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One definition of “irony” is the incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs.

A very recent example is in the well-intended efforts of Skagit Transit to make more alternatives to driving available to commuters as gas prices surge well beyond $4 a gallon.

The rush of motorists to vanpool programs such as Skagit Transit’s has been so overwhelming as to present a new problem — running out of parking space.

And if safe daytime parking can’t be found soon — guess what? Commuters will be back on the road in their solo rides to and from work.

Park-and-ride locations in Mount Vernon and Burlington are filled to capacity with automobiles left by their owners during the day as they join the vanpool caravans to points north and south. Skagit Station’s 100 spaces are also at capacity.

Managers of the Mount Vernon Safeway store had been good enough in recent years to allow vanpoolers to use the south end of their parking lot for cars to park during the day and vans at night. But, when the increasing volume of daytime parkers began to crowd out paying customers, Safeway understandably had to draw the line. The store has given the vanpoolers until June 28 to relocate.

Something had to give.

It isn’t anybody’s fault that the problem escalated as quickly as it did. Nobody could have predicted the roaring increases in gas prices of the past year. All concerned are trying to make the best of the situation.

We are aware that efforts have been made to contact Albertson’s about the possible use of unused parking in the lot on the south side of East College Way where the former grocery store sits empty. We hope that those efforts can bear fruit.

Two large park-and-ride projects — Chuckanut Drive in Burlington and another in south Mount Vernon — are years from completion.

We hope that Skagit County, Mount Vernon and Burlington officials, working with the private sector can find a way to accommodate the vanpool program and commuters who need a place to park so they can ride the bus.

Perhaps dispersing some of the vanpool groups along a wider area of Riverside Drive and Burlington Boulevard, with some compensation to property owners, will help relieve some of the pressure on parking.

While it may be hard to see any silver linings in the economic storm cloud hovering over us, perhaps more of us will become converts to mass transit on a permanent basis.

Meanwhile, motorists must contend with an oil shock that is forcing a change in driving habits, household budgets and, ultimately, lifestyle.

• Editorials reflect the consensus opinion of the editorial board and are written by its members: Publisher L. Stedem Wood, Editor Don Nelson and City Editor Dick Clever.