Get a motorcycle for commuting. In a perfect world if everybody started riding motorcycles and getting 50+mpg that would lower demand, which in turn SHOULD lower prices. But then I don't see the oil companies lowering prices in an attempt to get people driving again. So really all you can hope for is to have a sweet ride that gets 50mpg.
I'd do it cept for 2 reasons:
1. Riding a bike in California is suicide.
2. My carpool buddy (6'4", 210 lbs) and me (6', 210lbs) would look gay as hell.