Recent Streetsblog USA posts about Gas Prices

Rising or Falling, Volatile Gas Prices Underscore Importance of Transit

By Ben Goldman | May 16, 2012 | 2 Comments

When gas prices go up, it can be a big motivator for people to start taking transit more frequently. But according to a study released by the American Public Transportation Association and Building America’s Future [PDF], even when gas prices start to go down, the newly converted keep riding transit. The report, “Volatile Gas Prices […]

Political Jockeying Over Gas Prices Is Divorced From Reality

By Tanya Snyder | May 4, 2012 | 1 Comment

Though many transportation reformers, economists and environmentalists would say that gas prices aren’t nearly high enough to disincentivize single-occupancy-vehicle use and to pay for the external harms, Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill take it for granted that gas prices are too damn high. In fact, it’s one of the very, very few things that they do agree on these […]

The Utter Futility of a Gas Tax “Holiday”

By Ben Goldman | Mar 28, 2012 | 4 Comments

Disclaimer: The House and Senate, in the grand scheme of things, have plenty of time to hack together a short-term extension of transportation funding, or even to pass the Senate bill outright if they felt like it. Sometimes, though, to the outside observer (even to the cross-eyed reporter) it sure does look like we could […]

Obama Counters Gas Price Demagoguery With Commitment to Fracking

By Tanya Snyder | Mar 13, 2012 | 2 Comments

It’s been almost a year since the Obama administration released its Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future, but more importantly, it’s been two weeks since Energy Secretary Steven Chu got chewed out for not caring enough about lowering gas prices. And Newt Gingrich, whose presidential campaign is slipping into irrelevancy, can still do some political […]

Trapped By Car Dependence: Stories From Commute-Battered Americans

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 31, 2011 | 44 Comments

Meet Darren Flenoy, a Bay Area security guard who lives 40 miles from work. Gas costs him about $500 a month. His car payment is another $500. On top of that, he spends $80 per month on insurance and $180 on tolls. In total, Darren’s commute costs him half of his monthly income. He must […]

Well That’s a Relief: Hurricane Irene Shouldn’t Affect Gas Prices Much

By Tanya Snyder | Aug 29, 2011 | 6 Comments

Now that we’ve made it through Hurricane Irene, in many cases with less damage than expected, we can turn our attention to the real question: what does this mean for gas prices? From Lexington, Kentucky to Palm Springs, California, consumers have seen some jump in gas prices over the past week. Some say it may […]

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