Thursday, March 19, 2009

Gas is cheap. But we're not going anywhere.

Americans continued driving less in January, logging 7 billion fewer miles, or 3.1 percent less, compared to the same month a year earlier. That's the first consecutive decline for January since 1981-1982, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The decline in driving began in December 2007 - the same time the recession began.

Ohio had the biggest state drop for January, at 10.2 percent. Miles driven in North Carolina was down 2.1 percent, and down 2.5 percent in South Carolina.

Thirteen states in the west posted an increase of .2 percent. California had the biggest increase for January, at 2.7 percent.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Here's a novel idea lower the federal tax and state tax on a gallon of gas. Why do we accept such high taxation?

Anonymous said...

High taxiation? are you kidding? we have the lowest gas taxes of any developed nation. Why would we decrease taxes when our infrastructure needs more money to be rebuilt.

hate it said...

This guy gets paid to tell us the obvious?

Anonymous said...

Your novel idea isn't novel at all... too many complain when they don't realize how easy we have it compared to other nations... definitely lowering taxes won't help (next they will expect government to pay them for everything... )

John Keels said...

Lower gas taxes in a populated area like charlotte that already has road and infrastructure problems? You guys who say this are idiots. You wanted growth so be prepared to open your wallet to pay for it.

John Keels said...

If you want low taxes move Murphy or Jefferson. Perhaps move to Tennessee or Texas.

Anonymous said...

Steve, whether or not you understand the reason behind or even "knew" the numbers would be lower, I do not know.

You may have a feeling of why the numbers are lower.

Let me confirm your feelings.

The American people are hard to control but sadly, slow to learn, which is the exact combination required to produce the American Will.

The People have decided to quit consuming. Specifically? oil.

Their mind's made up.

The people who try to swim against that will become the next disenfranchised.

Uncle Sam.

Anonymous said...

Now if we could just teach driving etiquette to those on the road, life would be better!
Keep right, except to pass.
If you insist on blowing through that stop sign, at least have the decency to stay in the right lane.
Use your turn signal before you switch lanes.

Anonymous said...

Yes, lower taxes in an area like Charlotte. Why not be a world class city with the lowest tax rate in the country?

Anonymous said...

Lets face it Steve , if the Government was scared of gas running out they would have made electric cars. Gasoline at a high rate helps the State through taxation. All States love when gas goes to $4.00 a gallon because of windfall. Now we have the electric car Charlotte could have been the first city using it, why not. Face it readers just try to go faster than 40 mph down the freeway at most times of the day , simply its impossible. I always laugh at MUSCLE cars next to me that are stalled in standing traffic , then moments later the floor it as if they are really going to get somewhere.

Anonymous said...

Charlotte only has one lane on its freeway; Yes a Highway patrolman told me "they dont consider a merge lane a lane at all". So there you have it one lane freeway just like the simply minds that set this city up thinking that nothing will change, right , get out of here Charlotte One LANE its obsurd. Now the other problem exists , no money but most of all no room to expand , even a worse senario . Now they will have to build another road through rock hill/fort mill area to merge into I-485 from the South knocking down buildings and taking land . This city is in deep doo doo .

Anonymous said...

Guess what the latest News we have heard about LIGHT RAIL? Its running full capacity and financially broke just like I told them WASHING D.C. runs. Yes folks, the rest of LIGHT RAIL , just like the OUTERBELT will never get finished until 20 years from now. Maybe never at all just like the OUTERBELT. People if you dont have at least two lines from North to South its no good ; And this light has to go our at least ten to fifteen miles to be effective. What in hell were they thinking?

Anonymous said...

Look face it STEVE C harlotte has a Champange appetite and a beer pocket book. Look I want to drive a ferrari also but my wallet sez KIA. Steve this city needs a Washington .C. expert to come here and live here and get this mess on the right road to recovery. We need a CITY INCOME TAX of about no less than $300 dollars a year and getther done. How can you be world class when we are third world here . POT holes all over, dodging METEOR CRATERS down the streets, even whenb they patch them a week later a strom washes the crap out donw the drain.

Anonymous said...

I won't give NC a penny of my gas money when their gas taxes are so much higher than SC. Figure it out big-wigs, I'm not padding your pocket nor expecting you to bail me out.