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If you’ve tried to fill up your car’s tank lately, you may have noticed that some area filling stations are out of gas. Over on my blog, I’m trying to collect information about Davidson-area gas stations. So we’re asking readers to help us show which ones have gas and which don’t by collaborating with us on a Google map. Anyone should be able to edit this map and add their own information. Together we’ll be able to figure out where to find the gas we need!
Here’s what we know so far [updated 10/3]: The Exxon at exit 30 had gas this afternoon. So did both Cashions on Catawba avenue.
My blog is down right now, so here’s a direct link to the map.
I am surprised at how many people I meet who to off their gas every chance they get. Yesterday, I met two who would sit in line for an hour when they got to half a tank.
During the 1970s national gas shortage officials quickly instituted an “odd-even day” gas buying plan, where license tags ending in an even number could buy gas only on even numbered calendar days, and vice-versa.
This cut gas lines by much more than 50% because people were confident that their turn would come every other day, so panic-driven topping off was eliminated.
Today, it’s dog-eat-dog, to the point that people even bring huge containers to fill besides their tanks (this was banned in the ’70s). It is a sad statement about our leadership that it can’t institute a simple, fair plan to address a minor short-term problem like a storm-induced 30% gas shortage.
As I drive around Charlotte, I am amazed at the number of closed stations and the long lines at the open ones, then I remember all the “toppers.” I wonder what the leadership will do when there is real problem.
If this gas shortage is any indication, we could face a panic-driven everyone themselves situation, with no action by the government. Hmmm… where have we seen this before?