It’s become a constant in the news – every day, someone reports on what people are doing in the wake of such high gas prices. While many people are cutting back on what they spend in other areas, resoundingly, people are changing their lifestyles so that they don’t have to purchase as much gas. Yesterday, the Federal Highway Administration announced that Americans put 9.6 billion fewer miles on their cars this past May than they did in May of 2007, the largest decline since records started to be kept. The US transportation secretary seems to think this is a bad thing, noting that the less people drive, the less revenue the highway system rakes in.

Boo hoo.

Having nicer roads isn’t going to change anything – it doesn’t make gas cheaper, it doesn’t make the planet anymore ecologically sound, it doesn’t stop global warming, it doesn’t end road rage. All I see in this article is that Americans are accepting the fact that we need a different way. In 2007, public transportation was used 10.3 billion times, the highest ridership in 50 years. City transit authorities are breaking records left and right. Cycling to work and telecommuting are also on upswing. And all this goes to show is that as people seek out new ways of existence, the federal highway system will need to do the same. We can only hope that – in the unlikely event gas prices decrease – drivers won’t revert back to their cars and will continue demonstrating that public transportation, walking and cycling are the best ways for getting around town.