Mahaska County Residents Discuss Gas Prices and It’s Effect On Their Lives

Jasmine Windsor-Blunt says that her driving habits are changing because of rising fuel costs

With gas pushing over $3.50 a gallon most times, it seems people are talking about changes to their life and lifestyle from the added cost of fueling up.

When asked if his driving habits have changed because of the increased cost, Glen Boughton was pretty confident in saying “NO”. Even with the possibility of gas prices continuing to climb, Boughton says his habits won’t change much.

Another driver, that wished to remain anonymous, said that her habits would not change either. “I don’t ever earn enough to go anywhere” was her statement on being able to put fuel in her car.

“They have actually. I’m going to start riding my bike more, and get my scooter fixed,” says Jasmine Windsor-Blunt on the current cost of gas. I was curious if Jasmine thought our government could do more to help with the prices. She responded, “Actually, I think they can. I went to Canada and they have ethanol plants everywhere, and I think we should see more of those here.”

With the mention of riding a bike more to help beat the cost of gas, my next logical stop was Bobzilla’s Bicycle Werks to see if people had been buying new bikes, or looking into the possibility.

Jeff Wilford of Bobzilla’s said, “It’s kind of early to tell yet.”

I wondered if people were even talking about the bikes to him at this point. Jeff explained that he feels like it is, “similar to 2008 when gas prices were even higher than they are now. Many people starting pulling bikes out of the garage, that they had forgotten for 15 years, thinking that maybe it’s time to start riding again.”

Wilford explained that he believes the gas prices will be a factor in his business, “It’s March, people have just started to think about bicycles, and getting out there.”

I can say that I enjoyed using my bicycle the previous year. If your curious about it and how it’s used to help bring Osky News to everyone, you can read that story HERE – http://oskynews.org/?p=5261 .

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