Drivers fill up their tanks amidst soaring gas prices. (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Gates Guarin

Gas now at $1.71/L

Soaring gas prices could lead to more alternate forms of transportation

May 17, 2022 | 3:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Filling up the tank nowadays has many people shaking their head. Gas prices have skyrocketed, ballooning to $1.71/L for regular gas at some stations. This has some drivers feeling the heat when they fill up.

“Oh I think every time you get to the pump, there’s a bit of sticker shock,” one driver said. “You know, it’s $1.90 something a litre so yeah, for a truck that’s 200 bucks to fill up so yeah, it’s a big increase.”

“I’m not the majority of gas buyers. I fill up the tank once every two, three weeks,” another driver said. “It’s the guys who have to commute to work everyday – that hurts. I mean, there’s no reason for it.”

It’s that commute to work which may have some drivers thinking about different ways of getting around town, without having to use their car. With summer not too far away, biking on the city’s numerous pathways for pleasure or to get to work may not be the worse thing.

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Greg Watson, owner of Cyclepath Medicine Hat, says while riding a bike is a great way to avoid filling up at the pump, it provides several other benefits too. Watson says many people have already been taking up the pastime.

“Well over the last several years, demand for bicycles has been very brisk. [People] love the idea of getting out and cycling, mental health, physical health and everything. We have such a beautiful city, and definitely riding back and forth to work has been a big thing to beat gas prices.”

Watson says if people are thinking about buying a bike, now is the perfect time to do so.

“We haven’t seen the inflationary price increases on bicycles which a lot of industries and retailers have at this point. I think it’s coming, but at this point, it hasn’t happened yet, so it’s a great time to think about getting on a new bike.”