Pain at the gas pump

April 16, 2008 - 12:18

By Michelle Faulkner

DURHAM -- The numbers on the pump keep rolling and Francie Farinha sighs.

She's a single mother trying to make ends meet. Paying $50 to fill her Hyundai Elantra doesn't help her situation.

"It's ridiculous," she said. "I really notice a difference when commuting to and from work. I have to limit how much I drive."

Ms. Farinha isn't the only one hit hard by constantly high gas prices. Barbara Garside is a retiree from Ajax who decided to splurge on a big, comfortable Honda Accord. Now she wishes she'd stayed with compact cars she used to drive because they cost less to fill.

"What the hell are we doing paying these high gas prices? It's absolutely ridiculous," she said.

Mrs. Garside refuses to fill her tank all the way. She puts only $20 in at a time, hoping the price will go down before she has to get more. She said she's irritated by the fact all the gas stations in Ajax seem to have the same price.

"There's no breaks at all," she said.

Those who commute to and from work are hit hard.

Alan Owens, who drives from Whitby to Mississauga, pays almost $80 a tank.

"I'm selling my house and moving closer to work, partly because of travel cost," he said.

Mr. Owens prefers to drive his motorcycle when he can. It only takes $20 to fill.

Doug Brodie is in sales and drives all across the GTA and sometimes to London for work. He has to fill up two or three times a week and says he can't handle it.

"I hate it," Mr. Brodie said. "I put $20 to $30 in at a time. It's ridiculous."

Some people have been limiting their driving when they don't work. Cindy Young has been forced to cut back on travelling.

"It's too high now," she said. "I have to reduce my trips. I go out less now, too. Before it cost $60 to fill; now it's almost $80."

Roberta Scullion from Ajax said she is angry at the cost, and puts off buying gas for as long as she can.

"I'm ticked off. Forty dollars used to fill it. Now it won't," she said. "I used to go to the Woodbine Casino; now I go to Ajax."

Eldon Glaeser said he's thankful he drives a company van to work.

"It's way too much," said Mr. Glaeser, who also drives a station wagon. "I don't drive as much. The worst part is wages don't go up."

Mr. Glaeser calls his friends and family any time he finds a good deal on gas.

Many people say they are angry and upset about the high cost of gas, but it doesn't stop them from having to fill up.

As motorcycle driver Chris Tyrell points out, "It's something we have to live with."

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