A close friend lives in Atlanta--you've read about this friend before here. OK, he doesn't really live IN Atlanta, he's in Cumming, GA, 38 miles north of downtown Atlanta. His job takes him into downtown Atlanta everyday. He drives a Lexus into the city, running it on premium gas, and sitting in traffic--often taking 90 minutes to commute. Gas-wise he was the Drive Less! enemy.
Was.
Last night I was talking to him and he said, "You're not going to believe this. I'm a mass transit convert."
Stunned I asked "What made you change?"
He said, "When gas prices hit $4.40, I did the math. I'm driving about 80 miles per day. At 20 miles to the gallon, that's almost $18 a day. Add in tolls and parking and I was spending $23.50 a day commuting."
Let that sink in. $23.50 a day. $117.50 a week. $5,405 a year*.
"So how are you getting downtown now?"
"There's a luxury coach service that has a park and ride stop 6 miles from my house. The bus is equipped with laptop hook-ups and comfortable seats. It takes 45 minutes to get downtown and it drops me off at the door to my office. And it only cost $5 roundtrip. Also I'm working at home 2 days a week."
So now I'm doing the math. That's a savings of $16.50 a commuting day ($5 in fare plus $2 in gas). He's saving $96.50 a week. $4,439 a year**. That's a Jet Ski to ride on Lake Lanier--we're on our way. Or a family vacation--he has 3 kids. Or a motorcycle--his wife is going to kill me if she reads that. Or a semester of college--ok not quite. But you get the point.
High gas prices change behavior. And that's the economics of high gas prices.
*Assuming 6 weeks vacation.
**Not to mention the additional productive time on the commute and the additional time he can spend with his family from the shorter commute times.
