Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
Ian Crawford
|
ENLARGE
|
Eddie Fedahi
|
|
ENLARGE
|
Tim Gerdts
|
When Mike Speckert took four months off during winter, the foundation builder had to sell compact discs and movies to help pay for gas.
Heather Anderson avoids South Lake Tahoe gas stations, instead filling her 1994 Mitsubishi Montero with gas in Carson Valley, where she might move to escape high prices.
Ian Crawford has decided to sometimes ditch his car and walk to work at Heavenly Mountain Resort.
South Shore residents and visitors are devising strategies to combat some of the highest gas prices in the nation by re thinking purchases, road trips and transportation.
"I haven't cut back on anything but I'm telling ya, it's killing me," Crawford said while putting $5 into his car at the Chevron on Ski Run Boulevard.
"I'll be walking if it gets any higher than it is right now," he added.
Crawford makes $9 per hour working at Heavenly. He walks to the California Lodge from his home on Spruce Avenue at least twice a week.
Heather Anderson avoids South Lake Tahoe gas stations, instead filling her 1994 Mitsubishi Montero with gas in Carson Valley, where she might move to escape high prices.
Ian Crawford has decided to sometimes ditch his car and walk to work at Heavenly Mountain Resort.
South Shore residents and visitors are devising strategies to combat some of the highest gas prices in the nation by re thinking purchases, road trips and transportation.
"I haven't cut back on anything but I'm telling ya, it's killing me," Crawford said while putting $5 into his car at the Chevron on Ski Run Boulevard.
"I'll be walking if it gets any higher than it is right now," he added.
Crawford makes $9 per hour working at Heavenly. He walks to the California Lodge from his home on Spruce Avenue at least twice a week.
It's a crunch on his finances paying for gas, as it is for Anderson, a single mother who earns $8 an hour working for Lake Tahoe Cruises.
Two days worth of pay is earmarked for gas, Anderson said.
"The other three days worth of work go to rent, car payments or car insurance," she said.
Anderson has already stopped taking her daughter to the movies, the video store and eating out. High gas prices have now prompted her to think about moving to Carson City.
"It is crazy up here," she said. "How can a single parent survive?"
At Lake Tahoe Community College, Grant Swinney said he saves money for gas and other items at the expense of necessities.
"I don't eat as good," he said.
"You find when you put $20 in you don't get as much (gas)," he said. "It's horrible.
Two days worth of pay is earmarked for gas, Anderson said.
"The other three days worth of work go to rent, car payments or car insurance," she said.
Anderson has already stopped taking her daughter to the movies, the video store and eating out. High gas prices have now prompted her to think about moving to Carson City.
"It is crazy up here," she said. "How can a single parent survive?"
At Lake Tahoe Community College, Grant Swinney said he saves money for gas and other items at the expense of necessities.
"I don't eat as good," he said.
"You find when you put $20 in you don't get as much (gas)," he said. "It's horrible.
"I think I'll just sell my car and get a bike," he added.
On Thursday, the average gas price per gallon in California was $3.18, according to Jenny Mack, spokeswoman for California AAA. A month ago the average was $2.70. In South Lake Tahoe, the price per gallon at many stations is $3.29.
The overall rise in prices can be attributed to the soaring cost of crude oil resulting from some form of instability in Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela. Rising international demand, especially from China, also contributes to the price increases.
"It may be time for people to get serious about fuel efficiency and think what your next car is going to be because I don't think you're going to see really cheap gasoline anytime soon," said Rob Schlichting, spokesman for the California Energy Commission.
Regarding the price differences between South Lake Tahoe and, say, Sacramento, Schlichting cited fuel transportation as a factor. Gas stations also zone price, where fueling stations on different blocks charge differently.
Eddie Fedahi, co-owner of the Chevron on Ski Run Avenue, said he charges more to help offset the fees brought on by credit card companies. About 95 percent of his customers use credit cards, meaning Fedahi has to pay about $10,000 a month in fees, he said.
And since more people buy less gas and Fedahi makes his profit by gallons sold, he said he is struggling as well.
On Thursday, the average gas price per gallon in California was $3.18, according to Jenny Mack, spokeswoman for California AAA. A month ago the average was $2.70. In South Lake Tahoe, the price per gallon at many stations is $3.29.
The overall rise in prices can be attributed to the soaring cost of crude oil resulting from some form of instability in Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela. Rising international demand, especially from China, also contributes to the price increases.
"It may be time for people to get serious about fuel efficiency and think what your next car is going to be because I don't think you're going to see really cheap gasoline anytime soon," said Rob Schlichting, spokesman for the California Energy Commission.
Regarding the price differences between South Lake Tahoe and, say, Sacramento, Schlichting cited fuel transportation as a factor. Gas stations also zone price, where fueling stations on different blocks charge differently.
Eddie Fedahi, co-owner of the Chevron on Ski Run Avenue, said he charges more to help offset the fees brought on by credit card companies. About 95 percent of his customers use credit cards, meaning Fedahi has to pay about $10,000 a month in fees, he said.
And since more people buy less gas and Fedahi makes his profit by gallons sold, he said he is struggling as well.
"Our (profit) margin is a lot less," he said.
Fueling up at Chevron, visitor Tim Gerdts from Kingsburg, Calif., planned on taking plenty of day trips with his wife on his Harley.
"We weren't planning on any long trips but we'll probably take more shorter trips," he said.
In Meyers, Michael Nuremberg and Jason Hammock were making their way to the California coast from Carson City on motorcycles. Nuremberg said gas prices were a major factor in his decision to sell his 1978 Pontiac and buy a Honda CRV and motorcycle.
Hammock relished filling his motorcycle tank for $22 and being able to ride for two or three days before refilling.
The two did say they had to cut their trip short. Nuremberg is re-evaluating a summer road trip to New Mexico and will wait a few months to save money for petrol.
"It's pretty sad when you have to be more concerned about how you're going to pay than where you're going," he said.
That mentality is on the mind of Patrick Kaler, executive director of Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
Fueling up at Chevron, visitor Tim Gerdts from Kingsburg, Calif., planned on taking plenty of day trips with his wife on his Harley.
"We weren't planning on any long trips but we'll probably take more shorter trips," he said.
In Meyers, Michael Nuremberg and Jason Hammock were making their way to the California coast from Carson City on motorcycles. Nuremberg said gas prices were a major factor in his decision to sell his 1978 Pontiac and buy a Honda CRV and motorcycle.
Hammock relished filling his motorcycle tank for $22 and being able to ride for two or three days before refilling.
The two did say they had to cut their trip short. Nuremberg is re-evaluating a summer road trip to New Mexico and will wait a few months to save money for petrol.
"It's pretty sad when you have to be more concerned about how you're going to pay than where you're going," he said.
That mentality is on the mind of Patrick Kaler, executive director of Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
The agency will send out a six-question survey to 25,000 people who are on LTVA's e-mail list. The survey will question recipients on summer travel plans, whether they plan to visit Lake Tahoe in the coming months and whether the price of gasoline will affect their summer trips.
Kaler referenced a news bit from the Travel Industry Association of American anticipating road trippers won't alter their vacations, just their buying habits during vacation.
The projection stated the typical American driving vacation consists of 800 miles and higher gas prices, compared to a year ago, means an extra $30, or $50 for those towing trailers.
"It doesn't sound so horrible," Kaler said. "It might reflect what they do during their trip."
College student Ian Morris found some good in the higher gas prices. He thinks it might provoke people finding alternative options for transportation.
"It sucks price-wise but environmentally it's ideal," he said.
Kaler referenced a news bit from the Travel Industry Association of American anticipating road trippers won't alter their vacations, just their buying habits during vacation.
The projection stated the typical American driving vacation consists of 800 miles and higher gas prices, compared to a year ago, means an extra $30, or $50 for those towing trailers.
"It doesn't sound so horrible," Kaler said. "It might reflect what they do during their trip."
College student Ian Morris found some good in the higher gas prices. He thinks it might provoke people finding alternative options for transportation.
"It sucks price-wise but environmentally it's ideal," he said.
Gas Saving Tips
-- Drive at a conservative speed on the highway. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most automobiles get about 20 percent more miles per gallon on the highway at 55 miles per hour than they do at 70 miles per hour
-- Decrease the number of short trips you make. Short trips drastically reduce gas mileage. If an automobile gets 20 miles per gallon in general, it may get only four miles per gallon on a short trip of 5 miles or less. The U. S. Department of Energy says that trips of five miles or less make up 15 percent of all miles driven each year, but these trips burn 30 percent of the gasoline
-- Make a list of all errands in order of their location before you leave home. Move from one to the other without backtracking. Backtracking requires additional gasoline
-- Accelerate smoothly and moderately. Accelerating very rapidly uses more gasoline. Jumpy starts and fast getaways can burn over 50 percent more gasoline than normal acceleration. Once you have reached your desired speed, keep a steady pressure on the accelerator, just enough to maintain the speed
-- Turn off your engine if you stop for more than one minute. (This does not apply if you are in traffic.) Restarting the automobile will use less gasoline than idling for more than one minute
-- Remove unnecessary weight from your automobile. Generally, the lighter the vehicle, the less gasoline it will use. An extra 100 pounds decreases fuel economy about 1 percent for the average car, and 1.25 percent for a small car
Source: TheFrugalLife.com
-- Drive at a conservative speed on the highway. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most automobiles get about 20 percent more miles per gallon on the highway at 55 miles per hour than they do at 70 miles per hour
-- Decrease the number of short trips you make. Short trips drastically reduce gas mileage. If an automobile gets 20 miles per gallon in general, it may get only four miles per gallon on a short trip of 5 miles or less. The U. S. Department of Energy says that trips of five miles or less make up 15 percent of all miles driven each year, but these trips burn 30 percent of the gasoline
-- Make a list of all errands in order of their location before you leave home. Move from one to the other without backtracking. Backtracking requires additional gasoline
-- Accelerate smoothly and moderately. Accelerating very rapidly uses more gasoline. Jumpy starts and fast getaways can burn over 50 percent more gasoline than normal acceleration. Once you have reached your desired speed, keep a steady pressure on the accelerator, just enough to maintain the speed
-- Turn off your engine if you stop for more than one minute. (This does not apply if you are in traffic.) Restarting the automobile will use less gasoline than idling for more than one minute
-- Remove unnecessary weight from your automobile. Generally, the lighter the vehicle, the less gasoline it will use. An extra 100 pounds decreases fuel economy about 1 percent for the average car, and 1.25 percent for a small car
Source: TheFrugalLife.com
