High gas prices spur Americans to improvise, from bus rides to toy cars
Americans are cutting driving and turning to buses, trains and gas giveaways as average U.S. gasoline prices reach $4.52 a gallon, AAA said.
- As of May 18, Americans paid an average of $4.52 a gallon for regular gasoline, according to AAA, prompting 44% of drivers to cut back on travel, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.
- Prices surged from around $3 a gallon before the Iran war started, forcing households to reshape daily routines and seek alternatives to less fuel-efficient vehicles to manage soaring costs.
- Individual adaptation varies widely: Mali Hightower, a 30-year-old handyman from Ellenwood, Georgia, modified a toy car to save fuel, while content creator Dafne Flores switched to public transit to avoid $95 fill-ups.
- Charitable organizations are stepping in: Chicago's CityPoint Community Church plans to distribute $5,000 in gas cards, while Visit Las Vegas recently offered up to $100 to drivers, addressing transportation needs.
- While the fuel crunch has not yet spurred a surge in electric vehicle sales, it has vindicated long-time EV owners and continues to reshape consumer behavior and daily transit choices nationwide.
14 Articles
14 Articles
High fuel prices spur Americans to improvise, from bus rides to toy cars
NEW YORK: Mali Hightower's answer to high gas prices is a toy he fished out of someone's trash.The 30-year-old handyman from Ellenwood, Georgia stuck a two-gallon, one-piston engine from a power washer into a broken pink Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper - a battery-operated toy car less than four feet tall. One pull of the lawnmower-like rip cord and he's off to the supermarket, knees at his ears, dirtbike helmet on his head.His real car, a 1…
According to data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), as of Monday (May 18), the average price of regular gasoline in the United States was $4.52 per gallon, higher than about $3 before the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq War. Soaring gasoline prices are changing people's daily decisions; in an Ipsos poll released on April 28 by The Washington Post and ABC News, 44% of Americans said they had reduced their driving.
Sky-High Gas Prices Push Americans to Find Creative Ways to Save, From Bus Rides to Toy Cars
NEW YORK, NY (May 19, 2026) — Mali Hightower’s answer to high gas prices is a toy he fished out of someone’s trash. The 30-year-old handyman from Ellenwood, Georgia stuck a two-gallon, one-piston engine from a power washer into a broken pink Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper – a battery-operated toy car less than four feet tall. One pull of the lawnmower-like rip cord and he’s off to the supermarket, knees at his ears, dirtbike helmet on his he…
The spike in gas prices is changing everyday decisions and spurring creative solutions in households across America.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
