You may not see it. But it happens. Have we learned nothing at all about environmental protection? Trust the science.
I was used to threads about gas stations in Oregon and New Jersey containing some sweetly anachronistic luddism, but the idea that Oregon is one of the only remaining places on earth where you can find fish, frogs, or forests due to its cadre of gas station attendants keeping them alive is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read.
Back in the 80s and 90s, I lived in North York, in Toronto. There was an Esso station at the corner of Don Mills and Sheppard that had two self-serve islands, and one attended island. I only took advantage of the attended island once, when I was wearing a tux and on my way to a wedding, where I was a groomsman. In the years since, I moved out of Toronto proper, but was still in the GTA so I passed by from time to time, and noticed it still had attended pumps. Then, I moved out of Ontario totally.
In 2019, I was back in Toronto, and had rented a car. Needing gas, and being in the area, I headed for the Esso at Don Mills and Sheppard. In the years since, it had added two islands, and everything was self-serve—no more attendants. Didn’t bother me; I filled up anyway. But that station’s move away from attendants had lasted until sometime in the 2000s.
It may seem strange to you, but for a European reader this thread is a trove of misunderstandings. Just the title “We can pump our own gas in Oregon (soon)” conjured images of Oregonians drilling for gas in their back gardens (soon), which was a good reason to click on the link.
Then it got strange:
I better not ask, I guess.
It must be my dirty mind. It’s OK if you enjoy it, they say.
I picture Oregonians pumping their gas down south to California. But why?
They just don’t know when to stop.
One of the unfortunate side effects of this phase-out of the few remaining full-serve stations was that some of them also had propane facilities, which disappeared at the same time. Those were used by propane-fueled vehicles (mostly taxis) but also for refilling propane barbecue tanks. I recall losing a convenient propane facility when a nearby station went to all self-service. Propane refill facilities are pretty scarce these days.
Scoff all you like, but the little stream that runs along the bike trail behind my property used to be crazy loud with frogs all spring and summer but since the hoboes started dumping nasty shit all along it and crapping in it there are no more frogs. Human trash and waste kills wildlife and petroleum products kill in the tiniest concentrations imaginable. I get it that apparently nobody but me cares but I’m not going to stop caring just because people are ignorant. I love my state and would very much like to keep it nice.
My standby for my propane powered van is U-Haul, almost every rental facility also has propane and they’re all over the place.
The governor sure has wasted everybody’s time with this one. I mean, “listened to the people.”
She has waited until the last minute and then decided not to veto the bill.
I’ve been wondering about this bill and if Kotek would sign it or not. I’m very glad she has decided to do so.
It does make me wonder how the “half the pumps will be staffed” bit will work. Will half the pumps in any given gas station be specifically marked for self service and customers who try to pump their own there be directed to other pumps? Or will there simply be enough staff to handle half the cars and will let people pump their own if they want to regardless of which pump they pull up to and be available to help those that don’t or can’t?
Human nature being what it is I suspect the latter, regardless of signage.
Yeah, I’m curious about how it’s going to work in real life. There will be a bit of a learning curve for sure. I’m not sure how “mixed” pumps would work. Self serve customers would still be stuck behind full serve, employees running all over like it is now.
She hasn’t agreed to sign the bill, it was in the stack of bills to possibly veto and she had until today to declare the bills she would veto and she decided not to include this one. So it will either go into effect on Tuesday without her signature, or she may yet sign the bill. Not quite the same as supporting and signing the bill.
But either way it will go into effect next week, yes?
Yes. It will go into effect Tuesday 8-4.
The way it works in my country (Israel) is by price.
Some stations offer both self-serve and full-service pumps, clearly marked.
The full-serve costs a few cents more per liter.
Yep, different sets of pumps for full serve and self serve, by price. If it’s like every place else in the '70s, eventually it will all be self serve. People in the US are totally obsessed with gas prices and will drive five miles out of their way to save two cents a gallon.
You can steal my wife, fuck my sister and kick my dog. But don’t spill gas on my Goddamn motorcycle tank!
(Actually, you can’t kick my dog, but it flows, Baby!)
RIP Oregon. New Jersey is now the only state with forests. Or frogs. Sad.
The new Oregon law doesn’t allow any of that. It has to be the same price, and 50% self-service is the maximum.
The bill requires that the pumps be marked, and that no more than half of the pumps be marked for self-service. It doesn’t seem to require any effort to enforce it, so you may be right about the ultimate consequences.
What’s the point of self serve if there is no price difference? That makes no sense whatsoever. Does the law say pump it yourself, pay full price?
So I filled up today at a local Chevron and was talking to the pump jockey and he said he’s been told by his boss that each individual fuel station can totally opt out of the self-serve and that that particular station may not choose to allow any self serve at all.
I have no idea if this is true.