'Ridiculous' gas prices irk local motorists

www.marinij.com244071217138,00.html By Michael Howerton, IJ reporter

Motorists lined up at the Arco gas station in Mill Valley yesterday, waiting to buy gas at one of the few stations in Marin where it was still less than $2 a gallon.

The station, at 789 Redwood Highway, was charging $1.95 for a gallon of regular unleaded. Five weeks ago, a gallon at the station cost $1.59.

"It's ridiculous," said Kurt Delacampa, 37, while he pumped gas at the Mill Valley Arco on his way to Muir Beach from his home in Vacaville. "Two dollars a gallon is terrible. We have to pay because they want to go over there and play war."

Delacampa said he mostly gets around on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle these days, trying to use his car less because fuel prices are rising.

Mark Rizzo, 60, a Marin resident, said he fills up his tank twice a week for his daily commute to Sonoma County.

"There's too much fluctuation in the gas prices," Rizzo said. "There is no basis for the price of oil to fluctuate this much. It's not the war. I hope they determine this is price gouging. There needs to be an investigation."

Mario Lopez, 33, said he uses about a half-tank of gas a day driving to the various sites where he works on construction.

"I don't have a choice," he said. "I live in Vallejo and have to drive to San Rafael and Santa Rosa for work. It's a lot of money."

Marin motorists didn't have many kind words for the ever-rising gasoline prices, but most were resigned to paying more. Some blamed the looming war in Iraq, the oil strike in Venezuela or the greed of gasoline companies for lightening their wallets, but most treated the increase with a shrug, saying they have not felt the pinch too sharply.

"You don't have any control over it," said Darlene Riley, 53, of San Rafael as she filled her tank at Gateway Gas in Terra Linda. "I'm not pleased, but there is not a lot to do about it. But I do make a point of coming here where the gas is cheaper, so I guess I do care about it."

Gateway gas was selling a gallon of regular unleaded for $1.95 yesterday. The station marks down all gas five cents a gallon on Sundays.

"They like cheap prices so on Sundays they come," said Eddie de Leon, clerk at Gateway Gas. "Gas is too expensive now."

"What are you going to do?" asked Mitch Bishop, 46, of San Rafael, as he filled his tank at Gateway Gas yesterday. "It's still the cheapest gas in the world."

A Shell gas station on Irwin Street in downtown San Rafael was charging $2.23 for a gallon of regular unleaded yesterday.

Amy Brody, 30, of Mill Valley, pulled into the station on the way to a friend's house. She usually fills up at a cheaper station, she said, but was worried she would run out.

"The prices are way too high," she said. "It's a big deal. It's annoying and it makes me mad."

Jim Deichen, 49, of Kentfield, filling up at the Irwin Street Shell, said he doesn't compare prices when he needs gas. He just pulls into the most convenient station.

"I don't shop," Deichen said. "Not yet anyway. It's not worth my time. I notice it, but I haven't changed my behavior."

The prices at the pump are changing the way people shop for cars, said Sabrina Crilly, sales person at Honda of Corte Madera. The higher gas prices climb, the more inquiries the dealership receives about the Honda Hybrid, a gas-electric car which gets almost 50 miles a gallon.

"People always ask about the mileage now," Crilly said. "They are more conscious about it."

Randy Lakritz, sales manager at Novato Toyota, said that with the rising gas prices, he has seen a growing interest in the Prius, a hybrid car which gets about 52 miles a gallon.

"(High gas prices) have definitely affected sales," he said. "People buy them for the good gas mileage and also because they are politically correct, less dependent on oil with the situation in the Middle East."

But the popularity of the gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles shows no sign of waning, Lakritz said.

"You'd be surprised how many people ask about the miles per gallon on the SUVs, but when they are told they get about 18 miles per gallon, they just shrug their shoulders and move ahead with the purchase," he said.

Lakritz, a Novato resident, said higher gas prices haven't persuaded him to give up the demonstration SUV he uses to drive to work.

"It guzzles gas," he said. "So I'm guilty too. But at least I have a short commute."

Contact Michael Howerton via e-mail at mhowerton@marinij.com