Exhausted Drivers Vent About Increasing Gas Prices
By Edgar Linares, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Despite warnings that gas prices would rise, Friday morning's jump was more of a jolt than many drivers expected.
Some who hadn't filled up since last week were stunned when they saw the $3.46 per gallon price tag. Last week the average in the Twin Cities was $3.16.
Jeff Smith was pumping gas into his oversized work truck.
"I'm not filling it up," said Smith. "This is a 30-gallon tank. I would easily be paying $100."
Smith remodels homes for a living and needs his truck to work. He doesn't fill up because he needs to make sure work is coming in before he spends the money.
Smith said the rise in gas prices impacts him in many ways.
"It puts a cramp in my style. It takes away from my profit. It makes me work harder and longer. I've got to get gas to get around to my jobs, do my bids, and get my materials," he said.
But Josh Carlson said the jump at the pump impacts him in other ways.
"It affects my relationships, bills, everything," said Carlson. "People fight about who's filling up the tank? Who's using the gas? We've got to cut down to one car only nowadays."
Carlson has decided to take the bus to save money.
"You can't share cars because that's two times filling up … I'm now taking two-hour bus rides just to save gas. It sucks man," said Carlson.
For Kit Friedemann the price at the pump doesn't affect him very much. He has a short commute to work. Friedman believes the United States has had it easy on gas prices compared to other countries. In Europe, drivers pay two to three times as much for one gallon.
"It's to be expected," said Friedemann. "I mean, with what's happening in the world with oil prices. We've kind of enjoyed -- compared to the rest of the world -- gas prices that are a little bit lower than they should've been. I don't like it, but you live with it."
