|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
October 16, 2005Drastic Times, Drastic MeasuresGetting innovative in response to high gas pricesByRecord-Eagle staff writer While some people are combining trips, filling tires to capacity and trimming vacation driving to cope with skyrocketing gas prices, others are taking more drastic measures. Matt Luckey, a sales associate at Great Escapes Motorsports, said more people are buying mopeds and motorcycles, "just trying to figure out ways to get more fuel economy." Ever since the huge jump in gas prices in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, those who depend on cars for daily living have experienced sticker shock at the pumps. And with prices for regular unleaded gas continuing to hover around $2.90 this week, there is no end in sight. 'The first week of the gas hikes we had eight or nine mopeds on our floor," said Luckey. "That same weekend we sold all eight or nine. The usual is maybe one or two a week during the summer." Among the hardest hit by higher gas prices are the poor and those with low-paying jobs. The Grand Traverse-Leelanau Department of Human Services has seen increased demand for help with gas costs from clients trying to get back and forth to work and counseling sessions, said Colleen Ryan, family independence manager. Ryan said the department authorized 25 pre-paid gas cards in the amount of $25 each in September, compared to 18 in August. "It isn't a big jump, but it is an increase," she said. Area businesses like Munson Healthcare also have taken a big hit as gas prices soar. Munson consumes an average of about 1,500 gallons of fuel a week -- both regular and diesel -- to operate its fleet of 86 ambulances and other vehicles across the region, according to Al Parker, Munson spokesman. And since the federal government temporarily increased its mileage allowance rate from 40.5 cents a mile to 48.5 cents a mile Sept. 1, some local businesses are following suit. About 20 percent of companies nationawide said they were also planning to help workers with higher gas prices by organizing carpools, offering public transit discounts and telecommuting options, according to a September poll by the Society for Human Resource Management. While state-sponsored ride-sharing programs do not extend to northwestern Lower Michigan, car-pooling in the region may be on the rise. Though the Michigan Department of Transportation doesn't keep daily tabs on them, it operates "park and ride" lots in Elk Rapids, Kalkaska, Acme, Suttons Bay and Maple City. Together the lots provide 140 spaces for commuters along the M-72, M-22 and US-31 routes. Interestingly enough, the Michigan Carpool Parking Lot Program was initiated during the energy crisis of the early 1970s, when the scarcity of fuel along with rising transportation costs encouraged many motorists to begin car-pooling on a wide-scale basis. Jeff Bever and Trevor French are among two pairs of employees at MDOT's Traverse City office who started car-pooling after Katrina. "When the prices got toward the $3 mark we said we can do something better with our money," said Bever, a transportation engineer in the road design department. For more than a month when their schedules conincided, the two men alternated driving every day, meeting at a Mesick gas station when French drove and at Bever's house in Manton when it was his turn. Besides saving money and conserving gas, the arrangement proved to have other benefits, like giving the co-workers a chance to talk and unwind. "It's more relaxing if you don't have to drive after work," Bever said. Tracy Fosbick and Carrie vanLandschoot have carpooled together for four years, saving thousands of dollars in the process. The women, both literacy coaches for Kalkaska Public Schools, travel from the Holiday Hills area to Kalkaska five days a week, using the park and ride lot in Acme. "At times like this it has definitely saved us with the gas," said Fosbick. At $2.89 a gallon, the women would each spend about $2,668 a year in gas and estimated costs to commute alone in her Ford Explorer, according to MDOT's driving cost calculator. "With doing it this way, I can get by on (a tank of gas) every week and a half," Fosbick said. More people also appear to be turning to public transportation as a result of higher gas prices, said Joe DeKoning, executive director of the Bay Area Transportation Authority. Since Katrina, BATA has been receiving many more calls than usual inquiring about its services and how to access them, DeKoning said. Statistics also show that in-town service for the month of August was 11 percent higher than for the previous August and nine percent higher for September than for the previous September. BATA's fleet of 60 vans and buses makes about 407,000 trips a year. Bever said carpooling was a temporary measure but that he will do it again if necessary. "I don't know if we'd ever see gas below two dollars again," he said. "I just don't really see it happening." See Related Stories: Driving habits change as gas prices soar - October 16, 2005 In-town living looking more attractive - October 16, 2005 Riding planes, trains - and scooters - October 16, 2005
|
|
