Gas is nearly $4.00 a gallon in the DC metro area

[Squatch]

And this morning, I found myself astounded, once again, that of the tens of thousands of cars that I pass on my way in to work, nearly every one of them has only one occupant. In stretches that last for miles around Woodbridge, Springfield, and along the I-395 corridor, those single-occupant cars are just creeping along, idling in massive traffic jams.

There really is no excuse in this geographic are to not seek more fuel-efficient means of commuting. If you live in the outlying areas, you've got the VRE (Virginia Railway Express). There's a whole subculture dedicated to efficient "slugging". The Metro Rail is as good as an American light rail system can be. The buses come in from as far as Richmond and points beyond.

I just don't get it.

[frazzled]

1. $4.25 in Chicago

We found some yesterday for $4.19 and thought it was a bargain.
You can get it somewhat cheaper in the suburbs--but then you have to drive 30 miles there and back to get it.

[shagin]

2. Chicago, highest prices in the nation

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-gas-prices-web-may19,0,7796647.story

[Squatch]

3. I guess the high price of gas is my secondary point...

my primary point is that, given the current situation, not many people are taking advantage of the mass transit options available to them (at significant cost savings over operating a single-occupant car/truck) which is kinda weird.

[frazzled]

9. Well, we use public transit 80% of the time

since we live in the city, and we have one hybrid car, a Prius. So we try, we try. Sometimes we have to do errands that require a car (such as large grocery shopping or a trip to the nursery for plants), and sometimes we need to go out of town. We're not ready to give up a car altogether.

[LSK]

11. $4.03 in Dupage

Its usually cheaper without Cook County taxes but now its over 4 also.

[marmar]

4. On the postive side, I've heard use of the Metro is setting all kinds of records...

n/t

[shagin]

5. It was packed when I was visiting

Last month during a trip. The DC metro is very cool, but at night (especially when the nats are playing) you get to know the person standing next you very personally

[Virginia Dare]

10. The bad news is that Metro has been so severely under-funded

and mismanaged for so long, they are having a hard time keeping up with the higher demand.

[Mabus]

13. The Orange lines seem to be going down more frequently

A couple of months ago it was the Red line that was having trouble.

[Mabus]

6. We've got $4+ gas here in Maryland

I'm in Rockville and the price just went over $4 at some of the local stations within the last week or so. We use the Metro to get around the area and to get into DC. fwiw, I've noticed there are more people using it lately. At least the traffic is up when I go to drop off my husband in the morning. We also use the local buses whenever we can. The public transportation around here is so much better than back home and it is pretty cheap too. I've also found, despite warnings otherwise, that the Metro (booth) people are pretty nice and informative.

I don't get it either. The transportation system around here is phenomenal compared to what we had back in Kansas. My husband really likes it because he can get an extra hour's worth of work done while he's commuting.

We moved here from Kansas back in January and our gas consumption has gone way down because of efficient mass transit systems in this area. I used to have to fill-up two or three times a month. Since we got here we've filled the gas tank up six times in five months. The main reason for that many fill-ups is because our best friend in the area lives down in Virgina and we drive there two or three times a month to see him. We drive down instead of using public transportation because we tend to hang out at his house later than the Metro runs.

[matt007]

7. DC is like a cross between a giant office and a museum that people live in.

I liked the metro. I just wish that it was less car centric. They would set a good example for the rest of the country. That is what a capital should do. lol

I was there for a few months.... Still like New Orleans better ;)

[jaksavage]

8. It was $1.50

when F#*up took office.

[LSK]

12. was it that high?

[Initech]

14. Diesel is $4.89 a gallon in So Cal.

And we have tons of huge, gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs that eat this stuff up. :yoiks: