US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

kublikhan · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:28 pm Post subject: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

Traffic in the US fell 1.4% in 2007 and 7.5% in 2008(through March). This contrasts with the average of at least 2% growth in traffic for the last 20 years.

Also, SUV sales are down 27%, pickups down 14%. Auto's overall were down 8%.

Public transportation hit an all time high in 2007.

It seems some lifestyle changes for the better are finally starting to happen in the US.
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frankthetank · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

Usage is still up, just not climbing as quickly. Whatever happens i'm sure China/India/whoever will pick up the slack. When people have no jobs/money, they won't need to drive at all.

Game over.
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joeltrout · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Sep 19, 2007 Posts: 1317

I am happy to say I am part of the reduction in consumption.

Thankfully our offices moved out of downtown LA which was a 1 hour plus commute on the freeway from my house.

Now our office is 4 miles from my house and only a 15 min commute on surface streets. If I had to I could easily bike to work. I am just too lazy right now.

If possible, I encourage everyone to live close to work.

joeltrout

MD · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

Bottom is still a very long way off.

Pray for a gentle slope.
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kublikhan · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

Tyler_JC · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

Does this surprise anyone?

People respond to prices. $3.50 gasoline makes people a bit more inclined to conserve.

Just wait till we see the big 5 at the gas stations.

I expect to see fewer SUVs and a lot more compact cars this summer. They recently built a brand new Smart Car dealership a few miles away. Smile

People aren't going to sit in their driveways and starve to death. They'll ditch the gas guzzler and switch into something a little more economical.
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SILENTTODD · Last edited by SILENTTODD on Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:16 am; edited 1 time in total

In the last 2 months I've noticed a significant drop in traffic Saturday afternoons on 91 Freeway out of Orange County California to Riverside, which is one of the most congested highways in Southern California.

For about the last 8 years, traffic on Saturday afternoon was as bad as the Monday thru Friday commuter traffic (I live 2miles from work, I don't do that). Now it's almost like it was about 12 years ago, traffic flowing at highway speeds and noticeably less cars. Friends at work say the drive has been much easier in the last several months.

I believe this is being caused by the sharp down turn in the economy and the equally sharp upturn in the gas prices. Premium gas (Super) in Orange County is already over $4 a gallon with the other grades closing in fast.
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Tanada · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

L I had a good laugh on the way home tonight, my local Speedway was slow to catch on when everyone else spiked prices yesterday. Tonight they had the higher price to match the nearsest stations but the pumps were bagged because they ran out of gas!
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GoghGoner · Intermediate Crude Joined: Apr 10, 2008 Posts: 514

Eli · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

And we burned a quarter of our corn crop in our gas tanks last year and are planing to burn a third of it next year, we're Fark.

frankthetank · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: US traffic falls 7.5% in 2008

Come on... We are doomed. The head story on MSNBC right now is limiting of rice at Costco and Sams Club. Come on doomers... this is the crap we been talking about for years. ITS HERE Smile

I haven't noticed ANY change in traffic patterns here in southwest WI. Maybe more people are driving less miles. The population continues to grow.
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kublikhan

Peepers · Heavy Crude Joined: Jan 01, 2005 Posts: 216

I've certainly noticed some changes in traffic... The trains here in Cleveland are much busier, and we didn't have a very busy rail system to begin with. Even during midday and evening hours, the trains are pretty busy with more passengers, and so are the buses. The station in my neighborhood, at West 117th, had a dozen people waiting on the platform at 9 p.m. tonight when usually there's only 2 or 3 people waiting at that time. It's an upside to the SHTF.

dohboi · Light Sweet Crude Joined: Dec 05, 2005 Posts: 1472

Every day, I walk or bike over one of the busiest sections of interstate highway in the upper midwest (94 near downtown Minneapolis) and I can't notice any decrease--its always near or at standstill at rush hour, and faster usually at other times.

MattSavinar · Elite Joined: May 09, 2004 Posts: 2000