Will long distance trave to CP decrease?

I already car pool with friends. Granted I live in Toledo, but we split the gas bill (I usually don't pay since I supply the parking on my season pass). But it is very effective and a great time to talk about different things with each other. You can also save money by camping when you are there. (For the younger crowd :) ). This also is very cheap and can be split at a very low price. There are a few campsites near CP. As for long distances I can see less trips, but maybe a longer stay. So while CP might not get repeated summer visits I can see an increase in the hospitality market.

I Support the Zoo and Dr.Tim

Gas prices aren't going to break $3.00. If you heard news of gas prices being $3.50, that's what it is in california where the people have more money to spend. Gas will not raise to that high. It's the spring time where all the gas plants are switching their formulas from winter to summer mixtures. It will only last a few more weeks then drop again. I saw it on fox news!!! Lol.

raptorman,I can only hope that they're right.(BTW you are named after my wifes favorite ride)

MiLLeNNiuMRiDeR said:
Hydrogen cars are a joke. It takes more energy to produce the hydrogen fuel than it saves!

You should do your research. Hydrogen can be acquired as part of the production of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is the closest thing we have to "green" and plentiful electricity (and if the feds would allow fuel recycling it would result in almost no waste).

I wonder how long before we see nuclear as an alternative everday energy source (such as for a car.) At this point it is more a size and safety factor, but if you consider that a nuclear sub can go 25+ years before "refueling" that could easily solve all fossil fuel based problems.

As for the Canadian problem. You said you are paying .85 per litre. There are 3.785 litres in a gallon. So you are paying 3.21 Canadian for 1 gallon of gas. This converts to about 2.79 US. A little bit higher than it is here in Michigan, but still lower than other areas of the country.

So there are places in the US where the prices exceed $2.79?

Newt,if you live in Toledo I consider you a local.Not only are you closer but have no need to pay the high motel prices that we from further away do.

I had thought so....I may have been thinking of a few months ago, or daydreaming. I did a quick check on gasbuddy and came up with none that high so apparently I'm just losing my mind.

If 20 bucks keeps you from driving to Cedar Point, there are other problems in your life.

And 20 bucks is a reach, I'm sure it would less than that.

MrScott

Mr Scott, It will depend on the price of gas.Last year it was approx. $1.80 and now its $2.14.thats 35c a gal. more If the rumored increase happens,it would almost double.Then YES it would bother me big time.
*** Edited 4/1/2005 7:48:18 PM UTC by Allan Birmantas sr***
*** Edited 4/1/2005 7:49:46 PM UTC by Allan Birmantas sr***

I think we just need to fire up the Iraqi oil fields and load up the oil tankers. Negotiate a reasonable price with their government and purchase our oil directly from them, not through OPEC.

I live 1400 miles away from Sandusky (Houston, TX), but an increase in gas prices will not keep us from making our second visit to Cedar Point this July (first visit was last Aug.). Granted the overall expense of fuel for the drive will probably be around $50 more than last year, split between the 4 of us that are going, its nothing.

Only problem with Nuclear Power is the waste. I might be wrong but to my understanding once the plant like Davis Bessi (Sp?) is done it is mothballed. The nuclear rods can't be used in any other manner and are dangerous for a long time. I could be wrong.

Hydrogen power on the other hand is already in the works. I believe it was the tv show on PBS "Scientific American" where they showed a hydrogen "gas" station opened in Greenland/or/Iceland. It was like a prototype or publicity thing to encourage research in the field. They showed cars ready for the technology but it was still a little bulky.

As for hybrids some of the new ones really don't get all that much better gas mileage.

And for being from Toledo, I guess I can be called a "local", I really don't consider myself a local. I put the idea out there that carpooling can work. It works for me and I have carpooled with friends all over the place to vacation places farther than CP. My point is that for enthusiasts there are other alternatives if money is your main concern.

I support Dr.Tim and the Zoo.

Am I the only one who thinks that petro should cost more in the U.S . than it does? It costs more in most other countries.

Higher prices encourage advancements in technology. Today the average person asks for a car with better fuel efficiency more than ever.

The problem is finding an effective way to package energy and an efficient way to use it. A gallon of 87/13 Octane/Heptane ratio gasoline has the same energy in over 90 sticks of dynamite. Most engines are inefficient, though not as bad as they were 20+ years ago.

Electric motors, on the other hand, are very efficient. 3 phase AC motors have efficencies of over 95%. The problem is the opposite of gasoline engines. There isn't a good way to store the large amounts of energy it takes to travel 300-500 miles. Batteries are too heavy, too large, and too expensive for their energy storage.

Hybrids use electric and fuel prime movers. The engine charges the batteries, drives the motor directly and/or drives the car directly. The motor/alternator drives the car and charges the batteries with regenerative braking. These cars are somewhat better in efficiency than gasoline cars. The less aggresive driver is, the more they will benefit.

To make up for the higher cost of hybrid and especially other technology car over simular cars without better efficiency, you need to drive over 100k miles. It's hard to offset thousands of dollars. Luckly this is improving very quickly. Higher gas prices helps this happen faster.

Ways to increase gas mileage.
1)SLOW DOWN! It's safer, uses less gas, no speeding tickets, less wear on your brakes, less wear on your drivetrain, and did I mention you can go longer distances with needing to refill?
2) The less junk in your trunk, the better. Excessive weight lowers your gas mileage. If you don't think it will help, contact your nearest physicist.
3) Don't be a lone ranger if possible. If you drive behind someone, you get better gas mileage. You don't need to ride on there A like your... ok I won't go there. It might seem hard to believe that you will benefit much from it, but it makes a noticeable difference.
4) The more your slow down, the more you speed up. Do this less and you will bend over at the pump less.

I dont speed at all,and have no problem getting the EPA mileage in my car on the highway,(23 mpg+)but in town it really sucks it up.In the winter less than 11mpg and in the warm weather approx 13.I keep my tire pressure at 35 lbs so there is nothing more I can do.

Im also aware that our gas prices are low by most standards.Im not complaining,just asking if people might change their driving habits re. CP.

I have never noticed any change in my mileage with passengers or without.Im sure if it were to be totally crammed with lead,that the mileage might be affected,but on the hwy,not much.Theres a thing called inertia.

newt said:
The nuclear rods can't be used in any other manner and are dangerous for a long time. I could be wrong.

You're right... but that's not the whole picture. The spent fuel rods can be refined... 96% as Uranium and 1% as Plutonium. The other 3% is waste, but that portion accounts for a small percentage of all radioactivity. We don't recycle in this country (France, Japan, Germany, UK and others do) because of a Carter-era rule that prohibits it. The fear is that little bit of Plutonium could be used for weapons. That's an irrational fear given the accountability of every drop of radioactive material and the fact that few places can refine the stuff.

ForgottenEE said:
Am I the only one who thinks that petro should cost more in the U.S . than it does? It costs more in most other countries.

I agree. We use more of it, we have low fuel economy and pathetic public transportation in most of the country. People have no place to complain. You don't need a 4 litre engine to get groceries and take the kids to soccer practice.
*** Edited 4/2/2005 1:59:24 AM UTC by Jeff***

I think people need to get realistic when thinking about gas prices and realize, that even a 50-cent increase per gallon is not that large when taken in the overall context, especially when you are talking about visiting an amusement park. How many of us, especially if we are not "locals" can honestly say that we aren't going to spend $4 on a soda, or more if travelling with spouse/significant other/kids, etc., or $15-20+ on a meal or two inside the park?

To put things in context, for me to visit my family in St. Louis, is about an 1,100 mile trip each way from Vail. It takes about three full tanks to get there and back, and my car holds 14 gallons. Doing the math, thats approximately 84 gallons of fuel I use to go roundtrip. If gas increases another 50 cents, that adds a whopping $42 to my trip, or one decent night out at a restaurant for my wife and I. That is not that big a deal, in my eyes, and not a major sacrifice that I have to make in order to make that trip.

Think of the vices that we all have, be it cigarettes, alcohol, video games, junk food, etc. It's not that hard to come up with the "extra" gas money if you really think about it.

Wow am i shocked. Not only was i planning to come on and talk up the hydrogen fuel cell and Jeff of all people beat me to it, but he came back with another excellent point. I think this is about the third time we agreed ;)

I guess the point i really like to get across is that if the majority of electricity that comes from our walls is produced by burning fossil fuels then how can electric cars be any better??? Especially considering all the down side to the electric car. Hybrids are only marginally better, however why waste time and money on developing something when fuel cells are viable and better option.

ForgottenEE, yes gas is to low in the US. Taking in inflation, gas is about the same or lower than gas in the past (from what i've read). However it is a dangerous game to play to raise the prices. The car is so dominant in the States that forcing the price of gas up any significant amount could cripple the economy for many reasons.

But if driving slower is safer, then why does the Autobahn have the best safety record for highways?

It seems that instead of an answer to my question about the driving habits of CP addicts,many are proposing changes to our cars , to our cheapness and to preach about our missuse of our natural resources.Talk about tangents.

Well if a uranium atom could split with less explosion then we could use it for cars. But I might be wrong there.