallons of gas, versus 389 gallons in 2008.
The uptick is small in Oregon, less than one percent, but surprising given that we’re in the middle of the Great Recession and all. Gasoline buying habits usually mirror the economy: When jobs plummet, so does gas buying. But in the Northwest, the price of gas has dropped significantly since it spiked in 2008. I remember driving across the country in June 2008, when gas stations were raising the price of gas multiple times a day, peaking at nearly $4 a gallon. Despite the Gulf
The good news? We’re still using about nine percent less gas than the rest of this car-lovin’ country. Whoo! Way to set the bar low, America!
Despite the Gulf WHAT????? I’M DYING OF SUSPENSE HERE
I’m not surprised. With a lot of the Trimet service cuts and maybe a bunch of folks who, like myself, tried the car-free (or car-lite) lifestyle and found it to be a tremendous pain in the ass waiting on someone else’s schedule, sitting on the bus with a bunch of people who don’t practice basic hygiene or manners, or practice how to not get run over by busses or cars, it’s just easier to give up and drive.
That said, I can’t even do that until I have a well paying job since I live in the inner city, but I feel for all the suburbanites who can’t. I wonder if the crappier, unseasonally colder and rainier weather we’ve been experiencing as of late has something to do with this as well.
Bus service cuts have me driving a lot more, too.
Car-free since ’03, and lovin it.
No good news.Using more gas compared to the rest of the gas loving country?No sorry,but Oregon is slippin like the rest of the country.Thats just sad.