It seems that as the temperature is rising so is the price of gas and the number of potholes on the road. These two rites of spring are at the top of the list for me when it comes to choosing to ride a motorcycle, or scooter as the case may be, over my Ford.
In a random check on gas prices, I found most local outlets in the $3.29-$3.33 range. The last time I filled my tank was the highest I’ve ever paid to fill the little Burgman’s tank. Although it was only a whopping $7.92, it still was an all-time high. To fill the Ford took $53.95 at the last fill up in comparison. Quite a dent in my wallet.
Predictions are that the price of gas will do nothing but rise as we move to our vacation time in the summer. Supply and demand. Or is it supply and corporate greed?
On a recent visit to Gasbuddy.com I took a look at its “gas temperature map” to see just how we fared here in Pennsylvania compared to other states in the nation and was glad to see we weren’t in the highest-priced neighborhood. That neighborhood belongs to California. The lowest are New Jersey followed by Missouri, Vermont and Massachusetts. This site was last updated on April 13, so it’s fairly current.
According to the fuel price timeline found on Canada’s Fuel Focus Web site, there have been significant high peaks in gas prices which directly relate to crises in either the economy or from natural causes. Examples of these would be: Sept. 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. So it would seem that the prices are influenced by many things that are out of the direct control of the consumer; you know, the demand side of the equation.
In an article by Associated Press Business Writer Adam Schreck on April 12, the author repots that Americans are “paying 56 cents more a gallon now than they did a year ago. And there may be more to come.” How I anticipate this!
In a report from Jan. 19 in USA Today, Chris Woodward says that “Motorcycle sales last year jumped to their highest level since 1979, the Motorcycle Industry Council says.” He notes that much of this increase is due to the number of women riders who are joining the fun and “the broadening appeal of motor scooters and other small, less-expensive two-wheelers.” I know that I’ve noticed a few more motorcycles in the parking spots at work as the weather is getting nicer.
After a great year of riding the 400 Burgman, I’m looking at trading up. That would be on the bike, not the old man. One of the things I’m looking at is the gas mileage. The current Burg gets about 46-50 mpg which is dang fine if you ask me. I haven’t been able to get any estimates on the 650 model for 2008 to really make a comparison, but the weight is not much different although the engine is a bit faster. As my friend Randy once said, “the new Burgmans go like a bat out of [heck].”
When I first purchased Blue last year when gas was 56 cents cheaper, I was really looking for a great commuter bike, and this one was certainly it. Granted, the old man really did want me off his bike, and I had to choose one, but the Burgman was a great choice. Gas mileage was and still is a contributing factor in my being so fond of the old boy (again, the bike, not the old man who I am terribly fond of).
Of that higher price for gas there are also the taxes that are attached. Approximately 32 cents per gallon of those $3.29 is actually tax. Those taxes, at least in Pennsylvania, do go for fixing those potholes mentioned earlier in this article. The Altoona Mirror reports that “In Pennsylvania, fuel taxes bring in about $1.2 billion a year. Without that revenue, fewer potholes are going to be filled, fewer roadways are going to be repaved, fewer bridges are going to be repaired or replaced, and there will be less plowing and salting of roadways.” And if you’ve seen the roads out by house, you would not begrudge the tax part of the fuel costs.
As the weather warms and you find yourself in need of a Sunday drive, decide whether to take out the Hummer or take out the bike. The bike hurts your wallet and the climate quite a bit less and is more fun to ride.