So far their response has been tax cuts and getting rid of regulations. Two things they love doing. In Australia they’re giving subsidies to the oil industry.
None of those will do anything to slow our consumption of oil or help people change their lifestyles to match the circumstances. By clinging desperately to business as usual they will make the eventual change more wrenching than it could have been.
Instead, what if:
Short term:
Free public transport.
Free bikes for everyone.
Begin emergency repairs on any old busses that can be pressed into service.
Implement a priority system for who gets fuel:
Tier 1: healthcare, emergency services
Tier 2: food production & distribution
Tier 3: essential infrastructure (power, water, telecoms)
Everything else: on yer bike, son (or heavily rationed)
Ration fertilizer. A lot of it is wasted, currently.
Daily govt briefings - what’s happening, what is being prioritised, what people should do. Maintain clear communication and transparency.
Medium term (but start NOW):
Electrify all busses.
Repair neglected railways.
Move freight by rail and ship as much as possible.
Build cycling infrastructure. Secure places to park many many bikes next to train stations - big sheds.
Remove regulatory barriers for local food production, farmers markets. Encourage urban gardening, local trade networks.
Plant corn everywhere for ethanol.
Strategic reserves of critical medicines, etc.
Diversify food production - for local needs, not for export market needs.
Fuel is expensive, diesel in particular has almost doubled in price, but there’s no widespread shortage. A few stations have run dry, but nothing major.
Traffic is noticeably lighter, people are driving less, and certainly discretionary travel is being thought about carefully.
But, mostly things are chugging along.
Same as here then, with the pricing. Don’t think any stations have run dry though. They’re probably posting record profits since they tend to make use of any crisis.
I haven’t really been to any of the cities in like a month, will try and keep my eyes open when I do, to see if there’s less traffic.