Gasoline was never cheap, even when it cost less than a dollar a gallon. It has always been expensive and so are cars. Our cars are parked most of the time so that
they will always be there for us. Owning a car is expensive even if it isn’t driven much.
Cars add to the cost of all housing even if the owners do not own a car or drive. They still pay for parking maybe a parking lot or a garage. They pay for the streets too.
Many households have a car for each driver. They can not share as all cars are needed for work or school.
People who live in walkable urban areas can sometimes get by without owning a car. In my household, we have one car and we share it. I walk a lot and bike a lot and before the pandemic, I used the light rail.
Most of the errands I use the car for are close to home. My lifestyle isn’t for everyone but it has its advantages. One advantage is that we don’t use much gasoline.
Sometimes business takes me out of the city to work with clients or to attend meetings. Other times the car sits for a couple of days without being driven.
Owning cars and commuting for a few decades is expensive, and should be taken into consideration when buying a house or renting an apartment. Gasoline prices may go down from what they are right now but it is safe to assume they will also go up again at some point as they always do.
There are hybrid cars. They are also expensive and like cars that burn gasoline, they spend a significant amount of time parked.
Going from two cars to one cuts expenses. It does take a while to learn how to combine errands and share a car but it is worth it.
