Would You Drive 5 Miles Less To Stop Gulf Drilling?
 

In the US per person consumption of gasoline is 428 gallons per year on average, while in Europe is 59 gallons. Yes, the average US citizen uses 6.2 times more gasoline per person per year than does the average European resident.

The US uses 9.989 million barrels of oil per day to make gasoline (keep in mind that though a barrel contains 42 gallons of crude oil, it doesn't all go to gasoline). If we just reduced our gasoline consumption to five times that of Europe we'd knock 1.8 million barrels of oil off our daily habit.

How much oil comes from all the offshore oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico? 1.75 million barrels.

By reducing gasoline consumption by 20% we can never drill in the Gulf again. That breaks down to reducing your daily driving average by 5.4 miles.



So, could it be done? The average person was driving less last summer when gas prices were reaching all time highs...but would the average person drive less to prevent potential disasters like the current Gulf spill?

http://blog.nature.org/2010/05/gulf-...+Green+Science)

I already nearly never drive. I bought my Ram 1500 Quad Cab brand new in '05 and it now has 10,000 miles on it. The dealers freak out when they see that. I've had 2 oil changes on it in it's life. No sure how much more I could cut that down, cuz when you need a truck, not much else will substitute.

Our energy use must be reduced or replaced - it is obvious.

Solutions will likely require sacrifices, but that is just the way it goes.

Doing nothing different will not solve anything.

San Francisco is a great city for walking, biking and public transport, I can see why you hardly need your car!

That is not good on your engine. You should change your oil at least once a year, no matter how often you drive it.

Treehugger.com blogged about the same subject not long ago. Part of the reason US gasoline consumption is higher is because commute distances are much greater.

Personally I only drive 4-5k required miles a year. Reducing it is not an option. I do however drive differently and like to milk as many gallons as I can from a tank of gas.

Europe has fantastic public transportation and petrol is far more expensive there has been for years... We need a major overhaul to our system... welcome to the end....

very true:2 cents::2 cents::2 cents:

True, US cities are made for cars, where as many European cities pre-date autos. But I found this interesting from the article...

The biggest single chunk of travel ? nearly one-third of the total, or about 60 miles per week for the average person ? was purely for socializing and entertainment (that doesn?t include trips to school and church, family business such as doctors trips, or shopping).

The biggest percentage increase in travel over the past several decades has been the result of shopping trips: Our mileage there has almost doubled, and accounts for nearly 15 percent of travel.

So, if the average American drives 190 miles per week, 60 miles is for entertainment and another almost 30 miles is JUST FOR SHOPPING.

Americans drive the shit out of them, 6x times more than west europe and 100 more than east europe :)

texas is bigger than France of course we use more gas driving duh. lol

ive driven el paso, tx to beaumont texas numerous times, far ass drive!

You're being ridiculous if you think that reducing your gas usage would stop drilling in the gulf. A reduction in US domestic oil usage would only translate in to a reduction in purchased foreign oil.

I find all these dooms day global warming, the earth is dying, ect bitching about it online. I wonder how much heat these servers give off and how much energy you use each day online.

I would guess that to get around Texas your only choices would be to drive or fly? If there were high speed trains that took you from El Paso to Beaumont and in each of those cities you had reliable public transit, or if those cities were planned with pedestrians (rather than autos) in mind, would you still take your car?

Considering the drive I am referring to has always been from One side of US to the other back and forth numerous times, there is simply no other way. I already drive much less than must citizens because I work from home, but when I go on a road trip and want to see the good ole beautiful US, I dont do it on a greyhound bus or some imaginary subway you envision. When you are travelling close to 3000 miles one way and 3000 miles back, there is no public method, and it surely wont be "good for the environment" and will most likely be powered by petroleum anyway.

Road trips are made for two things: harleys or cars, period.

When I hit the road it will never be on a bus, id hitch hike before that

Thats a great question. It must be immense. Most electricity in the US comes from coal burning plants, which are extremely harmful to our environments. Not to mention all the crap in computers themselves...our screens containing thousands of toxic chemicals, laptops with capacitors made of tantalum...I suppose it goes on and on.

Was just curious how many people would be willing to make what seems like quite a small change in their driving habits in order to make a large change in our environment.

Um, ok. So you don't just drive across Texas, you drive across the US. It sounded like you were making this Texas drive quite often and I simply asked if you had another option, would you choose that or continue to take your car. I never mentioned Greyhound, I was talking about public transit in each of those cities that you were saying you traveled to. Anyway, I think it is safe to say you answer would be, CAR! :)

To answet this question: Would You Drive 5 Miles Less To Stop Gulf Drilling?

Most webmasters already drive hundreds of miles less than average citizen per week.

I used to commute 20 miles+ a day, now sometimes my vehicle doesnt move for two days, I ride my bike every single day.

So yes, Im willing to, as I already am ;)

well if i had wings id fly, but these hypothetical fantasies have nothing to do with your original question or reality. Sure id take the fairy mobile if i could, but i cant.

however i do plan on getting me an electric car. lol

Harleys are awesome and I miss mine. But that said, I really doubt I'd ever get another one. At 43 I much prefer the comfort and safety of a good luxury car or a solid 4x4. However, as toys go, I did get much more use out of my harley than I ever did out of my jetski.

ive been thinking hard about getitng me one of those street legal dirt bikes, (basically just a dirt bike with blinker signals) so I can ride the mud trails around here and not have to worry about riding on the street on the way there or back.

I been playing in the mud very often down here riding 4 wheelers and shit but none are legal for the street, I want me a dirt bike bad that I can do minimal road travel so I can go to all the nearby off road places without having to drag dirt bike on trailer, rather just ride the dirt bike there :)

over the past month ive been covered in mud way often LOL going to go mud riding later since it rained over night all the trails and mud holes are slop today!!!

Not in mainland Europe but close and I reckon I do about 10x that :1orglaugh

Public transport is shit here though.

There was something in the newspaper yesterday about if the whole of the UK switched to electric cars we would need 6 new power stations to cope with the increase in demand for electricity.

i hear ya, either way we go we are damned.

Did someone say fairy mobile?!?!?!

http://lullaby-lane-babyshop.co.uk/i...y%20Mobile.jpg

The only real solution I can see to reduce consumption (without a mass extermination of anybody who is ugly policy) would be something like is always shown in films of life on another planet.
Everybody living very cramped together in high rise blocks with no need for personal transportation and nobody venturing out of the area in to what would just be farmland followed by wasteland.

Yup. It's supposed to be good, but it's actually shite! I avoid it at all times if possible...

Fuck no.

They need to get on alternative fuels. End of story.

Totally unrealistic suggestion. You would not make a high speed train for the purpose of traversing TX. That is what our Interstate highway system is for. :2 cents:

I don't drive that much at all. Dirt bike is a gas guzzler though.. .

The thing with this argument is: Just because less consumption COULD negate the need for Gulf drilling, would it actually stop it? Due to the profits involved I am inclined to guess no.

the only way to get petrol usage down in the US is to put high taxes on it, and force people to use more economical cars.

public transport is better sometimes

Cars are the least of the problems when it comes to oil. Quite insignificant compared to the need for oil for everything else.

gasoline accounts for about half of all oil consumption in the US so its very significant.

I use to ride my bike when I was a kid.

I still do...makes me feel like a kid!:)

just dont buy gas and they will build solar cars

I cycled everywhere until I started driving.

I average 5 miles per day driving these days. Quite often if I do not need much at the store I will walk down as it is only a mile to get there.

No, but I would drive 5 miles less a day to stop our dependency of oil from the middle east.

One thing that would probably happen is that most Americans would rather drive 5 miles less per day to reduce their oil consumption from the Middle East and not the Gulf.

Driving on the bicycle is a smart transportation. You can ride the bike and reach speeds of 30 km/h. Not only is it pollution free, but it is also great exercise for the legs. It is a great cardio workout. Why use a stationary bike when you can ride a real bike now!

No I would not. :)

Oil is used in the powering, lubrication, and manufacture of everything. So even if gasoline accounts for a good chunk of our consumption, the effects of replacement are least felt on the automobile. It's one item.

Here are just a few of the other things we need oil for:

Antihistamines
Credit Cards
Ink
Surfboards
Antiseptics
Asphalt
Dentures
Insecticides
Surgical Equipment
Antibiotics
Deoderant
Lipstick
Syringes
Artificial Limbs
Diapers
Medical Equipment
Telephones
Aspirin
Dinnerware
Nylon Rope
Tennis Balls
Balloons
DVDs
Pacemakers
Tennis Rackets
Bandages
Dyes
Pantyhose
Tennis Shoes
Cameras
Eyeglass Frames
Perfumes
Tents
Candles
Fertilizers
Photographic Film
Toothbrushes
Clothing
Food Preservatives
Piano Keys
Toothpaste
Computers
Footballs
Plastics
Toys
Cough Syrup
Glue Shampoo
Tranquilizers
Cosmetics
Golf Balls
Shaving Cream
Umbrellas
Crayons
Heart Valve Replacements
Soft Contact Lenses
Vitamin Capsules

Those are just a sampling. There are many many more.... jet fuel, train fuel, ship fuel, electrical generation fuel.... so in my personal opinion, any statistics that show cars as the most significant consumption of oil is inaccurate, and why I say getting an electric car won't make any difference. Not unless you're also willing to give up everything else.

I'm probably gonna buy me a Tesla model S when it comes out. Only longterm solution that will work is Battery Electric Vehicle.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/p...sectorcons.gif

Dont forget airlines.

People like to point the finger at cars and say "drive less"

LOL look in the sky to see millions of gallons being used faster than any car ever could

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24410809

Yeah, I've seen the charts.

How much of that transportation fuel is commuters going to work versus transportation involved in manufacture, supply, distribution, and consumption of all of the other products? If I order a product from China, (a product which required oil in the product itself, the creation of the product, the powering of the plant that made it, the manufacture, supply, distribution of the clothes the workers wear, etc).... and the jet fuel to fly it to California after I order it?

We going to bring the world to a halt logistically? No more planes, no more ships....
The typical electric car people want to buy has probably used more oil by the time you buy it than you will ever run through it's gas tank.

Gonna do my part. :thumbsup

Electric car is still a big advantage over gas even with increased demands for power. That pollution will be out of your neighborhoods, city streets, schools, parks. It'll be burning off in the power plant instead. Dont forget also all of the parts that internal combustion requires. Lots of mess and waste of parts that need replacing because of carbon build up and all that crap. It's a whole industry against it of not only oil/gas, but parts makers and suppliers and such.

It's ironic that some cities pass laws of no smoking near public parks because children play there. But you can park right up against the fence, or intersections spewing and spewing and spewing far more carcinogens than any number of second hand cigarette smoke could ever equal. Nobody gives a fuck. It's not a sexy political issue that can be solved in one term. Out of mind, out of mind. Doesnt mean it wouldnt be a vast improvement in quality of life. How can that really be measured before hand?

Anyway sure, I havent driven since christmas.