LA Drivers Get Creative as Gas Prices Soar

Musicians, small businesses, and commuters find innovative ways to cope with record-high fuel costs

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:40pm

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A vibrant, abstract image of a Los Angeles highway captured with a slow shutter speed, creating sweeping streaks of color that convey the speed, congestion, and challenges faced by drivers in the city as gas prices reach record highs.As gas prices soar, LA drivers employ creative tactics to survive the commuting crisis, but long-term solutions are needed to transform the city's transportation landscape.Los Angeles Today

As gas prices in Los Angeles reach nearly $8 per gallon, drivers are getting creative to save money on their commutes. Musicians, small business owners, and regular commuters are employing tactics like coasting in neutral, using motorcycles, and rethinking urban transportation to adapt to the skyrocketing fuel costs. While these are temporary solutions, experts say the crisis highlights the need for long-term changes to make LA's transportation more sustainable and affordable.

Why it matters

The high gas prices are not just a financial burden for LA residents, but are also disrupting the city's creative scene and small businesses. Artists and service providers are feeling the squeeze, forcing them to make difficult trade-offs that could impact the local economy and culture. This situation is a microcosm of a broader global issue, as surging fuel costs affect communities worldwide.

The details

Jack Nooney, a musician and deli worker, now spends an hour commuting the 9 miles to his job due to LA traffic, and his budget is strained by gas prices reaching nearly $8 per gallon. Other Angelenos are employing creative tactics to save fuel, like coasting in neutral down steep highway declines. However, these individual adaptations are only temporary fixes, as the crisis is also impacting small businesses like Jenise Blanc's car service company, which is struggling to balance rising costs and customer expectations.

  • Gas prices in Los Angeles have reached nearly $8 per gallon as of April 2026.
  • The Iran war, according to the International Energy Agency, is the primary cause of the global supply disruption leading to the price hike.

The players

Jack Nooney

A musician and deli worker whose 9-mile commute in LA now takes an hour due to traffic and high gas prices.

Chris Hardin

A music manager who has never seen gas prices rise so rapidly in over 20 years of experience.

Jenise Blanc

The owner of a car service business in LA who is struggling to balance rising fuel costs and customer expectations.

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What they’re saying

“In over 20 years, I've never seen gas prices rise so rapidly.”

— Chris Hardin, Music Manager

“When a band's profit margins are already slim, rising fuel costs for tours can be devastating.”

— Chris Hardin, Music Manager

What’s next

Experts say that while the creative adaptations by LA drivers are temporary solutions, what's needed is a systemic shift towards more sustainable and affordable transportation options, such as investing in public transport, incentivizing electric vehicles, or rethinking urban layouts to reduce commute distances.

The takeaway

The high gas prices in LA are not just a financial burden, but are disrupting the city's creative scene and small businesses. This crisis highlights the need for long-term changes to make transportation more sustainable and affordable, not just in LA but in cities worldwide.