ScottHanson wrote:Excellent point Roberto. If gas is $2.55 a liter in Italy and there are 3.7853 liters per gallon, then the effective gas price in Italy is $9.65. Yikes! Maybe Americans are spoiled? My guess is you have smaller more efficient cars in Italy with gas prices near $10 per gallon. Worldwide we have two issues: 1. Americans (and maybe other countries too) have an inelastic demand for gas (we don't decrease quantity as price rises) and 2. as emerging economies like China and India grow a larger middle class they will naturally desire more goods (like cars) and services. Hence increased demand for oil derivatives like gas, jet fuel, etc.
I took a peek at prices around the world in terms of U.S. $/gallon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_and_diesel_usage_and_pricingThe current forecast is for U.S. prices to come down a bit in 2013 compared to 2012. After purchasing a diesel, I have noticed that emerging economies have particularly contributed to increased demand for diesel fuel:
http://205.254.135.7/forecasts/steo/report/us_oil.cfm All of this makes me wonder if people will continue to drive long distances to visit National Parks and climb remote peaks?
I have been wondering what I will do. I've got great places to trail run, mountain bike, and/or cycle very close to my house. However, aside from some coastal areas, if I want to be close to well known public lands and near high peaks to hike, I'd need to move. Of course, I could have it worse than being a 3-5 hour drive from almost anywhere in the western Sierra or California Cascades and a bit farther to the Eastern Sierra or the Mojave Desert.
I won't be surprised if technology helps us out a bit differently than in the humorous images above, but for now, most of my family trips do involve a large, heavy 4WD vehicle.
Regardless, I'm sure Mel Torino won't be deterred in his travels by high fuel prices.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/mel%20torino/Holsti97/MelTorino.jpg