AMERICAN MOTORISTS ARE FEELING THE PINCH FROM SKYROCKETING PUMP PRICES, WITH SOME TURNING TO BUSES AND BICYCLES TO AVOID STICKER SHOCK AND SCATTERED SHORTAGES ON THE EAST COAST AND IN TEXAS, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE COST OF A GALLON OF GASOLINE HAS JUMPED ABOUT 16 PERCENT IN A MONTH TO $2.93 ON AVERAGE, AND HAS BLOWN PAST $3 A GALLON IN MANY MAJOR CITIES, ACCORDING TO AAA'S DAILY SURVEY OF MORE THAN 85,000 STATIONS. "THEY'RE PUTTING A DENT IN MY POCKET," SAID PATRICIA GONZALEZ, A 36-YEAR-OLD PARALEGAL AS SHE FILLED UP HER 2001 FORD TAURUS SEDAN AT A BP STATION IN THE COCONUT GROVE DISTRICT OF MIAMI EARLY ON FRIDAY. "THE BIKES HAVE BEEN SITTING AROUND, BUT NOW WE'RE GETTING THEM OUT AND USING THEM," SAID JIM BROWN, 46, A LIMOUSINE DISPATCHER FROM AMBLER PENNSYLVANIA, FILLING UP THE TIRES ON HIS DAUGHTER'S BIKE AT A FUEL STATION. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, UNDER HEAVY PRESSURE TO LOWER ENERGY PRICES, THIS WEEK CALLED FOR A PROBE OF WHETHER OIL COMPANIES ARE ILLEGALLY OVERCHARGING CONSUMERS AND DIRECTED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO CONSIDER ALLOWING STATES TO PERMIT STATIONS TO SELL CHEAPER, LOWER GRADE FUEL. CRITICS SAID THE MOVES WERE UNLIKELY TO LEAD TO MUCH RELIEF AT THE PUMPS AS CRUDE OIL PRICES SOAR TO RECORD HIGHS OVER $70 A BARREL AND THE UNITED STATES WRANGLES WITH A CRUNCH IN FUEL PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY. "UNFORTUNATELY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR DRIVERS," SAID MANTILL WILLIAMS, NATIONAL SPOKESMAN FOR AAA AUTO CLUB IN WASHINGTON, D.C. "RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE HEADED FOR THE RECORD." GASOLINE PRICES STRUCK AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF $3.07 A GALLON LAST SEPTEMBER AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA SLAMMED INTO THE GULF COAST, DAMAGING SEVERAL BIG OIL REFINERIES. --MORE 2311 Local Time 2011 GMT
