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| The lower 1960 photo of the late Betty Byler and her three children, members of our congregation, was taken along highway 42 across the street from the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. The top photo was taken recently at the same location, now a busy five-lane thoroughfare bustling with traffic. |
Do we have a transportation shortage or is our increased demand for convenience and for consumer products from all over the world resulting in too many vehicles on too many streets and highways?
Counting service and company owned cars and trucks, we now have more licensed vehicles in the US (nearly 284 million) than we have licensed drivers (just over 238 million). With their mostly fossil fuel powered engines, along with those of over 8 million registered motorcycles, our vehicles are the source of more greenhouse gasses contributing to climate change than any other sector of our economy except for the nation's power generating plants.
So it could be argued that the price of gasoline and diesel fuel is actually too low, resulting in too many drivers driving too many miles and choosing too many fuel guzzling vehicles. Our increasingly common oversized pickups, for example, are rarely found in countries where fuel is more expensive and/or taxed more heavily.
Here are some comparisons of average gas prices per gallon in other parts of the world as of May 2022. The average cost per gallon in the US was $4.79, compared to $6.49 in Canada, $8.17 in Norway, and $11.20 in the UK.
Without question our personal health and that of the planet would be enhanced if we walked and biked more and drove our two-ton passenger vehicles less, especially when occupied by only one or two persons, and if we were to:
1. Car pool regularly with friends and neighbors to work, worship, shop, etc.
2. Limit shopping trips to once or twice a week.
3. Use available public transportation (currently free in our town) as much as possible.
4. Travel more by rail and bus and less by plane, RV's and/or other private passenger vehicles.
5. Offer free "Uber" transportation to people who need it.
6. Partner with others to share electric vehicles.
7. Walk instead of drive to work out at nearby wellness centers.
8. Your suggestions?
2 comments:
The cost of fuel in the US compared to other countries is eye-opening. UK costs are certainly eye-opening. Ideas for fuel stewardship are most helpful. You have questioned the use of a bus for para-transportation [of relatively few people]. Perhaps your blog readers and others could suggest use of a smaller vehicle.
A smaller vehicle would certainly make sense for Rt. 5.
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