A gallon of gas was only $2.56 when Door County Transportation Manager Pam Busch noticed an uptick in ridership on the county’s public transportation options, and she expects it will continue to rise along with prices at the pump. According to AAA, a gallon of gas in the Green Bay area stood at $3.68, up nearly a quarter from last week, more than a dollar from last month, and over 60 cents from a year ago.

Middle East tensions and a switch to summer fuel blends have driven the increase in recent weeks, with last week’s blizzard only adding to the frustration. Busch says more people are relying on Door 2 Door Rides and the Door County Connect bus to get to and from work and run errands as they struggle to fill their gas tanks and keep up with repairs.

You can contact Door County Transportation for more information about its public transit options. Nationwide, gas prices are nearing $4 a gallon, with nine states, including Illinois, already at that level.