I wonder whether the Subaru-driving holier-than-thous in Boulder will realize that Subarus have among the worst gas mileage of any fleet, and start dumping them? Look for a lot of Priuses stuck in snowbanks next winter.

I wonder whether the Subaru-driving holier-than-thous in Boulder will realize that Subarus have among the worst gas mileage of any fleet, and start dumping them? Look for a lot of Priuses stuck in snowbanks next winter.

Agreed. The economy that is based on car usage and travel will reshape itself around $4/gallon. There will be pain in the transition and many new opportunities will be created – somewhat matching the magnitude of failures that will occur. In the end, though, I believe that the culture that the old economy created will be a casualty of the change.

You live in a holier-than-thou, green city that already made the mental shift under the guise of saving the planet or reducing global warming (or some other drivel) ages ago. The rest of the country (aside from, perhaps, Cambridge and Berkeley) is being forced to make the shift for financial reasons now. It’s gonna have a major cultural impact.

Note, I didn’t say it was bad, wrong, or catastrophic in any way. My only point is that it will change and I’ll miss the old car culture.

Agreed. The economy that is based on car usage and travel will reshape itself around $4/gallon. There will be pain in the transition and many new opportunities will be created – somewhat matching the magnitude of failures that will occur. In the end, though, I believe that the culture that the old economy created will be a casualty of the change.

You live in a holier-than-thou, green city that already made the mental shift under the guise of saving the planet or reducing global warming (or some other drivel) ages ago. The rest of the country (aside from, perhaps, Cambridge and Berkeley) is being forced to make the shift for financial reasons now. It’s gonna have a major cultural impact.

Note, I didn’t say it was bad, wrong, or catastrophic in any way. My only point is that it will change and I’ll miss the old car culture.

Like you, the price of gas isn’t going to force me to change my lifestyle much. I’m speaking about changes in the broader sense, of course. My belief is that even many of those who see $4/gallon as a mere bump in the road still will adjust their thinking about how they use their vehicles and our car culture will change.

In the mean time . . . a Fisker Karma, huh? I’ve read about ‘em. Have they started shipping yet? What’s the range of those babies?

Congrats.

Like you, the price of gas isn’t going to force me to change my lifestyle much. I’m speaking about changes in the broader sense, of course. My belief is that even many of those who see $4/gallon as a mere bump in the road still will adjust their thinking about how they use their vehicles and our car culture will change.

In the mean time . . . a Fisker Karma, huh? I’ve read about ‘em. Have they started shipping yet? What’s the range of those babies?

Congrats.

I think there are loads of people who are thinking just like you. In fact, I’m shocked at how quickly attitudes have changed – even (or especially) my own. As you say, the trickle down will be a big deal. I think there will be many changes – that is, there will be failures because of it as well as an equivalent number of opportunities.

27 miles for pizza is a real commitment whether gas is $1/gallon or $4/gallon. You, obviously, have a more refined pizza palette than I

I think there are loads of people who are thinking just like you. In fact, I’m shocked at how quickly attitudes have changed – even (or especially) my own. As you say, the trickle down will be a big deal. I think there will be many changes – that is, there will be failures because of it as well as an equivalent number of opportunities.

27 miles for pizza is a real commitment whether gas is $1/gallon or $4/gallon. You, obviously, have a more refined pizza palette than I