Money a powerful motivation to leave the car at home

THE ISSUE Gasoline costs are pushing Oahu motorists out of the driver's seat.

Nudging $4 a gallon, gasoline prices are proving to be strong motivation for some commuters on Oahu to leave their cars in the garage and take public transportation, share rides or pedal two-wheelers.

Though many residents will find it hard to give up the driver's seat, the ever-rising cost of fuel will push more people to use public transportation. However, it will be difficult for TheBus to accommodate more riders on routes that already carry heavy morning and afternoon workday loads from Central Oahu and the Leeward and Windward districts.

In anticipation of further increases in ridership, city officials should take a look at adjusting schedules and routes to satisfy demand, particularly in view of plans for a rail transit system.

With no end in sight for greater fuel costs, more drivers are finding they can save cash by catching TheBus, TheBoat or a carpool. Bicycle sales are increasing as residents look to save money.

TheBus has seen weekday boardings grow nearly 5 percent in March from the previous March, adding 10,000 riders Mondays through Fridays to the average 230,000 who are daily bus customers. But Oahu Transit Services officials say buses on the busiest lines are filled to capacity and could limit further increases. Adding vehicles is problematic because few have been left idle and switching buses from less busy routes will hurt riders on those lines.

TheBoat, which runs six ferry trips on weekdays between Kalaeloa and Aloha Tower, had a near 600-passenger increase between February and March. Vanpool Hawaii, contracted by the state Department of Transportation to operate commuter pools, has added 300 more members and 40 more vehicles in the past six months. Meanwhile, bicycle shops have sold 10 to 15 percent more two-wheelers in the past few months, and motorcycle sales are up nationwide.

Motorists across the nation are abandoning gas-thirsty SUVs and muscle cars that just two years ago were the trendy choices for transport. But with oil prices skyrocketing — reaching another trading record of more than $120 a barrel yesterday — consumers are hard-pressed to pay at the pump while also paying at the grocery store as fuel raises the cost of food simultaneously. Even drivers of fuel-efficient vehicles are curtailing trips or planning them better to reduce time on the road.

High prices have caused a 2.7 percent decrease in U.S. demand for products like diesel and gasoline in the past year, a small shift but important nonetheless for its environmental benefits.