Re: Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear

On May 12, 11:22=A0pm, "Mike Jacoubowsky" <Mi...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
wrote:
> > It does make me wonder, if a small bump in price to $4 is enough to
> > cause changes, how much would a real price spike change? =A0What would
> > people do at $6? =A0At $8 a gallon?
>
> I think it will take $6/gallon to make a real difference, because we'll
th=
en
> be seeing $100 fill-ups. That's something that will cause people to step
> back and wonder if it's really worth it, or if they need to drive less.
> Perhaps a lot less. And buy smaller cars. But getting people onto bikes
> isn't a done deal just because gas prices go high. This remains a
> car-centric culture. In the long run, yes, we'll see fundamental change.
N=
ot
> just increases in numbers use mass transit, but actually demanding more
&
> better mass transit, and wondering why it doesn't go where they need to.
A=
nd
> some of those people will realize that a bike, either by itself or
combine=
d
> with bike-friendly transit, *does* go where you need to go.
>
> But it won't happen overnight.
>
> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> Chain Reaction Bicycleswww.ChainReaction.com
> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
>
> "Dane Buson" <d...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>
> news:ovbmf5-734.ln1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > In rec.bicycles.misc Ted <nob...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> >> "Four-dollar-a-gallon gas is good for business ? if you run a
> >> bike shop. Commuters around the country are dusting off their
> >> old two-wheelers ? or buying new ones ? to cope with rising fuel
> >> prices, bicycle dealers say..."
>
> >> Associated Press article:http://xrl.us/BikeShops
>
> > It reminds an awful lot of the articles we've seen at the beginning of
> > summer the last two years. =A0Bog knows I've seen an increase in bike
> > commuters the last two summers [1]. =A0I expect lots more this year,
> > especially as we get closer to STP time [2].
>
> > It does make me wonder, if a small bump in price to $4 is enough to
> > cause changes, how much would a real price spike change? =A0What would
> > people do at $6? =A0At $8 a gallon?
>
> > [1] Even more than usual.
> > [2] Seattle To ****tland - the big distance ride in the region.
>
> > --
> > Dane Buson - sigd...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > "If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic."

People look at the total cost of running a car. They will piss and
moan about expensive gas, but they will end up just buying cheaper
used cars. Instead of a typical family having 2 new medium/large cars,
they will get one new one, and one junker. the junker might not use
less gas, but it will be cheaper in th elong run.

Joseph