In order to beat the ever increasing price of gasoline, Scott Azar, 20, has been riding his bike instead of driving his SUV to work and to run errands. (Newsday / David L. Pokress / July 1, 2008)The warm summer weather has traditionally inspired Long Islanders to bicycle for fun, but this year many are getting out of their cars and onto bikes for a practical reason: to save money as fuel prices soar.
The car-bike swap has not gone unnoticed at area bike shops, where some shop owners say sales are up over a year ago, as are the number of repairs to old Schwinns and other classics, and accessories like baskets. Many say the increase is due to gasoline prices.
Scott Azar, 20, of Oceanside, knows all about that. Since starting his summer job at Cinellis Pizzeria and Grill, 1.5 miles from his mother's home, the SUNY Oneonta senior bikes to work, sharing the road with pedestrians, cars and other bicyclists every morning.
Azar, who has always paid for his 1996 Chevy Blazer's gas, first became price-conscious after his many drives upstate to his college. He soon took to biking on Long Island and cut back on his fuel costs. "When I came home, doing all my errands, going to work ... [it was] killing me," Azar said.
