[PRCo] Re: gas and travel

[John Swindler]

Hi Fred
 
It's only worth driving if one plans on stopping at several places on the way.  As a retiree, there is a lot to be said for that.  
 
If in a hurry and not wanting to "burn off" vacation days, then a flight becomes the option.  It's not worth the effort to figure the cost down to the penny.  Flying is a lot cheaper for just two stops.  I'd also check Amtrak, but only for the ambiance.  
 
I saw a website today offering hotel discounts - it might have been 30%.  It was also offering discount weekend getaways this summer, advising people to travel outbound on a Thursday and return on Monday or Tuesday.  Cheaper airfares.
 
John
 
 
> From: fwschneider at comcast.net> Subject: [PRCo] gas and travel> Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:41:18 -0400> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org> > You are correct. The long term trend is up and probably up > sharply. Too many people are forgetting that we have probably used > half the world's fuel and that demand has be going up at 3 percent a > year and that China and India have eight times more people than we > do. Don't expect it to go down long term. Maybe a minor course > adjustment and then back up. This minor adjustment would be a good > time to dump that SUV or Hummer on some unsuspecting slob who thinks > we've beaten the Arabs. It will be a good month for the Cadillac > dealer on route 283 to get rid of all those Escalades.> > What our politicians just do not want to tell us is that the U. S. A. > has 4 percent of the world's population and we consume 20 percent of > the world's oil each year. Sorry guys, that will not continue. You > can only play the 800 pound gorilla role so long.> > I felt sorry for the local Indian and his wife who own their Sunoco > gas station. I topped off the tank Sunday morning after coming back > from Baltimore. They were selling for $3.779. I asked the wife > what they paid for that tank of gasoline. The answer? $3.770. > By the time I slipped my American Express card into the pump reader > (which cost them three percent), they lost 51 cents selling the > gasoline to me. Sometimes I think I should buy my gas from a > someone I don't care about instead of a family I like. I go to > those people and I feel I have to buy a coke and some peanuts so they > can at least break even.> > Travel industry hurting? No kidding. I want to drive to Phoenix > for the December opening of the light rail. Considering going to San > Diego too. That would burn up a thousand dollars worth of gasoline > in my VW. Cutting back from 75 to 60 mph would save about $150 in > fuel and I can remember when I could cross the country and come home > with a Ford V-8 for $112 worth of gas. I'll bet I can find some > bargains at Motel 6 this time.> > On Jul 28, 2008, at 10:01 AM, John Swindler wrote:> > >> > As Ed once commented, it fluctuates, but long term trend is up. If > > oil drops to around $100 per barrel, I would not be surprised to > > see states raise gas taxes. They are hurting from increased > > supplier costs for repair material.> >> > Saw diesel at $4.79 per gallon at Hess on way to work this > > morning. This is hurting the transit industry with its reliance on > > diesel buses. One large agency in northeast PA was looking at > > increase from $2.50 last year to $4.50 starting July 1st.> >> > These are interesting times. Public transit is becoming more > > attractive to people's wallets, which could help rail transit > > proposals. Travel industry is hurting, for those who like to travel.> >> > John> >> >> >> >>> 
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