Higher gasoline prices are driving motorists to other forms of transportation

Tuesday, March 8th 2005, 12:16 pm

By: News On 6

At many northeastern Oklahoma service stations, the price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline jumped a dime from $1.89 to $1.99. The national average for a gallon of regular is a $1.97, but AAA is predicting gas prices should soon be on the way down.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says AAA says it's typical for prices to jump before the summer and it's just a matter of time before they come back down again.

The News on 6 checked, gas prices all around the Tulsa area are hovering right at $2. AAA's Mark Madeja says prices at the pump would have to go up to $2.50 a gallon to really make people consider other ways to get around, like car pooling and taking public transportation.

Some people are looking at trading their cars in altogether. Brian Martinac at "K&N Motorcyclesâ€ says the longer gas prices stay up, the more business he expects. "I get comments about motorcycles and gas mileage all the time. I think that it is going to have an effect. I don't think it's taken a hold yet, but I think it eventually will."

Martinac says the motorcycles and scooters in his showroom get around 50 or 60 miles to the gallon.

As we mentioned, AAA is expecting prices to come down, but they say not to look for that drop any time before Spring Break.