Gas Prices High, But Unlikely To Stop Summer Travel

Gas prices continue to soar in Fair Oaks and throughout the U.S., however many drivers say their budgets are not affected.

The average price of regular gasoline in the Sacramento metropolitan area is $4.057 per gallon, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge report. Prices are declining slowly, down nearly two cents from $4.074 Monday and $4.0169 since last week.

Though prices appear to be dropping, drivers are currently paying $1 more per gallon than they did at the same time last year, according to the Auto Club.

Filling up his tank on Tuesday at the Shell station at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Sunrise Boulevard, Dmitriy Boian said prices are not having much of an impact on his budget. On Tuesday afternoon a gallon of regular gasoline was $4.09 at Shell, Chevron and 76, all located at the same intersection.

Boian said he has begun driving less to cut his fuel costs, which is good.

“You know what’s good about high gas prices is it encourages people to make safe choices and travel less,” Boian said, who works in Fair Oaks.

Boian recognizes higher prices do have an affect on some families, he said.

Sierra College student Kim Hornberg who works as a tutor said higher gas prices affect her livelihood.

“The higher the gas prices, the less my work is working out for me,” Hornberg said.

In order to balance her budget, Hornberg is cutting back in other categories, she said.

“I’m eating out less; I’m shopping less,” Hornberg said.

If she does travel this summer, she will likely fly rather than drive, Hornberg said.

According to the Automobile Club, higher gas prices are not likely to prevent many people from traveling this summer. Approximately 35 million Americans traveled over Memorial Day weekend – roughly the same number as last year.

A survey conducted by the Automobile Club “found that six out of ten travelers said rising gasoline prices would not impact their travel plans”.

Of the travelers who said higher prices will have an impact, they said they plan to spend less in other areas, such as shortening their trip.

Robert Wilson, visiting Fair Oaks from San Francisco said his driving habits are unlikely to change due to higher gas prices.

“Gas is only about $5 or $7 extra,” Wilson said, filling up his four-cylinder Saturn Ion at Arco at the corner of Sunrise Boulevard and Winding Way.

The station’s price of $3.92 for a gallon of regular gasoline was the cheapest in the area Tuesday.

Not everyone sees the price increases as modest. Cameron Park resident Jeff Perry said gas prices are making a huge dent in his family’s budget.

“My wife and I needed a bigger car to carry more kids and its just killing us on gas,” Perry said. “Everything (prices) is going up and I’m not getting any raises. The customer doesn’t want to pay extra.”