AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGetting a handle on gas costs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve started seeing those teeny little Smart Cars popping up around town. I have no idea if they belong to someone here in our little slice of heaven or the driver is just passing through but every time I see one I have two thoughts:
Man, I’ll bet they get great gas mileage.
Man, I’d hate for something to run into me while I’m driving that thing.
But I do understand the appeal of driving something that is truly fuel efficient. A friend of mine has two kids who are into the usual amount of kid-related activities that require carpooling so he still drives an SUV. Last week he came mighty close to spending $100 to fill his tank and almost passed out at the pump.
A co-worker of mine and I had a debate recently over whether an SUV driver would be a prime target for a mugger. He said yes, because only someone with money could afford to gas up such a vehicle. I said no, because after they filled their tank they’d have no money left to steal.
But I have thought about getting one of those tiny little cars, even if they do remind me of a Libby’s soup can with four wheels. I’d like to get more driving done before having to hit the gas station, but I also don’t want to look like something that needs to be dropped into the recycling bin should I swap paint with something bigger. And with those things everything is bigger.
But I also wonder now that $4 per gallon gas has been with us for a while - are we changing our driving habits? Are we trying to find ways to get around making so many car trips? Are we carpooling?
Or are we trimming other areas of our budget so we can afford to fill up and do our normal weekly driving? Are we so attached to our cars and our routines, do we care what gas costs?
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Jim Osterman
Comments
By D
July 14, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
The reaction to Jim’s column last week garned more responses than any column he had ever written. I suspect this was because the blog provided a forum for folks to express their views on the direction of Sandy Springs city government as well as their views on the preservation of neighborhoods. I am disappointed to see Osterman has returned to his safety zone writing about subjects that are not particularly unique or relevant to Sandy Springs. Did you fly a little too close to the sun there Jim?
By MP
July 14, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Two years ago we were in Rome, Italy. There were hundreds of SMART cars, and thousands of motorcycles and mopeds. Of course most everyone lives in a apt. in the city and the city has an excellent rail system.
The SMART car gets around 45 city, 68 highway and it goes from 0-60 in 7 minutes!
By Julie
July 15, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
I think there are some people that have the money and as yet the price of gas is not affecting them so much. But for many people I think they are definitely changing their life styles due to gas prices. But one of the issues in America is just the fact hat it is so big and spread out. We don’t have a decent transportation system to use as an alternative. The fact that so many people live so far from their work place, they can’t afford to move and have no alternative to driving their car, what else can they do? I DON”T agree with opening off-shore drilling. “They” say it’ll be 10 years before that pans out. So the only solution is to find a environmentally safe/friendly, renewable and cheap form of alternative energy.
By Margie Holland
July 15, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
Our neighborhood is a critical part of what makes Sandy Springs a
community and I would like to register my opposition to the Epsteins School’s expansion.
The school has consistently disregarded the safety and comfort of the
neighborhood in which it resides. The school has been incapable of
managing the current traffic problems on what should be quiet two- lane streets. These streets become parking lots with cars idling,
exhausts polluting the air.
The school has purchased homes along a beautiful street reassuring
the neighbors that the homes would provide a buffer for any future
building while all along they were intending to demolish these homes
to make way for the proposed expansion.
The neighborhoods are the building blocks for communities and Sandy
Springs cannot afford to have the neighborhoods destroyed by
expanding businesses. If it doesn’t serve the neighborhoods, it
doesn’t serve Sandy Springs.
These are just a few reasons believe that the special-use permit
should be denied by the city council.
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