NorCal taxi, ride-share drivers hit hard by rising gas prices – KCRA Sacramento

Gas prices are high and they continue to reach records in Northern California. In Sacramento, the average price of gas Tuesday is $4.70 a gallon. That’s just shy of a new record set on Sunday.It’s really hitting everyone right in the wallet, especially those who rely on gas for work. Germaine has been driving for Uber for 7 years. He remarked at the rising cost of gas that shows no sign of it returning to lower prices. While laughing, he said he remembers when gas was 99 cents.”With the gas prices right now at almost $5 a gallon that’s killing us,” said taxi driver Mohammad Hawareneh, who’s been driving since 1998.Taxi drivers like he and Tony Rahim both told KCRA 3 they have to pay out of pocket to fill up their tanks, which is now like a punch to the gut.”When you compare it to four or five months ago when it was $3.50 to $5.00, we are talking about a $1.50 difference,” Hawareneh said. “That’s a lot at the end of the day, you know.”To people who drive for work, trips to refill can feel like they’re constant. Rahim said he spends anywhere between $50-$80 a day, depending on how much driving is done.But drivers say they have no choice but to fill up.”What are we going to do? We can’t stop driving,” Rahim said. “That money I used to save for my kids or for myself. Now I have to put the gas in every day and it is less money you know. I hope the gas prices will go down soon.”

Gas prices are high and they continue to reach records in Northern California. In Sacramento, the average price of gas Tuesday is $4.70 a gallon. That’s just shy of a new record set on Sunday.

It’s really hitting everyone right in the wallet, especially those who rely on gas for work.

Germaine has been driving for Uber for 7 years. He remarked at the rising cost of gas that shows no sign of it returning to lower prices. While laughing, he said he remembers when gas was 99 cents.

“With the gas prices right now at almost $5 a gallon that’s killing us,” said taxi driver Mohammad Hawareneh, who’s been driving since 1998.

Taxi drivers like he and Tony Rahim both told KCRA 3 they have to pay out of pocket to fill up their tanks, which is now like a punch to the gut.

“When you compare it to four or five months ago when it was $3.50 to $5.00, we are talking about a $1.50 difference,” Hawareneh said. “That’s a lot at the end of the day, you know.”

To people who drive for work, trips to refill can feel like they’re constant. Rahim said he spends anywhere between $50-$80 a day, depending on how much driving is done.

But drivers say they have no choice but to fill up.

“What are we going to do? We can’t stop driving,” Rahim said. “That money I used to save for my kids or for myself. Now I have to put the gas in every day and it is less money you know. I hope the gas prices will go down soon.”

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