As gas prices continue to rise, less and less Mesa students are actually driving, even if they have a car of their own. Instead they are choosing to ride their bicycles, carpool with friends or use public transportation.

“I have a car and a mountain bike, but I prefer to ride my bicycle when I can,” says student Daniel Winkler. “I have a class here and at City, and it’s easier to just ride my bike and take the trolley than to deal with parking there, too. I go everywhere on my bike.”

Students like him are choosing to ride public transportation or bicycles in order to save money as gas prices rise to almost $4.

“I haven’t filled up my tank in two and a half weeks,” says Winkler. “I would estimate that by riding my bike I’ve saved $30 in the past two weeks.”

Some students say the rising gas prices will not effect how much they drive in the near future.

“It doesn’t really matter how high they get, people are still going to drive,” says Mesa student Trent Villanueva.

“I’m not driving right now, but I’m glad I don’t. I hope prices go down by the time I get my car,” says Diane Dixon, Mesa student.

The cheapest gas prices as of March 6 were $3.31 at an ARCO station in Ramona, and the highest were $3.93 at a Chevron station in Pacific Beach, according to the website www.sandiegogasprices.com.