Handicapped and Price of Gas

[8338]

I keep hearing on the radio that with the price of gas going up every day that we all have to change our ways! We either have to car pool (I work in a school and no teacher starts at the same time that I do and in 2 wks they are off for the summer anyway) or to take the bus system or ride a scooter or bike. It doesn't seem like they take the handicap into consideration. I could drive my vehicle to where the bus starts and take it but then it's quite a walk to my building.
As for a bike or scooter- I just can't balance to do it

This just makes me sooooooooooo mad!!!!

What does everyone think!!!!

Barb

[sheila keen]

Hi Barb,

The cost of gas is affecting everyone. I saw in the news some metro areas have carpool programs called slugging. This is in NY. Slugging is when you go to the carpool spot and stand in a single line and it is first come first serve. This method works very well and saves time and money for many. The people that stop to pick up sluggers get to go in the carpool lane. The slugger gets a free ride. This one man had been doing this for 26 years. In Spokane we do not have this currently. So, I drive since I live rural. I drive less and try to make my errands efficient so as to not backtrack wasting gas. Perhaps in your situation you might have a neighbor going the same way. Also, perhaps post in the local paper or online somewhere and maybe you can work out something with someone in your area.

sheila

[jfavata]

Not handicapped here but sure know what you mean about the price of gas!
With Kyle in a hospital @95 miles from home it is another consideration when going to visit - along with working 5 1/2 days a week.
When he is released in @7-10 days he will have clinic appts twice a week so it won't be long before I lose 2 days pay (run out of "paid" days off) and still have the additional @$70/wk for gas traveling back & forth to clinic. Ugh.

[phylscircus2]

With the price of gas would it be safe to carpool? Trust me, that whole scooter idea doesn't sound half bad. Long Island Expressway could handle me putting along......being the way the world is it scares me at the thought of carpooling. I decided next years tax return I am getting a smaller car with great mileage for everyday travel and use our van for when we all have to travel together......4 kids on a scooter, LOL, it would be interesting. I remember the good old days.....my little geo metro (single at the time, no children) 12 years ago......couldn't hold more then $11.50 and it would last two weeks! I put $11.00 in my van right now for just going to work at 15 miles one way I will get two days out of it if I REALLY am careful. No a/c running...I did notice if you go with the moon roof option and open that with both windows down its almost like having the AC on.......yeah, right. I stopped using my car for trips into Manhattan, between parking and gas prices and the tolls.....forget it I would have to sell my car to pay for us to get there.

[jfavata]

Phyllis you can appreciate this - I saw a Smart for Two a few weeks ago - in the HOV lane of the Expressway and keeping up with the traffic! Don't think I could muster up enough nerve to go that fast in one of those...

[ScrapHeap]

I have a 1998 Suburban! Large V8, power everything. My gas mileage has to be calculated in gallons to the mile, not miles to the gallon. It will get up and go though. It will pass almost anything EXCEPT a gas station.And it hickups at every one of those as I pass. I am handicapped, can't feel my feet and have no hand control devices. And I make sure I tell EVERYBODY on the highway who even looks like a road rage candidate. My philosophy, Drive Defensively. Drive A Tank! ;D

Insult to injury, it has spent the last 9 days in the shop getting the lifters and fuel pump replaced. It comes out sometime Monday... IF I can manage to find $1700 or so to bail it out. Gas prices look small even w/this beast compared to the mechanic bill. Guess I shouldn't complain too much. It is in otherwise great shape and it does have almost 170,000 miles on it. This is the first real mechanical problem it's ever had.

Gas will be $7.00 a gallon or more by or before next year. Then we will be reflecting on the days when we thought $4.00 a gallon was highway robbery. It's called "conditioning." That's what is happening w/the soaring gas prices. W/most of our lovely politicians in the tank w/the oil companies (in one way or another), don't expect any relief anytime soon.

[phylscircus2]

$7.00 a gallon.....tell ya what, how about we all pitch in an idea for scooters for each of us....with extra seating. Suburban? I won't complain about my Kia. Did the whole 100,000 mile tune-up about two months ago.....cause the manual says so....$2200.00 Gas mileage on it is unchanged. Yep, planning in a revamped model of scooters with at least 4 seats. Attachment for a car seat for the littlest one and a side car for grandma! Hubby has to walk along side. Wait....tie the "Little Red Wagon" to the back as a trailor.......shhhhh, I am thinking up ideas.....

[ScrapHeap]

No shhh............ Don't hush it up. I kinda like your ideas. Especially hookin up the wagon. ;D

My cousin in law has a Kia, I believe. I have to admit that when I first saw it I was like "bet it's yet another piece of @#$% import." But I was WRONG! Gee, like that never happened before. LOL! Anyhooo, WHEN I decide to trade in or sell of the Urban Tank, I am seriously going to consider one of the larger Kia models. Everyone I've spoken w/that owns a Kia is overall very pleased w/them. But it will be a tough sell. I am a General motors guy from way back. though I've owned many other makes, I've always come back to GM products.

The 4 seater scooter w/theside car has me rethinking the whole thing again. I was kinda like.... "meh, whatever." UNTIL you hooked up the red wagon to the rear. ;D

[Joel]

Hopefully we will soon have lots of gas/electric hybrids to choose from. Motorscooters scare me!!
Joel