Would $10 a gallon gas make you change your driving habits? At first glance, most of us, would say, "Of course!" But that has not happened in Europe exactly as many experts expected.Not to say the effect has been negligible. According to a recent NY Times article, gas prices have persuaded some residents in Europe to drive less. Traffic on the Eurostar train is up 21 percent, gas purchases in Italy dropped 10 percent and sales of SUVs have plummeted. However, according to Peder Jensen, a transportation expert at the EU's Environmental Agency, while people have changed the types of cars they are buying, he has "been mostly surprised at the lack of a reaction." One obvious reason is that European cars are already far more efficient that those here in the U.S.
Professor Phil Goodwin, at the University of West England, said that while gas prices can influence behavior, "price alone does not win popular support or acquiescence. There has to be a package of different policies, including improvements to public transport, walking and cycling."
As for here in the U.S, the death of the suburbs has been predicted as gas prices climb. On the other hand, maybe we'll just all adjust in other ways.
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