Banning Gas Prices On 36-Day Rise: Ways To Reduce Gas Usage

BANNING, CA — Do you let your car's gas tank needle go all the way to empty before you fill up, or do you fill up around the halfway mark? With the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County rising three-tenths of a cent to a record $5.97 Tuesday, these questions are not just idly considered.

In Banning on Tuesday, the cheapest gas around was at ARCO at $5.79 per gallon.

One day after gas prices matched the smallest increase during the 36-day streak of rising prices, two-tenths of a cent, drivers are using whatever tactics they can to reduce their gas usage.

Ways To Reduce Your Weekly Gas Usage:

With many neighborhoods considered "walkable," Pass Area residents are looking for ways to reduce their daily miles spent behind the wheel. From finagling work-at-home days to carpooling to work, Riverside County families are looking to spread out the time between fill-ups. Others are using AAA apps and www.GasBuddy.com crowdsourcing to find the cheapest gasoline for sale near them as they wait for relief.

According to a report from Penny Hoarder, there are ways to get more out of a full tank of gas. A few ideas include:

• Reduce the amount of "engine idle" time.
• Accelerate slowly, and coast as often as possible.
• Stay off "cruise control" when driving on hills.
• Remove roof racks and keep your car's wind-resistance down
• Keep your car's maintenance up with oil changes and proper tire pressure
• Drive energy-efficient vehicles, if possible.

All of the above not only reduce the amount of gasoline you use but are beneficial to the environment, Penny Hoarder writes.

Ways To Save When Filling Up At The Pump:

According to Penny Hoarder, there are many ways to capture those bonus percentage points and apply them to your cost of fill-ups.

• Pay for gas with rewards points.
• Buy gasoline at membership warehouses.
• Skip premium gasoline, if possible.
• Fill up early in the week.
• Pay for gasoline with cash over credit.

Paying for gasoline with cash over credit can reduce the selling price of gasoline by as much as 10 cents per gallon. Kroger/Ralph's Grocery offers reduced gas prices based upon rewards points that can reduce gas prices by as much as a dollar per gallon, and warehouses such as Costco and Sam's Club continue to offer cheaper gasoline to their members.

The average price has risen by $1.27 during the streak, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 9 cents more than one week ago, $1.18 more than one month ago and $2.09 greater than one year ago.

The average price also rose by two-tenths of a cent on Feb. 22, the first day of the streak, and March 15.

The streak is the longest since a 55-day streak from Jan. 26-March 21, 2021, totaling 54 cents.

"Los Angeles wholesale prices have been trending lower in the last few days, although they are still well above a month ago," said Marie Montgomery, a public relations specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California. "That may help slow down or even reverse increases at the pump if the trend holds."

Patch wants to hear from you. Is the state doing enough to head off the rising cost of fuel in our towns? Share your gas price and cost of living stories with us in the comments or by emailing your Patch Editor.