Americans drove less in 2007 for first time: government

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSN2644070720080327

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As gasoline prices broke records in 2007, Americans cut back on their driving for the first time in more than 20 years, according to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

Total travel fell 0.4 percent to 3.00 trillion miles from 3.01 trillion miles in 2006.

In December, when U.S. retail gasoline averaged $3.02 a gallon, travel fell 3.9 percent to 236.6 billion miles from 246.3 billion miles in 2006.

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[nxylas]

1. There's been some discussion of this in the Public Transportation DU Group

The trend towards taking mass transit has been noted in several stories there.

[Clear Blue Sky]

2. Basic economics at work (and high gas prices)...

[kestrel91316]

3. I cut back more than the 0.3% average.

Not going up to SB to see the (ex)BF helps.

I drive about 2500 miles a year these days. Everybody ELSE can get to work on cutting back THEIR mileage now, thank you.

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. That is excellent.

I thought I was doing well at @6000mpy. I walk or bike to my primary job every day, but 3 days/wk I have to drive to my secondary job. Public transport around here really sucks and you take your life in your hands going out on these streets with a bicycle. Good news is my #2 job will have employment potential closer to home after this summer and I may be able to bike to the new location - or if not, it will at least be closer to drive. Get that down to @4000mpy.