What's the Future of Transportation in California?

Remember the days where you used to put $50 in the gas tank and it would last you 2 weeks? Well as we all know by now, those days are over! The chances of prices ever going back to what they were in the past are slim to none. The economy is in a downward spiral as we know it and one can only question the future of transportation in the U.S.

Gas prices in California are at an all time high! If this were last year, gas prices would still be around 3 or 4 dollars a gallon instead of a roaring 5 or 6 dollars. Do you still drive everywhere? If you answered yes to that question then you can probably expect to spend your whole paycheck on a week's worth of gas in the near future. When I say near future, I mean it may be sooner than you know, within a couple of months kind of sooner. In certain states such as West Virginia, Delaware, Arizona and even California signs are being posted everywhere at gas stations stating the use of credit cards are no longer accepted for buying gas. Say what? Since when did gas stations stop taking credit as a form of payment? The station owners are saying that using credit cards for gas instead of cash makes them lose money. I'm sure some people have heard about this before, however; I'm truly astonished and blown away by it all.

With the rise of gas prices, more and more individuals are leaning towards public transportation or car pooling, but what if there is no longer a form of public transportation where you live? Yes, you read the question right, what if public transportation is no longer an option in your area or your state. The governor of California, Arnold "The Terminator" Swarchenegger plans to put a stop for a project that would give California a 24/7 high speed light rail train for commuters. The light rail would enable riders to save tons of money on gas and spend less time in the commute lane. Instead Arnold has proposed a measure to spend money on a "few" more buses so he doesn't break the state's budget, AGAIN. While more buses would be a good thing, it would also seem like a slap to the face for those that wish to get from point A to point B in a reasonable amount of time. Anyone that has ever had to ride the bus knows timing is everything, one minute means the world if you're late to the bus stop. What happens if you miss the last bus to home or work? A lot of buses in California don't have an all night bus route so if you miss your bus, you're just out of luck and stranded.

While people spend more money in the summer on gas prices, due to vacations and excess activities, a lot more people are taking it upon themselves to walk places. Some may say this is great exercise and great for enjoying the nice whether. I say, it's all BS and I want to get to where I need to go with the quickness! A car is a major essential for me when it comes to handling business, as with most people. Some people feel almost naked without a car due to the fact they've been driving for so long. Honestly with all the legal problems I've had involving cars and suspended licenses, I take driving as a privilege now. On the daily I hear random people mumbling their frustrations in relation to gas prices. There are also many new scams that talk on getting free gas or paying lesser of a price, but it's all bogus.

I hear different rumors about gas being so high priced due to the war in Iraq. But then again, I'll hear rumors saying gas prices are so expensive to encourage drivers not to drive due to our ozone layer breaking down from automobile exhaust. I can honestly say, both of those rumors sound truthful to me, but what's your take on it? What do you think is in store for the future of transportation in the U.S.?