Problem getting gas? Rationing?

“Don't know how I screwed that up DDX.

But DDX it's easier to scare than to think thru an issue.

I'm taking my Smokies trip this weekend very seriously. I probably won't decide until tomorrow morning and then it will be based on what the gas situation is in Chattanooga. If I refill there then I have enough to get to the Smokies and back again. I think I'll be fine, but I'm not going to get stranded.

I got stuck in Dennis evac with long gas lines and don't want that again.””

“We are up to 3.19 a gallon...some places are saying 3.00 no matter what the octance.
Yesterday afternoon a lot of pumps were out by 8pm..some stations just closed.. It's crazy and it really hurts driving a long way to hike.
Rox”

“Gas here has gone up about $.35. No lines yet, people don't seem to be panicking.

I heard on the radio this morning that the industrial area between Baton Rouge and NO will be getting their power back today or tomorrow, this from the Communications Director of Entergy, the electric company down there. This area includes a lot of refineries. However, he did say that restoring power downstream of NO is going to take a lot longer, and that there are two major refineries down there.”

“Hey mr insult your a real a-hole”

“Get used to it!

20 oil rigs missing in Gulf of Mexico: US Coast Guard : http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050831/ts_afp/usweatheroilgulfrigs_050831213040

Newest (and very informative and very scary) report from an anonymous insider: http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2005/8/31/83553/8973#more”

“Gas has been slowly climbing in price the past few weeks, but Katrina didn't seem to accelerate the trend. The biggest influence here on the 'left coast' is China's growing demand. Most places just went over $3/gal, and the discount stations are expected to go over $3/gallon this weekend. Its expected to peak at around $3.40/gal.

News reports are Californias strict air quality regs, and special blends, have made us an isolated island in the fuel market. What goes through the local refineries gets consumed here, too.”

“Almost all stations are over $3 per gallon for regular. The few that are less than that are out of regular. I found a "cheap" station last night and ended up buying plus because they didn't take down their regular-grade prices like other stations have done. A little underhanded I think.”

“We've got refineries all around us in Montana and we get oil from Canadian pipelines. Our gas prices went up $0.20 early in the week and another $0.50-.60 yesterday. Is this just "sympathy" pricing? The storm didn't disrupt supply here, but they jacked prices up anyway. I'm glad we can do our part.
last edited: 9/02/05 8:32:00 AM”

“Gas prices in Chicago are nearing the $4 mark and expected to approach $5 next week.”

“I hope things don't get as bad here. If they did I wouldn't be able to pay my bills and still have enough gas to get to work. I'd have to get another job just so I could pay for gas to get to my full time job.”

“And then you'd need another part-time job to pay for the gas to get to your first part-time job.”

“The price of oil barrels is falling today. It is already back around $68.00.”

“Paid $3.40/gal last night here in Northern Michigan (Charlevoix)..
last edited: 9/02/05 9:36:02 AM”

“I freakin live next door to refineries (I can look out the window and see the big tanks....) why is it so high here?”

“Are the storage tanks empty or full? Do they hold gas or fuel/ heating oil?”

“heehee...you all know why it's sooo damn expensive!!!!

because people buy it like there won't be any in the future!! stop the buying and the prices go down!

why you think gasoline prices always go up during holidays?? because it's the #&%!$in law?? NOOOOO!!!! Because we use more gasoline!!! We need it and are willing to pay higher $$ for it.”

“Gemini, you are right. The whole supply and demand curve. If demand goes up or supply goes down, price goes up. High demand now due to panic. There are some places that truly have a supply issue, but not for most of the US.”

“It's funny that the gasoline prices went up when the gas stations still had their supplies of the lower priced gasoline. Increasing their profits many fold!”

“Thank goodness I take the bus. My bus pass price didn't go up this month...”

“Looks like Orlando has problems.

http://www.news4jax.com/education/4927416/detail.html”

“I read somewhere that most of Florida's gas is tankered across the Gulf from Louisiana...so you guys may be in a bad way for awhile.
last edited: 9/02/05 12:14:57 PM”

“Paid $2.99 yesterday.

It was $3.49 in town this morning.”

“"My bus pass price didn't go up this month"

Wait until next month, pixie.”

“I knew that there were bus stops both near my house, and near my workplace, so I knew that in theory, I could ride the bus to work if I really had to.


Then I found the online routemaps and schedule.

Here's the merry path bitpusher would have to take to ride the bus to work:

6:10AM: I wait at the bus stop about a tenth of a mile from my house, and when it arrives, I board the bus. Notice that the "bus stop" is a sign, so if it's raining, I have to wait in the rain.

6:55AM: The bus arrives at the transfer station at Parkway Place Mall, after taking 45 minutes to snake around South Huntsville. I get off and wait for the Loop 5 bus to arrive.

7:26AM: The Loop 5 bus arrives at Parkway Place Mall. I get on so it will take me to the Downtown transfer station.

7:51:AM The Loop 5 bus arrives at the Downtown Transfer station exactly 8 minutes too late for me to catch the Loop 3 bus I need to take me to the stop near my workplace. I have to wait until the next run!

8:43AM: The next Loop 3 run departs the Downtown transfer station. I am now 43 minutes late for work.

8:53AM: The Loop 3 bus drops me off at the stop nearest my workplace. I still have to walk about a quarter mile on a busy street.

9:00AM: I arrive at work an hour late, having spent 2hrs50min commuting to work using our wonderful public transit system in Huntsville, AL! My cost? A dollar per leg, or $3!

Return trip? Oh, forget it! Because I got to work an hour late, I have to stay until 6:00PM, which is the shutdown time for the Huntsville Shuttle system, so I have to call my wife to come get me. As I get into the van, she gives me the evil eye because now supper will be late and my daughter will be up until 10:00PM finishing the homework she had interrupt so my wife could come get me!

Conversely, to drive my gashog truck to work and back, even with gasoline at 3$/gal only costs me about $4/day, and I get back and forth to work at my schedule.”

“Bit, that sounds like the bus system here. Spectacularly sh!##y for those who have get to work on time. A guy who worked for my Dad's company had to take the bus, since his son totalled his car. It took him 2.5 hours one way to go 15 miles as the crow flies, because he had to go downtown first, then south, then east and finally north again to a bus stop a half mile away.”

“its down to 3.16 this morning.”

“I'm convinced that the only reason the bus system in this town exists at all is so the mayor can say we have public transportation, and as a means to get the Federal subsidy money associated with encouraging public transit.”

“A dollar per leg, or $3!
bitpusher
12:48:12 PM
9/02/05

Don't you mean $2.50? ;-)”

“Michigan has regulations on gas because of ozone/smog issues too (like CA), but they've been temporarily suspended due to the shortages. I haven't seen anyone lined up at stations or any stations run out of fuel. It is $3.29/gal but it could be worse.”

“No, I get charged a full dollar for it...”

“Ok, I'm officially ticked off. I paid $3.20 yesterday.

One of the stations along my way home had no gas. The one across the street had gas, and of course it was 10 cents more than the station that was out.

Blah!”

“Its 2.89 here this morning.”

“I heard an interview with a gas station owner yesterday. Basically those with fixed contracts with fuel companies are getting the gas first at a relatively low price, and although their prices are going up, they are not going through the roof. Those that negotiate for every fuel load in an attempt to get cheaper gas in every day use are being forced to pay much higher prices in an open market where the shortages are being felt first.”

“So what areas of the country are having shortages? Price is $2.99, but I have not seen any stations run out in Arkansas.”