There are a lot of people in this country that consider cheap gas to be a form of benevolence. Here are some reasons why they should curb their enthusiasm.
"At least on the surface, the big declines in gas prices we’ve seen over the past year seem like an unalloyed good. We save money at the pump, and we have more to spend on other things," begins a post by Joe Cortright that soon takes a turn. "But the cheap gas has serious hidden costs—more pollution, more energy consumption, more crashes and greater traffic congestion."
Cortright notes that we tend to focus on macreconomic considerations while neglecting the microeconomic. So while cheaper gas can have the effect of a tax cut, it can also quickly increase VMT, and with it, pollution and congestion.
Another, larger lesson emerges from Cortright's interpretation: "gas price fluctuations represent a terrific natural experiment in the efficacy of using pricing to manage traffic and its negative effects."
Eric Jaffe followed Cortright's work by expanding on one of the points in microeconomic column: car crashes increase as gas prices decrease.
FULL STORY: The high price of cheap gas
Causes of the Pre-COVID Decline in Bus Ridership
Even before the effects fo the coronavirus pandemic drastically reduced ridership, transit riders were declining in cities across the country. The reasons for the downward trend were varied.
A Call for Congestion Pricing in Hawaii
Everyone pays a high price for the congestion and pollution of car dependence, according to this article, so maybe drivers should start paying more for the privilege.
Polluting Cars Will Have to Pay to Drive Into London, Starting in April
London's 'Ultra Low Emission Zone' is taking effect in April. Here are the details on the ambitious clean air plans.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
