Gas price spike encouraging people to use mass transit

kabc ^ | Tuesday, October 09, 2012 | Melissas MacBride and Carlos Granda

[BenLurkin]

California drivers are paying the highest price in the nation.

The increasing cost of gas has forced many to take a bus or train. Metrolink says Southern Californians are packing mass transit lines. They have reported a definite increase in ridership, even posting a record of nearly 23,000 riders this weekend.

Regular passengers at Union Station said they have noticed new faces and fewer seats for their morning commute.

"I would say it was a little more crowded than normal," said Homa Hashemi of Buena Park. "You can tell on the days where the gas prices are higher, people start taking the train more often."

Analysts say refinery disruptions and corrosion problems in a pipeline are to blame for the spike in prices at the pump in California. Gas companies cite the laws of supply and demand. Refineries were in the middle of switching from winter blend gasoline to summer blend gasoline, then a power outage occurred last week at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance.

In the meantime, state leaders have approved the early release of winter blend fuel to help bolster supplies and lower prices. Winter-blend gas typically isn't sold until Oct. 31.

MTA spokesman Luis Inzunza encourages first-time commuters to plan their trip to work or school by using Metro's online trip planner.

"They could enter their starting point and their destination," Inzunza said."It'll plan their trip for them, tell them what lines or rail to take. It's very easy to use."

Long-time commuters on Metrolink and Metro say that public transportation is a more affordable option.

"I take the Metrolink from San Bernardino to Downtown Los Angeles," said Ed Pineda of Victorville. "I save about $20 a day."

[BenLurkin]

“They want to get out of their cars,”

No.

We do not.

[SaraJohnson]

That was before the serious crime became popular with certain segments of the population. Then people started getting beaten up, rapped, robbed and murdered on mass transit and on foot to and from...