Gas Prices: What’s Your Breaking Point?

From what I understand, gas prices will not be going down anytime soon.  In fact, they’ll probably continue to rise through the summer.  It’s got me thinking, what is the breaking point where people will really start to look for alternate transportation?

Chicago has a pretty good public transportation system.  I live in walking distance of a train station but I still drive to work every day.  In addition to the around $50 per week I’m spending on gas, I pay $120 per month to park.  That’s $330 per month, around $16 per day to drive.  I could take the train for about $4 per day.  That’s a savings of $240 per month or $2880 per year!  I could do a lot with that extra money!

I had always said I’d start taking the train after I finished school because I didn’t want to take the train late at night after class.  I know what you’re thinking - “why don’t you just drive the one or two days per week to work and take the train the others?”  So then when I finished school I thought of starting to take the train to work but I was concerned about getting all sweaty before I even got to work.  I know what you’re thinking - “get over yourself!”

In my head my breaking point is $5 per gallon.  At $5 per gallon I’m giving up my parking spot at work and taking the train.  Now I can’t promise that I won’t discover another “barrier” when gas really does get to $5 per gallon, (I still sweat. I might still take a class every now and then) but that’s the goal, today. 

Now I’m wondering if anybody else has a breaking point.  I bet gas is high enough now that a lot of people are seriously thinking of a backup plan.  Maybe it’s carpooling.  Maybe it’s public transportation.  Maybe it’s biking. 

So lets hear it.  What’s your breaking point and what’s your back up plan?