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

Mike Jacoubowsky 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?  What would
>> people do at $6?  At $8 a gallon?
> 
> I think it will take $6/gallon to make a real difference, because we'll
then 
> be seeing $100 fill-ups. 

We are already there. A typical fluffed up fa****on statement truck like 
a ford exhibition has a 28 gallon tank.



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.
Not 
> 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.
And 
> some of those people will realize that a bike, either by itself or
combined 
> with bike-friendly transit, *does* go where you need to go.
> 
> But it won't happen overnight.
> 
> --Mike Jacoubowsky
> Chain Reaction Bicycles
> www.ChainReaction.com
> Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
> 
> 
> "Dane Buson" <dane@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
> news:ovbmf5-734.ln1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> In rec.bicycles.misc Ted <nobody@[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.  Bog knows I've seen an increase in bike
>> commuters the last two summers [1].  I 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?  What would
>> people do at $6?  At $8 a gallon?
>>
>> [1] Even more than usual.
>> [2] Seattle To ****tland - the big distance ride in the region.
>>
>> -- 
>> Dane Buson - sigdane@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> "If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic." 
> 
>