Locals Cope with Rising Gas Prices

The best word Anthony Burgess could come up with to describe the current gas price was ridiculous.

“It’s to the point where I just drive to where I need to go,” said the San Bernardino resident. “You don’t go out. You don’t drive, say to LA to do anything cause you’ll have to pay for the fun and for the gas you spent to get there.”

Burgess, a full-time student, and his wife are the parents of a young toddler. They already spend roughly $30-plus a pop to fill up. On Monday, he was filling his tank at the 76 gas station for $3.26 on the corner of Redlands Boulevard and Anderson Street.

“We can’t afford to pay too much,” Burgess said. “We have bills to pay.”

Gas prices continue to rise this week, pushing prices to the highest level of 2011, according to Automobile Club of Southern California.

The average price of gas in the San Bernardino/Riverside County is $3.38 for regular, 5 cents higher than a week ago. Meanwhile the price of premium slipped by a cent from a week ago to $3.57.

“We’re continuing to see the effects of high oil prices on gasoline,” said Automobile Club spokesman Jeffrey Springin a news release. “Unrest in the Middle East has become another component added into the mix of upward pressure on oil prices, but the fact remains that crude oil was already at high levels before the situation in Egypt because of higher worldwide demand.”

Interesting to know, but of little comfort to Dan Galbraith, of  Calimesa.  A former truck driver, he is currently on disability. When he receives his regular disability check, one of the first things he does is fill his older model Dodge truck, the same one he’s had for years with more than 230,000 miles on it. It costs him $150 every two weeks to fill the tank.

That is a small fortune for him. On Monday, as he filled up his gas tank, he echoed Burgess' sentiment.

“Ridiculous,” he said. “I have to fill up right away before the money gets spent on other things.”

The truck is essential to his health, he said.

“I have to go to doctors appointments in Redlands and in Yucaipa,” he said. “Gas is important.”

As of late Monday night, www.Gasbuddy.com only had a few gas stations listed. The following are the closest with the cheapest gas.

Valero
1880 Mountain View Ave & I-10
Regular, $3.35 Premium, $3.55

Chevron
25690 Barton Rd & Mountain View Ave
Regular, None listed Premium, $3.65

 Valero
710 W Colton Ave & Texas St
Regular, $3.27 Premium, 3.47

ARCO
539 E Redlands Blvd & Citrus Ave
Regular, $3.29 Premium, $3.49