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by carolej60 from Detroit

Last Post 54 days, 23 hours Ago


Boycott on Gas
May 19, 2008 | 8:40 AM
Category: News
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SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - Brian LaFave couldn't care less how high gasoline prices climb these days — he's parked his pickup truck and is refusing to buy gas for a month, possibly longer.

The goal is to not use one drop of gas for 31 days," LaFave said, calling it his personal stand against the oil companies.

Now LaFave, 31, is riding his bicycle or walking everywhere he goes. He won't even let friends pick him up unless they already planned on being in the neighborhood.

"If they're not going out of their way, I can take the ride," he said. "But if they're going out of their way, then ... I'm still consuming gasoline so it kind of defeats the purpose."

LaFave started the effort May 11. He bikes to his third-shift job at Aldrich Chemical in Sheboygan Falls, a 9-mile commute.

"I did like a practice run ... two days in a row to make sure I could do it," he said. "I'm not in the greatest shape. The mornings are the worst. It feels like it takes forever. I get like a mile down the road and I want to die."

It's a big change for someone who put 300 miles on his truck the week before he stopped driving it.

LaFave fills out a chart each day listing how many miles he bikes, the destination and the gas price that day, among other things. He plans to compute his savings and donate that amount to a charity that provides food to children in Africa.

"I think just with the gas prices being so high, everybody complains about it but no one ever really does anything about it," LaFave said. "People continue to drive nonstop and not think about it, but I just wanted to take a stand and say, `I'm not gonna pay this much money for gas.'"




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Member Comments Total Comments: 18
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steveincanton read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 9:29 AM

I started cutting back when gas was just below $3. I even said I would stop driving if gas reached $3 and that never happend. When I chose a new job you better believe the distance played a big role! I work 13 miles away from home and had to refuse two jobs 40-50 miles away.
Neither my son nor my self have a safe way to ride a bike to work so that will never happen.
shockhazard read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 9:33 AM

Try riding your bike to work in Detroit , or one of the other finer suburbs and you'd be more likely to be bike jacked than get to work .
steveincanton read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 9:35 AM

My son just adjusted his work schedule by transfering to a different store in order for us to continue using one car and less gas!
steveincanton read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 9:37 AM

michigan Ave. is 55 MPH and the cars go 65 so you wont see me riding a bike to work!
carolej60 read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 9:51 AM

Shock, sad but true about the Bikes being stole. My sons has seizures, so he can't drive a car, so he rides a bike everywhere. Every time he leaves a bike unchained they get stolen, sometimes when he chains them.
shockhazard read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 11:44 AM

Carole , I know someone that had their bike and chain stolen . They cut off the lock , and took both .
steveincanton read my blog view my photos
May 19, 2008 | 12:17 PM

Bikes are so cheap now that Ive seen them selling for under $90.00 at Walmart. They wont get a big payoff for your used bike, but I guess to some its enough for their quick fix.
Tallmanok2 read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 6:44 AM

65.....Steve they only go that slow in the snow

Shock you know more than one person who had there bike and the chain that locked them stolen,because you know me.
sdale
May 20, 2008 | 4:51 PM

Thank god i just retired this week. No more going 42 miles round trip to detroit. I got an electric
bike goes twenty mph tops but gets me to and from
the store. Still have to drive to golfcourses tho :(
carolej60 read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 6:27 PM

Good for you. Where did you get the bike?
Freedom80 read my blog
May 20, 2008 | 7:28 PM

Iam riding my bike
sdale
May 20, 2008 | 8:33 PM

for carol bought the bike online from target. Its called a mongoose bike, have had it for 2 yrs and it`s fantastick. Battery and all has upheld real good. Better than a scooter cuz u can peddle or use electric when u tire out. now a days a must have ;)
carolej60 read my blog view my photos
May 20, 2008 | 8:42 PM

I tried to get a power wheel chair or scooter, my doctor made me feel shame. She would aprove of a electric bike, I will check it out. Thanks sdale.
Jacqui001 read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 3:45 PM

I agree 1000% with Brian LaFave. I parked my car about a week ago and I don't plan on driving except for special occasions on the weekends. And there are perks to walking or not driving: you get excercise, you can enjoy the weather, and you see things you don't normally see while driving a car. So I'm all for it. In a minute everybody who isn't rich will be either walking, riding a bike or motorcycle, or catching the bus or just finding other alternatives to travel by.
Jacqui001 read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 3:48 PM

I'm sorry for those of you who had bad experiences, but sooner or later you may be forced to do something other than drive to work or school.
carolej60 read my blog view my photos
May 21, 2008 | 8:27 PM

I agree Jacqui001, my grandmother use to say, "Walking ain't Crowded" lol
StooltimeCounseling read my blog view my photos
May 22, 2008 | 10:10 PM

The stats are in ... gasoline consumption is down in America. I think we're using about 100 million gallons less than before. Lets keep it up. Conserve, conserve, conserve.
teaspoone101 read my blog
May 22, 2008 | 11:49 PM

The streets are gonna be less crowded. Thats a good thing isn't it. Especially when everyone goes broke. Less people in the grocery stores, I can live with that.
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carolej60

Born and raise in Detroit, there has been 3 world series won by the Detroit Tigers in my life time this will make number 4. I am old enough to remember 2. I went to Northwester high school with one of the 1968 Detroit Tigers, "Willie Horton" The first High School player to hit a ball out of Tiger Stadium, used to be known as Briggs Stadium. Yes I'm a tiger fan for life. I stayed in San Diego when we won in 1984. I had to watch the celebration on TV. It's true Detroit is a sports town all the way. I remember Gordy Howe, Dave Bing, Al Kaline, Barry Sims. I love Detroit.

Member Since: 10/25/2006


 

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