The transition

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As of late April 2026, Marin County has some of the highest gas prices in California and the nation, with averages for regular unleaded hovering around $6.20 to $6.27 per gallon. Prices in the Bay Area have surged due to Middle East tensions impacting oil supply, making Marin one of the most expensive areas in Northern California. Diesel is about $1.50 more, $7.70.
 
I don't drive enough to care what gas costs, but I did notice that we're up to around $5/gallon in my area of the CO Front Range while sitting at a red light today. Diesel was about $6.50 :oops:

And from what I hear from investing channels, we haven't really felt the pain of the Hormuz saga yet
 
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A family was struggling to replace a second car. I made a kid hauler cargo eBike for them. The mom uses it for 90% of trips in town, saving them $1000 per month in payments, insurance, depreciation, licensing fees, gas, and maintenance. That frees up $12,000 per year and they have had it four-years. That is $48,000.
 
We measure fuel- petrol/diesel in litres. If AI converts correctly (wouldn't stake my life on it) the current UK average per litre of petrol (£1.57) into US gallons as: $8.02 per gallon. Going up daily. Diesel converts an eyewatering £1.90 per litre to $9.70 per US gallon. Cheers USA!! Though to be fair the Petrol companies must be raking it in. Prices went up first with covid, then mad king Putin's demented full invasion of Ukraine and now mad king Trump's Middle East adventures. Only silver lining; he's tried to kill EV incentives but looks like this war is backfiring as people see EVs as the economic option. Like Honda's small clean engines defeating GM back in the fuel crises of the 70s and Japanese small cars becoming hugely popular in America (and Europe). As Petaluma says - just get on yer bike!
 
PedalUma said:
A family was struggling to replace a second car. I made a kid hauler cargo eBike for them. The mom uses it for 90% of trips in town, saving them $1000 per month in payments, insurance, depreciation, licensing fees, gas, and maintenance. That frees up $12,000 per year and they have had it four-years. That is $48,000.
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The world would certainly be a better place if we were all able to do this.
Unfortunately, the majority of the population, due to climate, topography and distance, isn't able to use bicycling as a reliable and regular form of transportation.
Still, if everyone who was able to bike did so, it would be interesting to see just what the total impact would be on economics and overall "world health".
 
1.57 is actually about right, it was 1.22 just before covid and if you applied inflation directly to petrol it would be around the price it is now
 
Rás Cnoic said:
We measure fuel- petrol/diesel in litres. If AI converts correctly (wouldn't stake my life on it) the current UK average per litre of petrol (£1.57) into US gallons as: $8.02 per gallon. Going up daily. Diesel converts an eyewatering £1.90 per litre to $9.70 per US gallon. Cheers USA!! Though to be fair the Petrol companies must be raking it in. Prices went up first with covid, then mad king Putin's demented full invasion of Ukraine and now mad king Trump's Middle East adventures. Only silver lining; he's tried to kill EV incentives but looks like this war is backfiring as people see EVs as the economic option. Like Honda's small clean engines defeating GM back in the fuel crises of the 70s and Japanese small cars becoming hugely popular in America (and Europe). As Petaluma says - just get on yer bike!
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Don't worry, I think it is safe to expect fuel prices in the states will reach those levels in the next few months.

There is an interesting political overlap on this mess.

On the average, more car-dependent areas of the United States tend to vote Republican and less car-dependent areas tend to vote Democratic.

The other thing is that you don't need a secret decoder ring to figure out how, on average, a guy owning a Ford F150 votes as opposed to someone driving a Nissan Leaf.

Also behind this is the dark shadow of absolutely insane car loans here. The purchase price for a new large pickup can easily be $100k. And people are financing them on 84-month loans, often with usurious interest rates. I'm kind of doubtful a lot of those people are going to keep making $1000+ per month payments on vehicles they can't afford to drive...
 
Mr. Coffee said:
The purchase price for a new large pickup can easily be $100k. And people are financing them on 84-month loans, often with usurious interest rates. I'm kind of doubtful a lot of those people are going to keep making $1000+ per month payments on vehicles they can't afford to drive
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It wouldn't suprise me if I learned an extra $80 per month for fuel wasn't a big deal to someone driving a $100k truck.
 
Truck prices in the US have left reality and EV versions if they ever take off will just mimic the insanity.
F150 gets 16-22mpg, add in big tyres, roof rack and even an empty trailer and youre in single digits.
 
Roamers said:
It wouldn't suprise me if I learned an extra $80 per month for fuel wasn't a big deal to someone driving a $100k truck.
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Except that it probably is more like $300 or $400 per month for fuel at these prices and that big truck fuel economy. Also people in car-centric places and rural areas drive more miles per year than the average so those numbers are even larger.
 
Mr. Coffee said:
Except that it probably is more like $300 or $400 per month for fuel at these prices and that big truck fuel economy. Also people in car-centric places and rural areas drive more miles per year than the average so those numbers are even larger.
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I suppose there are outliers; plus I did indicate increase, not total fuel bill. Search shows "average miles" is 1200 miles per month. We do ~1500 per month in a van that gets 18ish for most of those. Currently paying $1.50 per gal more for diesel $125 more per month. If we did the same with our car @ 25 mpg and current $1 per gallon more it would be $60.

If someone is spending $3-400 more per month for fuel, they are probably in business; that should become their customer's problem, not theirs. I don't recall the reason, but I recall a period where a "fuel surcharge" was add by trades people and delivery services.
 
stompandgo said:
Was it on a cargo bike frame? Or was the cargo in a trailer?
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The bike is a Yuba Mundo cargo bike. It has a TSDZ2, before the 'B' addition. I now use the DM02 with a different mounting system that is quiet. The climate in Coastal Nor. Cal. allows for riding bikes all year.
 
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Yesterday at 5:00 was a big group ride that included lots of kids. It was promoted at all the grade schools. It was inculcation of the next generation of cycling citizens. It was slow, but worth it. We had to cross two major streets and I put myself out in the middle to aid the crossings. The city limited us to 29 crossing at a time because cars come first according to the laws made in the 1950's. But the ground has since shifted here tword bikes frist.
I have said this before, so forgive me if redundant. Guys under 5'5" drive jacked up F-350's twelve blocks to the gym. Then they take the elevator to the second floor where there are the stair climbers and stationary bikes.
 
Roamers said:
I suppose there are outliers; plus I did indicate increase, not total fuel bill. Search shows "average miles" is 1200 miles per month. We do ~1500 per month in a van that gets 18ish for most of those. Currently paying $1.50 per gal more for diesel $125 more per month. If we did the same with our car @ 25 mpg and current $1 per gallon more it would be $60.

If someone is spending $3-400 more per month for fuel, they are probably in business; that should become their customer's problem, not theirs. I don't recall the reason, but I recall a period where a "fuel surcharge" was add by trades people and delivery services.
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I do love living close to work. I might put 2500 miles on my truck in a whole year. Put almost that on the Allant :)

I'll rent if I plan to pile on miles. Rented a Camry hybrid last year & got combined ~55 MPG on a mostly highway trip and it's a reasonably big car (although very low to the ground). It's a good feeling having not only exceptional range, but no sticker shock at the pump.
 
Roamers said:
We like the visibility out of our 4WD Sprinter. Took a trip in our Ascent a few days ago and it was like sitting on the ground.

There is a solution for everyone!
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Yeah, I hear that. That Camry was like a go-kart. My main ride is a 4x4 Tacoma, mildly lifted, with fairly beefy ATs. It will go anywhere and I can see everything.

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