More bogus reporting - High gas prices reduce obesity?

[Ginger]

How are people using public more transport to save on gas AND increasing the number of miles driven in a year?

My Dad takes metro.

Derek is going to be driving a ton of miles every day soon.

Either way, this is kind of futile without data.

[Evan]

13 percent rise in obesity between 1979 and 2004 can be attributed to falling pump prices

thats the biggest crock of bullshit Ive ever heard.
some stoner PhD student blew his grant on weed, so a week before his dissertation he took a look at some statistics, saw a couple dates sort of match up, and PRESTO. Cause and effect.
never mind the thousands of other factors that affect our eating and activity habits. those are irrelevant!

[WRXtranceformed]

Uh yeah hah, I completely agree with Evan, that's retarded.

[.RJ]

My Dad takes metro

But your dad works downtown - parking/convenience/traffic...

Derek is going to be driving a ton of miles every day soon.

And there's no public transport option for Deersty - whats the point?

Either way, this is kind of futile without data.

I found some annual miles statistics, but they were buried in massive .pdf documents. I'll search more later if I get bored.

[white_2kgt]

The metro does come out cheaper if you take into consideration the total cost of the vehicle and not just the gas.

You're paying insurance regardless of whether you are driving it or not. If you have a commute of 10 miles each way thats 5,000 miles a year on your vehicle commuting - not completely insignificant, but thats one oil change, marginal tire/brake wear.

Like deersty said, it works out great if you can get rid of the car all together - but that doesnt work unless you're living in Arlington or DC (at least, IMO).

Insurance rates are higher if you driver further to work every day. If you tell ins that you drive 0 miles or 10 miles to work your rates will be lower than if you said 50 miles. Also if you drive 50 miles to work each day that's 100 miles round trip, that's 500 miles a week, if you change oil at 3000 miles then you are changing oil every 6 weeks JUST because you are driving to work. If you are not driving to work I doubt you are putting 500 miles on a vehicle in a week. So is most certainly DOES have an effect. When I took Christina to work we put 1/2 the miles on the cars that we do now that I'm not taking her to work.

[Ginger]

My Dad takes metro

But your dad works downtown - parking/convenience/traffic...

My Dad works in Alexandria (I should clarify, he uses busses in his commute, too).

*edit* and my first post acknowledged the value of parking, traffic, and convenience to an individual.

Regarding Derek - you asked how it was possible that miles were going up, but more people were taking metro. That's a prime example of a reason why - some people are metroing, other people have crazy commutes. Again, not the only explanation, but it is one. But pointing out the miles are going up doesn't prove anything except that... miles are going up.

I feel like I need to point out that I'm only trying to say that there's probably a group of people, probably small, effected in this manner by rising gas prices. I don't agree with the author that a $1 raise in price would decrease obesity 15% - I'm really just trying to say that there are some people that forego their cars because the price of gas exceeded their marginal car-use value, and now use public transportation for commuting. I don't really think that's a strech at all. And some of those people are fat? Yeah, probably. Did they lose a little weight from the extra walking.. could be, yeah.

[.RJ]

How many people drive 50 miles each way to work? Thats certainly not the norm.

[Ginger]

This is WAY too speculatory.

[.RJ]

Regarding Derek - you asked how it was possible that miles were going up, but more people were taking metro. That's a prime example of a reason why - some people are metroing, other people have crazy commutes. Again, not the only explanation, but it is one. But pointing out the miles are going up doesn't prove anything except that... miles are going up.

Thats all well and good - but if people are driving more due to moving further away from their yobs then they would be less likely to start using public transport.

So who is not driving and taking public transit because of rising gas prices?

[.RJ]

This is WAY too speculatory.

I cant dig for numbers when I'm trying to work and post! :lol:

[Ginger]

I gave you a PERFECT example - my Dad. He forewent driving to work because of rising gas prices.

Your critique of my example assumes everybody is moving away or that everybody is staying. It is possible for the people moving away to drive enough miles to offset and excede the amount of miles no longer being driven by metro riders.

Too specalatory.

*edit*

Besides, I can't read the documents to get my dad b/c they won't let my download PDF's at work

[.RJ]

It is a good example - but your dad isnt Obese....

While digging, I did find some interesting info - although its not exactly related to the original study that looked at data from 1979 - 2004. I think the facts arent the issue with that, just the correlation between them is bogus.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-17-gas-prices_N.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/200 ... ices_N.htm</a><!-- m -->

ÔÇóDuring the past 18 months, the nation's population and workforce have grown by just over 1% a year, so an annual gain of 0.3% indicates a decrease in miles per person.

ÔÇóExpanded public transportation. More people took public transit last year than at any time in 49 years. "We're seeing suburban locations create new transit systems," says William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association. "They're expanding into areas that never thought they needed transit because they could do everything by car."

ÔÇóDemographic shifts that de-emphasize the need to drive. Many Americans, particularly young, upwardly mobile singles, are moving downtown and revitalizing cities. "(They) don't have to live the way of the Ozzie and Harriet model ÔÇö two parents, suburban, who drive to the city," McMahon says

[Ginger]

I think if you go by traditional medical standards he's well over what his body weight should be. He's no Oprah, that's for sure.

I'm trying to agree that there's too heavy a correlation drawn. At the same time, though, I believe there's a small group that is effected. Keyword - SMALL, not as big as the article implies.

[white_2kgt]

How many people drive 50 miles each way to work? Thats certainly not the norm.

In my office of ~50 we have 5 people that drive more than 50 miles to work. Most come from out in WVA some from PA. Christina has several people in her office that come from north of Fredrick, some drive to the shady grove metro then take the metro the rest of the way into work others drive all the way. More people than you may think do that. Also the insurance jack mileage is less than 50, I saw a change when I went from 5 to 20.

[.RJ]

10% of the office commutes more than 50 miles - like I said, not the norm.

[white_2kgt]

10% of the office commutes more than 50 miles - like I said, not the norm.

ugh, nevermind