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Getting around amid high cost of fuel

Some take the bus and save, while others forgo pleasure trips out of town, limiting their driving close to home.

By AMBER MOBLEY
Published September 11, 2005

Mike Scott and his kids don't go to the movies much any more.

They spend Saturdays at home.

"All the money goes to gas," Scott said while filling up at a Town 'N Country 7-Eleven.

Between his company van and the family car, Scott said he easily spends $100 a day on gas. That's just for "going to work and taking the kids to school and practice," he said.

As the price for regular unleaded continues to flirt with the $3 per gallon mark, pleasure trips are becoming passe for many in Tampa.

"I'm not planning any long trips any time soon," said Tony Henderson, who lives in the Sunset Palms apartment complex on Hanley Road. "And it seems like everybody's staying close to home . . . Ten bucks is three gallons of gas, if that."

In suburbs seemingly wedded to single occupant gas guzzlers, even the bus is becoming more attractive.

"I took the bus from work Sunday and it was packed, packed, packed with people," Lydia Rivers said, on her way to her job at Whataburger. "People even had to stand up waiting for a seat. I've never seen it like that before."

Mark Kolman said he figures going between his St. Petersburg home and his job at County Center in downtown Tampa costs $6 round trip. So, he opts to bike two blocks to the bus stop near his home.

"I put my bike on the rack in front of the bus. It's simple," he said.

Instead of filling up his Ford Impala, Henderson said he opts to walk to work and the store.

He'd rather invest a few extra minutes than a few more gas dollars.

"I used to have a Neon," he said. "I was going to buy a hybrid, but people used to laugh at those things. I wish to hell I'd have let them laugh."

Paying more at the pump makes Suresh Parvatosa of South Tampa want to curse.

"It makes me mad, you know?" she said. "I used to drive a lot, but not anymore. It's way too expensive."

[Last modified September 10, 2005, 09:32:05]