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What's your magic (fuel) number?
Petrol prices today reached $1.70 a litre in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
In Brisbane, bowser prices passed $1.60 for the first time.
Back in April, car insurance company Budget Direct interviewed 2500 motorists to see how far petrol price would have to rise before drivers would consider garaging their wheels in favour of public transport.
New South Wales motorists named $2.25 a litre as their magic mark, while Queenslanders were a lot less tolerant, saying they'd reconsider driving at $1.75 a litre.
You can read a bit more here:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=416712
What's your threshold? For Queensland drivers, their mark of $1.75 a litre is edging ever closer. For New South Wales motorists, there's still a good 50 cents to go.
Do you have a magic number? How are petrol prices making you rethink your car use? Or have you made your peace with ever-increasing prices?
In Brisbane, bowser prices passed $1.60 for the first time.
Back in April, car insurance company Budget Direct interviewed 2500 motorists to see how far petrol price would have to rise before drivers would consider garaging their wheels in favour of public transport.
New South Wales motorists named $2.25 a litre as their magic mark, while Queenslanders were a lot less tolerant, saying they'd reconsider driving at $1.75 a litre.
You can read a bit more here:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=416712
What's your threshold? For Queensland drivers, their mark of $1.75 a litre is edging ever closer. For New South Wales motorists, there's still a good 50 cents to go.
Do you have a magic number? How are petrol prices making you rethink your car use? Or have you made your peace with ever-increasing prices?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by The Wah on -
I believe the average person is stupid enough to keep paying for petrol no matter the cost. They will bitch and moan and complain about it but will continue to pay. They will call for the government to give them a 5 cent discount (which in the grand scheme of things means nothing) and take no personal responsibility.
We are a car culture and most people would rather complain bitterly as they go bankrupt than do the sensible thing and reduce the amount they use their car
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Permalink Reply by Karen on -
[clap] too true The Wah. We as Australians are keen on the bitch and moan, but not so keen on the personal responsibility side of things.
There are plenty of other options other than driving your 4WD - perhaps this will be the kick up the ar*e we need to get off our fat backsides and start using our legs before evolutionary forces take them away from us. Goodo to high fuel prices, I say.
karen
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Permalink Reply by Joanne on -
Some of us have no choice about driving a car. I have to have a car as the closest public transport is 6 kms away(and I am only 35 kms from the CBD.) and the but only comes by 14 times a day. I do drive a hybrid car.
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Permalink Reply by Natalie Bochenski on -
Joanne - that's a great point you raise. For many people, taking public transport isn't an easy or affordable option - if it's even an option at all.
You're very good to drive a hybrid - I wonder if more people are choosing that option, or thinking about downsizing.
We may not be able to control the price of petrol, but we do have some control over how much we use - ie, how big our cars are/ how efficient they are.
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Permalink Reply by The Wah on
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Touche! I will make a promise. When I have the fiscal wherewithal to buy my Bugatti Veyron I promise to by the carbon credits to offset the environmental damage this sweet sweet beast will create
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Permalink Reply by AlRow on -
You would need an Amazon Forest worth plus all the unknown tribes that go with it .
If it's speed you want Why not buy a bicycle and find a very steep hill
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Permalink Reply by AlRow on
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Yes well, we may have a car culture but, at the end of the day, we may be priced right out of it.
That being the case, where else can we turn but to public transport? And then we get into a whole set of other problems, such as:
The inability of all levels of government to see beyond the next election.
The above being the case, we have full buses in the rush hour periods unable to pick up any more passengers (Listen to the ABC for the views of bus users in Brisbane)
Trains which are full before they are halfway to the city and, I don't mean standing room only, but no room at all. The Minister responsible tells us that more three train carriage sets will be deployed soon. He does not tell us the number of sets which will be removed because they are completely worn out.
The BCC is spending billions on tunnels for cars when they should spend that money on tunnels for Mass Rapid Transit systems such as the Singapore set up or, light rail systems out to all inner suburbs.
Unfortunately Government does not have the will power to force the issue. They would rather stay in power even if it is to the detriment of the electorate
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Permalink Reply by The Wah on
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This is one of the rare times it is obvious the government is merely the will of the people in action. There has been no real will for change coming from the people and therefore there has been no real change from the government.
You want something done? Run for office. Any level will do.
If you can't do that then start making noise that your governing body will understand. Phone calls, letters, email. Make your opinion heard.
Ooooor.. you can just sit back and wait for someone else to do somethingand have a good old whinge while society collapses around you. ;)
That last comment is aimed at anyone particularly, by the way. It is general shotgun blast aimed at middle class Australia
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Permalink Reply by AlRow on
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As the wise man said:
"It doesn't matter who you vote for you always end up with a politician..."
Sad but true, I sometimes think it is a case of "Come the revolution"
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Permalink Reply by Karen on
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:) I like that quote. But sadly, I think we are all too fat and lazy to start a revolution.
Karen
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Permalink Reply by Spoiltgirl on -
Having worked for a politician for two years in a previous life I totally agree with you. I have met inspiring people in every other job I have had, but never in politics. I don't know how you initiate change in the world but most of your letters to pollies get answered by the bottom rung of the ladder in the office (ie - people like me) so save your 50 cents on the stamp it'll buy you a quarter of a litre of petrol. The MPs are too busy buying their friends and mistresses long lunches to pay attention to what you have to say.
Who, me, a cynic? !
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