High Fuel Prices Are A Blessing - Heed the Warning
Wheel Life column - 15 April, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

There is a lovely statue to a nasty pest, shown in this photo, with an important message for people who are overly dependent on petroleum. Let us explain.

From 1910 to 1915 boll weevil infestations devastated the cotton fields in the American South, the region's main cash crop. At the time, it must have seemed like a disaster of biblical scale. But just four years later the farmers of Enterprise, Alabama raised money to construct this monument to the boll weevil. It had caused the farmers to try new crops and diversify, making them far better off overall.

Keep this in mind next time another motorist complains about high fuel prices. The recent price spike is really a blessing in disguise - a reminder of the volatility of the world oil markets and an incentive for consumers to diversify their transportation habits.

For more than a decade the cost of vehicle fuel has declined in real terms (taking into account inflation), resulting in the lowest prices ever. This trend has lulled consumers into becoming more automobile dependent and buying larger vehicles. But this can't go on forever.

The supply of petroleum is finite and worldwide demand is growing. Prices have nowhere to go except up. Let's make this warning really clear: FUEL PRICES WILL INCREASE IN THE FUTURE.

So don't blame commodity markets, or the oil companies, or the government if an extra dime per litre of gasoline blows your budget. Blame your own travel habits. And then, change them. Here are some ways to do this:

• Walk and cycle whenever possible.
• Use shops and services near your home.
• Use public transit and rideshare when possible.
• Next time you move, choose a home to rent or buy in a convenient location where you can walk, bicycle and use transit to work, school and errands.

There are many benefits to diversifying your travel habits. You save money, get more exercise, bear less stress, and get to know your neighborhood. Like the farmers in Enterprise, you will almost certainly find yourself better off. In a few years, we just might be building a monument to OPEC in appreciation for raising fuel prices.