Americans are driving toy cars, using public transit to save money as gas prices soar
As gas prices continue to rise, Americans are finding creative ways to save money on transportation. Some are resorting to unconventional methods, such as using toy cars or public transit. This shift in behavior reflects a broader trend of reduced driving and increased reliance on alternative transportation options.
- ▪As of May 18, Americans paid an average of $4.52 a gallon for regular gasoline, significantly up from around $3 before the Iran war started.
- ▪An Ipsos poll indicated that 44% of Americans have cut back on driving due to rising fuel costs.
- ▪Public transit ridership has increased, with Bangor's bus system seeing a 21% rise since January.
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Business Americans are driving toy cars, using public transit to save money as gas prices soar By Reuters Published May 19, 2026, 11:26 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) – Mali Hightower’s answer to high gas prices is a toy he fished out of someone’s trash. The 30-year-old handyman from Ellenwood, Georgia stuck a two-gallon, one-piston engine from a power washer into a broken pink Power Wheels Barbie Dream Camper — a battery-operated toy car less than four feet tall. One pull of the lawnmower-like rip cord and he’s off to the supermarket, knees at his ears, dirtbike helmet on his head. His real car, a 1996 Mercedes-Benz convertible, costs about $90 to fill.
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