Be Optimistic

While many see the exponentially growing price of gas as a burden to American society, it provides an incentive for those of us who would normally drive a block to pick up a coke from a gas station to get out and be active. As Go-Getter for Government stated in his article As Gas Prices Increase, Extra Spendings Decrease, the amount of money being poured into our gas tanks is affecting the way we live our lives. While I agree that car companies need to create more fuel efficient vehicles sometime in the near future, I also believe that this could be the event that makes people more aware of the benefits of mass transportation.
For years subway, bus and train companies have been trying to convince America that it is much more efficient and environmentally friendly to use mass transportation, but with the economy thriving and car ownership soaring, not many paid attention. Now that the price of gas is putting a dent in everybody’s banking accounts, more people are becoming aware of their city buses or subways and how it may not be as convenient as having your own vehicle, but it is much more affordable. I think that if more Americans start to take advantage of mass transportation, that bus, train and subway systems will become increasingly more efficient and refined to meet the needs of their users. With that, it will become a vicious cycle that users will want to use them more and sooner or later it will be just as convenient to ride a subway to work as it would be to take your own car. Thus, this will cut back on our use of gasoline as a country, and in turn protect our environment and possibly alleviate some of the tension with foreign oil companies.
Also, as I stated before, Americans are already pushing for healthier lifestyles so why not look at this gas crisis as an opportunity to become more physically active and walk or ride your bike if you are going short distances. I understand that not all of us are marathon runners or competitors in the Tour de France, but you can save a lot of money annually if you cut your driving back a little bit here and there.
So instead of looking to car manufacturers to hurry up the process of more fuel efficient vehicles, why not take advantage of other modes of transportation that we already have available to us? In the end, you WILL save money.