As gas prices remain high, are you finding ways to save gas by carpooling to work or flying instead of driving on that family vacation? How are prices affecting your everyday life?

Well unfortunatly since we are a working family and must drive to get there and we have no co-workers who live near us or on the way to work, we drive. I have yet to let the gas prices affect us.. we just budget our money accordingly and go on about our business. As far as travel.. sometimes we HAVE to travel out of the county and gas prices are not an excuse to not make that appointment etc. Somethings are out of our control.
AS far as vacations.. in over 16 years we have NOT taken a vacation and that has absolutly nothing to do with gas prices money or anything like that. It is just a choice.

I’m retired, hence I do very little driving. I estimate I drive no more than 3,000 miles a year. Most of that comes from my trips up to Sebring and back (to Lake Plaicd, where I live) to go to Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I also make trips to the Agri-Civic Center, where I volunteer my master gardner services at the county Extension office. I rarily just drive for a lark (joy riding) or make unecessary trips.

My wife works in Avon Park and must drive about 50 miles round trip, five days a week. Car pooling is not an option for her, being a department manager at Publix, as her erratic schedule precludes car pooling.

The only thing I do different now than I did when gasoline was a buck or more cheaper is to mow my lawn less frequently. My property comprises 5.60 acres, so it takes 2-3 gallons of gasoline to mow it and also do string trimming, edging, etc.

I don’t maintain my entire property as improved turf. I estimate maybe about 3/4 of an acre of improved turf around the house as my main yard. The rest is unimproved and partially wooded.

I now extend the frequency of mowing my main yard an extra two days worth of growth. As far as the unimproved areas, I only mow them about once a month, whereas before I would mow them about every two weeks (only during the growing season, much less during the winter).

As high as gasoline is, and in as much as it bites into our budget, directly at the pump, and indirectly in everything we buy, I’m grateful that we don’t have gas rationing. I went through that in 1973 and then again, but to a lesser extent, in 1978. In my area we were on even-odd days (based on your car tag number) where we could buy gas. And then, many stations had 3-5 gallon limits! I can tell you, it’s not something I ever want to see again.

If you want to see curtailed driving, then just let federal and/or state mandated gasoline rationing be imposed.  And then be prepared for some mild anarchy (stealing of gas from personal vehicles, fighting in the gas lines, etc.) to break out. I know, been there and done that (I witinessed it; I did not participate in it).

I agree that gas rationing is a terrible idea. Anarchy, theft, road rage, all of the above occur when folks face gas rationing. In 1974 I saw folks stealing gas at night from cars parked in driveways.

I conserve gas by consolidating trips to stores, mowing the lawn as few times as twice a month in summer, and once a month in cooler weather. Road trips curtailed to none, since gas topped 2.50 per gallon.

Also, as unpopular as it would be, I would like to see the county gas tax increased above the current share with the state, so that the county would receive 18 - 24 cents a gallon instead of the 8 cents per gallon received today. Road projects including road and bridge maintenance are extremely expensive. The 8 cents per gallon doesn’t provide enough money to get the roads repaired.

It is ridiculous and unfair when gas guzzlers, RVs and motorhomes are allowed to benefit from our beautiful roads without paying their fair share in upkeep and maintenance costs. Increase the gas tax for our county so we can keep the road projects up to date. Let the market force conservation by raising gas prices to include higher local gas tax options.

My feeling about increased gasoline taxes or somewhat mixed. I don’t like the regressiveness of such taxes on low income folks.

I think a more fairer approach would be higher registration fees for larger (more vehicular weight) gas guzzling vehicles. That way, it would be one’s personal decision to buy them and accept the increased registration fees. Of course, I realize no approach is going to be totally fair. This would also include some type of registration fee for ATV’s, that use gasoline almost purely for one’s recreational pleasure.

We could go on and on with this kind of wasteful recreational use of gasonline via boating, snow mobiling and host of other activities. I’m not advocating this one way of the other, I’m just saying if our global natural resources are so finite, and the cost of using what we have left is so high, then we must consider everything, putting everything on the table for consideration.

I’ve been meaning to write a letter to both papers on the following, as I think this idea should be implemented:

I feel highway speeders should receive an additioal fine over and above that of the speeding violation itself.

Vehicular speeding uses an inordinately amount of fuel—a precious, critical and dwindling natural resource.

I would like to see a hefty fine imposed on drivers that speed substantially over the stated speed limit. This fine would be for wasting gasoline. Again, a dwindling natural resource.

I’m not talking about fining a driver that is just going a few miles above the posted speed limit, but say 10 MPH above the posted limit. I feel the fine should be structured to increase upwards as a measure of how much faster the driver is exceeding the speed limit.

Naturally, a person in a 30 MPH speed zone driving 10 MPH above the limit wouldn’t receive as steep a fine as a person driving 10 MPH above the limit in a 70 MPH speed zone.

I know the logistics of imposing and administrating of such fines would have to be worked out, but this is what I would like to see in the future. These fines could then be used by the state for road maintenance and construction, etc.

I know many folks would balk and/or be opposed to my idea, but then, I would have to assume these folks are probably the ones doing the speeding. I say if you can’t mind your road speed (given the 10 MPH cushion I’m proposing) then I feel you don’t even belong on the road. I say let scofflaws pay for their actions so that law abbiding responsible drivers get a break.

I agree with Walt’s ideas for increased vehicle registration fees based on vehicle weight, number of axles, usage class such as recreational vs passenger car. However, that would not collect more money from part time seasonal residents, or tourists, who register vehicles out of state or use the rental vehicle class. At the pump, everyone could pay additional local sales tax, and everyone using the roads would pay to repair the roads.

Carl Cool, County Administrator, has stated that for the past several years, ad valorem taxes had to be allocated to make up for the lack of funds collected on the local sales tax on gas in Highlands County. I want to see those users of the roads pay more, regardless of where their vehicle is registered in Florida, is a rental vehicle, or registered elsewhere.

I think I might agree to higher gasoline taxes, even though it is regressive ( I agree about collecting taxes on tourists and snowbirds, etc.).

To get more money into the state and county coffers, I’d like to see changes in the Homestead exemption.

I think every property owner should pay at least some property taxes. I don’t think anyone should get a free ride, at least on some things like police protection and other services that we all, regardless of social status and/or valuation of one’s property, use basically equally.

Hence, I would recommend that the $25K Homestead exemption be applied (kick in) on the second $25K of taxable property value, and not on the first $25K. That way every property owner would have to pay something.

I drive 54 miles roundtrip 5 days a week (75 once the kids go back to school). I have to say that the prices have really hurt my budget (I drive an F150), but there is nothing that we can do about it except cough up the money. I am not “in the know” of how gas prices work. But we recently drove to Michigan, and the prices were pretty much the same from here to Michigan. Once in Michigan they averaged 20 cents higher than here. I thought that was odd with as depressed as their economy is right now.

As far as recreational vehicles. ATV’s already have to be registered, and we pay for that. As well as to register trailers; rv’s; etc.. We go out of the area once a month or so to ride. And a 5 gallon gas can will hold our two atv’s for an entire weekend. So I do not think that recreational vehicles are so much to blame as are our daily drivers (I do not know about boats). I go through almost 5 gallons a day in my truck.

My opinion is that there is plenty of gas out there. But once the companies get used to us paying the higher prices and they make their record profits, there is no way they are going to then drop the prices. They have their cake and they are eating it too.

I have sympathy for those on tight budgets and don’ drive unnessesarily. The cost of gasoline is taking a big bite out of their descretionary money. But further, it’s hurting the consumer at the grocery store, big box stores, restaurants, you name it. The cost of fuel to harvest, process, and deliver food and goods of all kinds is being passed on to the consumer.

However, there are many drivers that don’t seem to care at all about the higher gasoline prices. I see drivers all the time on US 27 pulling away from a traffic light at jack rabbit acceleration.

While I don’t exactly accelerate like I have an egg under the accelerator pedal, I do accelerate slow to moderately. Jack rabbit starts use far more fuel than moderate acceleration.  I’ve had many a driver speed around me because they are too impatient to get up to the speed limit moderately. But these drivers are jerks anyway, because when they pulled out from behind me the didn’t use directional signals and when they passed me and pulled back into my lane the didn’t use directional signals.

I took my wife to Southwest International Airport (Ft. Myers) a while back (when gas was over $3.00/gallon). On the way back home to Highlands County I decided to see just how many cars were doing the speed limit on I-75. When I left the airport and got onto northbound I-75 at Daniels Road I got up to the 70 MPH speed limit and set my speed control, staying in the right hand lane. It is about 8 miles from Daniels Road to Rt. 80 east, where I got off. In the span of 8 miles I never passed one car, yet 22 cars, trucks, or motorcycles passed me, that were initially way behind me! Some of the cars, I estimated were doing well over 80 MPH, judging by the rate they were pulling away from me.

I’ve heard numerous times on the news that it’s going to take at least $4.00/gallon gasoline to start slowing drivers down. After my little unscientific observation on I-75, I believe it.

When it came time to trade my 11 year old pick up, I bought a Toyota Corolla to replace it.  It averages over 30 mpg.  Our other car is a Honda Pilot which gets fair economy.  I purchased a 14’ trailer, which the Honda can handle, to haul the things I used to throw in the pick up.

The combined price of the Corolla and the trailer was just over half what a new pick up would run.  So we saved a bundle on vehicle cost, and get double the mileage.

If it would pull a horse trailer, I would do it too! But, a Corolla would fit in my horse trailer. I am glad that it has worked for you though. Every little bit helps.

jesseusn - 29 July 2007 10:09 PM

When it came time to trade my 11 year old pick up, I bought a Toyota Corolla to replace it.  It averages over 30 mpg.  Our other car is a Honda Pilot which gets fair economy.  I purchased a 14’ trailer, which the Honda can handle, to haul the things I used to throw in the pick up.

The combined price of the Corolla and the trailer was just over half what a new pick up would run.  So we saved a bundle on vehicle cost, and get double the mileage.

I think that was an intelligent choice. You made, IMO, a good compromise. You get the economy you need but still have the utility of a trailer when you need to haul bulk items.

The good old days in this country, and the world, are over. Inexpensive gasoline is a thing of the past. Folks are going to have to accept the reality of this.

I used to drive 86 miles a day round trip to work. This was back in 1986. I bought a Mitsubishi Mighty Max pick up truck with a 2.0 liter engine and 5-speed manual transmission. I got 37 miles per gallon on the open road. The truck had no power steering or air conditioning. It was strickly a no frills economy vehicle to get me back and forth to work. I gave up a big car ride and comfort for twice the mileage and operating and maintenance costs of a full sized vehicle. Plus, the initial cost of the truck was only $5,500 new at the time.

On the other hand, I had co-workers that went out and bought full-sized, dressed out to the max 4-wheel drive pick up trucks with over-sized tires and wheels to style around in. They wouldn’t dare think of putting anything in the bed that my dirty or mar it, etc. They paid four times as much as I did for my truck and got only a fraction of the mileage.

That was okay by me, as I believe to each their own. However, I don’t feel that way anymore. I think those that buy big gas guzzling vehicles should pay more in terms of a fee(s), since they are using inordinately more gasoline, a finite resource.

I realize that some families are large and they require a larger, roomier vehicle to transport their family. To me, this is a legitimate use of a vehicle, opposed to someone that doesn’t really have a need, but just wants to look good in a gas guzzling vehicle.  I suspect sooner or later, as global oil/gasoline supplies get tighter and thighter we will see many changes to ones heretofore driving habits and vehicles.

I was down in east Ft. Myers today and the price for regular gasoline was $2.73 a gallon at BP and Circle K. Conversely, the price for regular here in Lake Placid (at USA Grocers) is $2.91 a gallon. I’m going back down this Tuesday and will fill up while there. I don’t buy my gasoline in Lake Placid anyway, haven’t for years, since they charge more than the stations in Sebring and Avon Park. Even gas at the stations south of Lake Placid at Rt. 70 and US 27 is cheaper than Lake Placid. Lake Placid sucks big time when it comes to the cost of gasoline.

I am one of your snowbirds. I live at Charlie Creek on 64 during the winter and in Ohio during the summer. Gas this week is 2.55 a gal. When we returned here in May, the gas here was already 3.49 a gal.

Gee, I have a motor home and only drive it two or three times a year and you want to punish me. I am so sad about that. I stay off the road for days just so I can use my RV with good conscious. 

I find it odd that many people in both states that don’t even have jobs get to ride around more then I do.

DillyDally - 05 August 2007 10:25 PM

I am one of your snowbirds. I live at Charlie Creek on 64 during the winter and in Ohio during the summer. Gas this week is 2.55 a gal. When we returned here in May, the gas here was already 3.49 a gal.

Gee, I have a motor home and only drive it two or three times a year and you want to punish me. I am so sad about that. I stay off the road for days just so I can use my RV with good conscious. 

I find it odd that many people in both states that don’t even have jobs get to ride around more then I do.

This isn’t Doodyville, Dilly Dally. These high gasoline prices make me feel grumpy like Mr. Bluster!

If you drive, you should pay - users should pay; those who do not drive should not be subsidizing others’ roadtrips by way of property taxes. The County Commission wants to use property tax money to pay for an asphalt plant to build more roads. Where more roads = more people.

If the transportation funds are not there, then stop building new roads; and start increasing the gasoline tax to pay for road and bridge maintenance. Sorry if you consider paying your fair share for use of the roads a “punishment.” Every time you fill up think of all those dollars going to some group in the Middle East.

When the U.S. stops sending huge transfers of cash to the Middle East for crude oil, then we can all have a better future.