How are Borderland residents shouldering the burden of high gas prices?

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - In a region where thousands commute across state lines, Borderland residents are feeling a pinch at the pump.

For those that work in the city where they live, have more people been biking?

"Maybe if there were actual affordable bikes available," said Pablo Lopez, with Outdoor Adventures in Las Cruces. "There are still huge kinks in the supply lines that are keeping that from happening."

Lopez told ABC-7 that people aren't trading in their steering wheels for handle bars because of supply chain issues that have hit his industry. He said the prices of bikes have been increasing throughout the pandemic. If someone were to purchase a more expensive bike today, he said they may have to wait weeks for it.

However, the high costs did not deter roommates Tevis Abraham and Lui Fa'amasino from renting bikes in the hopes of buying them. They often carpool, but they said even that was getting expensive.

"My pockets!" Fa'amasino said. "Before the gas prices were this high, they were pretty heavy. Now, my pockets are pretty light.”

For Israel Castillo, biking isn't an option. The film student told ABC-7 that he has to commute from east El Paso to New Mexico State University almost every day for his classes and work at AggieVision.

“It's definitely taking a good chunk of my wallet," he said.

However, moving to Las Cruces is also not an option. The 24-year-old said he lives with family near Joe Battle Boulevard in El Paso.

“I can afford a car," he said. "I can’t afford an apartment.”

You can find the cheapest gas prices in El Paso and Las Cruces this section of our website: kvia.com/traffic/gas-prices