Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Washington gasoline sales drop, lifestyles change amid soaring prices
Washington gasoline sales drop, lifestyles change amid soaring prices
By David Kroman, The Seattle Times
Published: July 11, 2022, 6:02am
Washington drivers are buying less gasoline, likely the result of eye-popping prices, a shift in work habits, a growing interest in alternative-fuel cars and, for some, a small effort to reduce their carbon footprint. ... This state is not alone, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, compiled by QuoteWizard, which typically compares insurance rates. Nationwide, gas consumption is down in nearly every state, with few exceptions. The 10,500 fewer gallons of gas being used per day would allow a car to drive around the Earth 260 times. ... “We’re at the same levels we were at in the mid-1990s,” said Nick VinZant, an analyst with QuoteWizard. “It’s part of a fundamental shift in society, but it’s also a direct response to gas prices at the same time.”
The data since 2020 is messy. Washingtonians’ fuel consumption fell in early 2020 to its lowest level in nearly 40 years. The reason, of course, was not fuel prices, but pandemic lockdowns. ... Additionally, people have always driven less in the winter than in the summer, meaning month-to-month comparisons are not direct.
{snip}
James Emery, an engineer who lives in Kirkland, started biking more last October. Recently, he’s tried to make a more conscious shift away from driving. Both he and his partner have cars, and he calculated he was spending thousands of dollars on maintenance and insurance, in addition to gas.
{snip}
Emery, of Kirkland, said he doesn’t expect to return to driving, at least not in the same way. “For me, it’ll be permanent,” he said. “I want to use this as an opportunity to stick, even if [gas] does get cheaper.” ... For {Tyler Boucher and his family, who recently moved from South Seattle to Ravenna}, there’s an added benefit: “It’s really fun to go on a bike ride when the rest of the world is falling apart.”
By David Kroman, The Seattle Times
Published: July 11, 2022, 6:02am
Washington drivers are buying less gasoline, likely the result of eye-popping prices, a shift in work habits, a growing interest in alternative-fuel cars and, for some, a small effort to reduce their carbon footprint. ... This state is not alone, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, compiled by QuoteWizard, which typically compares insurance rates. Nationwide, gas consumption is down in nearly every state, with few exceptions. The 10,500 fewer gallons of gas being used per day would allow a car to drive around the Earth 260 times. ... “We’re at the same levels we were at in the mid-1990s,” said Nick VinZant, an analyst with QuoteWizard. “It’s part of a fundamental shift in society, but it’s also a direct response to gas prices at the same time.”
The data since 2020 is messy. Washingtonians’ fuel consumption fell in early 2020 to its lowest level in nearly 40 years. The reason, of course, was not fuel prices, but pandemic lockdowns. ... Additionally, people have always driven less in the winter than in the summer, meaning month-to-month comparisons are not direct.
{snip}
James Emery, an engineer who lives in Kirkland, started biking more last October. Recently, he’s tried to make a more conscious shift away from driving. Both he and his partner have cars, and he calculated he was spending thousands of dollars on maintenance and insurance, in addition to gas.
{snip}
Emery, of Kirkland, said he doesn’t expect to return to driving, at least not in the same way. “For me, it’ll be permanent,” he said. “I want to use this as an opportunity to stick, even if [gas] does get cheaper.” ... For {Tyler Boucher and his family, who recently moved from South Seattle to Ravenna}, there’s an added benefit: “It’s really fun to go on a bike ride when the rest of the world is falling apart.”