Gaslighting

[msconduct]

 I've read a lot of complaints from people in the US recently about the price of gas, which seems to be about $3/gallon. I've always been vague about the conversion to litres, not just from gallons but from AMERICAN gallons, which I have no clue about at all. But I just looked it up and did the conversion. A US gallon of gas at $3.60 is around 95 cents a litre.

I'm crying. Gas, or petrol as we call it in New Zealand, is around $3 a litre, or more than three times the cost in the US. Other than a very brief dip in 2016, petrol hasn't been under $1/litre since 2000.

Comments

[echomyst]

I'm always annoyed when other Americans complain about their gas prices lol

Ours always hover around $6 per gallon. California always has some of the highest gas prices in the country and MY town always has the highest in the SF North Bay area thanks to monopoly of gas stations (almost all owned by a single family!).

$6 a gallon is still less than $3 per litre. But! The US is incredibly car dependent :( It's hard getting anywhere without a vehicle unless you live in a big city. My kids and I walk a lot, but even then it's just not feasible to walk/bike/bus everywhere, especially if we need to get out of our suburb.

[echomyst]

I am curious though: how walkable/bikable/public transit-able is New Zealand?

Is there solid public transit across the country?

[kaishin108]

Oh dear, your petrol is so high. That is what I have heard about the EU also. I don't dare complain.
Since 2000 you say, yikes!

[spiffikins]

I would love to be at $3.60 a gallon, LOL :)

I was THRILLED to find $4.99/gallon last week - every gas station in town other than Costco, is $5.45 or more!

But yeah - Canada, New Zealand, the UK - anywhere that uses litres, have been >$1/litre for ages and ages, and just pat Americans on the head when we whine :)

[kevin_standlee]

I think that it's a matter of faith to a significant number of 'Murikens that gasoline should cost about 5 cents/gallon, or be free, or maybe that they should pay us to take it away. Parking should similarly always be free and unlimited. And of course "freeways" are free, and cost nothing to build, and the guv'mint never does enough to keep them maintained, but they never should do any maintenance when it's personally inconvenient. Also, there shouldn't be taxes, because Freedom! And so forth.

Having said that, I note that gas prices here in Fernley where I live are significantly less expensive than they are in Reno, 50 km west of here. I always tell people driving from California into Nevada who are planning to keep going east (say to go to Salt Lake City, where this year's Westercon is) to never refuel in Reno. Wait until Fernley and save 50 cents/gallon.