Comments on: Gasoline cost in Japan

By: James Hart

James Hart — Thu, 31 May 2007 18:06:00 +0000

So the UK is among the highest as I thought. Generally the UK government tries to put higher tax on “bad” things – strong alcohol, cigarettes, gasoline. I think that’s a good idea and hopefully encourages people to drive less and use public transport whenever possible. The problem in the UK is that public transport doesn’t seem to improve and this pushes people back onto the roads.

I wish a US Politician would be brave enough to raise fuel duties in line in America and turn consumers away from the gas-guzzlers. Increases in base prices are doing this, but the politicians should take action as well.
There would just need to be some kind of way of looking after those that would be especially hard-hit, such as the farmers that Asilaria mentions.

By: Asilaria

Asilaria — Thu, 31 May 2007 09:20:55 +0000

You’re welcome, of course. I don’t own a car at the moment, but people are really upset about the price rising, so I hear about it a lot~. There is no public transportation here, really, or at least not in the way there is in Japan.

I can hardly imagine them following things like that in our news! It seems like it is unusual for things to be on time….;

I live in Dallas Fort Worth, though, so the price might be lower here because of its population and the businesses. I heard that in Wichita Falls (an hour or two north) it is substantially higher. It’s only a theory, though. It’s popular knowledge that Texas produces oil, so I imagine that is also why.

It’s terrible to hear that the price rise will effect farmers. I hadn’t thought about it so much, but really it must, huh? Lately here the farmers are having trouble with bees dying. I saw something in the newspaper saying that it may be cellphones that are causing it. >_>

Farmers have it tough these days.

By: Martin F

Martin F — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:16:06 +0000

Thanks Asilaria, I appreciate the comment. On that same US website there are the regional prices. California is the highest, at 3.43 a gallon. So drivers in Texas are the exception. Do you have a car?

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp

Where I live there are two commuter train lines, and in central Tokyo there is a really efficient subway network. It can get crowded of course, but trains arelamost never delayed or late. When there is a delay it is big news and they show it on TV!

So you don’t really need a car in Tokyo or suburban areas in Japan. It is worse in the countryside, and many people worry what will happen to farmers and others who really need a car or truck to get around, if oil prices go up more.

By: Asilaria

Asilaria — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:03:13 +0000

In Texas it’s just hitting $3.00… It’s been tottering between that and the 2.90’s.