The expense of filling up the gas tank could force drivers to find a cheaper mode of transportation.

Bike shops are gearing up for a surge in sales.

“It’s tough with these rising gas prices. It’s ridiculous,” one driver told WISN 12 News.

With gas prices above $5 and rising, there’s no getting around the agony of filling up.

“To fill up my gas tank (it was) exactly $75,” Gary Gonzalez said.

“Is it time to buy a bike?” asked WISN 12 News reporter Hillary Mintz.

“Yeah, it’s around that time,” Gonzales said.

With bike season in Wisconsin and gas prices soaring, sales could increase.

It’s a trend they’re watching at Bay View at Wheel and Sprocket.

“Do you think more people will buy bikes? Mintz said.

“I’m betting on it. I really think as gas prices go up people are looking for other ways to get from A to B, and cycling is one of the best ways to do that” , said Amelia Kegel of Wheel. and pinion.

At West Allis at Allis Bike and Fitness, Steve Morateck said bikes have been booming since the pandemic began, including e-bikes.

“We haven’t had too many people come right up and say, ‘The gas is high. I want to buy a bicycle. We definitely had rumbles that way,” Morateck said.

Morateck said now that supply has caught up with demand, plus higher shipping costs, prices are on the rise, which he says could hold back people finding a new route.

“For people to get out of their car and onto a bike, it might take them a little longer to do that, but it could continue to follow that trend,” Morateck said.

It’s a potentially more affordable option on the road, especially for those fueling up just to get through the day.

Global market research shows that last year in the United States, bicycles were an industry worth around $9.5 billion, which is expected to grow to nearly $12 billion by 2026.