ORLANDO, Fla. – As gas prices continue to soar, people are trading in their vehicles for a more cost-efficient form of transportation — bikes.
Fuel prices have been busting budgets as drivers get less gas for more money. Gas Buddy reported Thursday the average gas price in Florida was $4.79.
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Jack Thomas, general manager of Pedego Electric Bikes Baldwin Park, said he noticed an uptick in sales.
“I’ve got people who just walk in and go, ‘I just filled up my truck and it was $125 ... how much will it cost me to charge up my electric bike battery?’ And I say, ‘About 75 cents at most,’ and they go, ‘Sold, which one can I take today?’” Thomas said.
One of his customers, Brenda Bobo, purchased an e-bike from his store and said she loves it.
“Oh my gosh, I feel like a kid again,” Bobo said. “This has definitely changed my life.”
With a laundry list of tasks to maintain her vehicle, Bobo decided to change the way she gets around town.
“With this, you don’t have to deal with gas. You don’t have to deal with tags. You don’t have to deal with insurance [and] oil changes,” Bobo said.
She said that now, she only drives her car two times per week.
“I really don’t want to drive my car right now with the gas prices,” Bobo said.
She said she has saved about $120 per month since she began traveling by bike.
Thomas is also choosing an alternate mode of transportation.
“I ride my bicycle here every day,” Thomas said. “I can’t afford the gas right now. It’s killing me. It’s like a pay cut.”
Thomas said some e-bikes can even travel up to 76 miles before the battery needs to be charged.
He said it is a good investment, especially if fuel prices continue to skyrocket.