It’s become a constant in the news – every day, someone
reports on what people are doing in the wake of such high gas prices. While
many people are cutting back on what they spend in other areas, resoundingly,
people are changing their lifestyles so that they don’t have to purchase as
much gas. Yesterday, the Federal Highway Administration announced that Americans
put 9.6 billion fewer miles on their
cars this past May than they did in May of 2007, the largest decline since
records started to be kept. The US transportation secretary seems to think this
is a bad thing, noting that the less people drive, the less revenue the highway
system rakes in.

Boo hoo.

Having nicer roads isn’t going to change anything – it
doesn’t make gas cheaper, it doesn’t make the planet anymore ecologically
sound, it doesn’t stop global warming, it doesn’t end road rage. All I see in
this article is that Americans are accepting the fact that we need a different
way. In 2007, public transportation was used 10.3 billion times, the highest
ridership in 50 years. City transit authorities are breaking records left and
right. Cycling to work and telecommuting are also on upswing. And all this goes
to show is that as people seek out new ways of existence, the federal highway
system will need to do the same. We can only hope that – in the unlikely event
gas prices decrease – drivers won’t revert back to their cars and will continue
demonstrating that public transportation, walking and cycling are the best ways
for getting around town.