Back on the bike -- the week of the gas hike
Mood:  caffeinated
Rode my Trek 1000 rebuild every day this week, about 20 miles a day, give or take a few.

The same week, I leanred that... supposedly due to the hurricane, then maybe not ... gas went up in price. The huge price hikes have spawned tales of shortages. $3 a gallon, going on four....

Mostly due to environmental restrictions [and we can debate the right or wrongness of those later, but the fact is they play a key role in this story] the country has too few refineries. Ergo, a bottleneck int he oil production process. The use of "cutom" fuels, with different formulations for different parts of the country required by the gov't, doesn't help. Let's face it, I don't like smog any more than the next guy but let's admit these rules contribute to the cost, right or wrong.

I for one would like to see agitating politicians stop bashing "greedy companies" or blaming natural disasters, and take some responsibility for the cost their laws and regs pass onto consumers.

That said, I have yet to buy the "new gas" [high priced crap]. I haven't gassed up my car in a month. I am reaosnably fit and can ride my bike. But I worry about seniors or those who are older or inform, who are dependant on their cars. Let's face it those who can watch their driving and save, will, but what about those who can't just walk to the store -- even if it's nearby? These price spikes hurt the very populations the gov't so often postures as protecting. Recall all those scaremongers saying any reform of social security would force seniors into the poorhouse, or the tales or people choosing between food and medicine costs? Add one more: choosing between food, medicine, or gas.

It will only get better if we start relying on ourselves, at myriad levels: Relying on our own steam, not the car [biking, duh!], Not relying on foriegn oil, not relying on environmentalist restrictions which mess up the fuel supply and stymie building of needed infrastructure, and not relying on the politicians assurances that "greedy oil companies" or "acts of god [i.e., hurricane damge]" are to blame.

The chickens of years of bad oil policy have come home to roost; our government hatched them with it's far-left restrictions. Sure, the guy who drives down the street to check his mail in a hummer contributes to the problem but niether large consumption nor a single natural disaster [like Katrina] should wipe out a healthy, functioning industry or process. The oil/fuel process in this country is not healthy, it has been atrophying for years and if not Katrina something else would have been the "straw that broke the driver's wallet".

Riding my bike actually kept me immume fromt he shock; it had been a week or two since I even put any gas in, and as stated, nearly a month since I put in any large amount of gas. Happily, I peddled along -- oblivious to what was cousing others to go into a frenzy.
When I did see a gas station sign, I nearly fell off my bike. $3 a gallon! When I got my driver's license nine years ago it was 80-something cents!


What can the gov't do to help with the "oil shortage"? Right now, it can get out of the way, stop strangling the energy industry in this country, and go back to it's just and proper functions. Let's face it, these prices are neither the result of Katrina, nor price gouging by uncrupulous executives, though some of these things undoubtedly had an effect. These prices are the result of thirty years of determinedly not only standing still, but moving backwards.

In the meantime, I will ride my bike whenever I can. Because it's fun. But also knowing I'm not burning my money inside the engine of a car. Maybe later I'll round up some others who feel that the prices are beyond the pale, and we'll march on the capitol with pitchforks to demand some sort of reform. But for now I ride. And smile.