U.S. Gas Prices Hit 21-Month High, Forcing Rideshare Drivers to Adjust Strategies

U.S. gasoline prices have surged to a 21-month high, intensifying financial pressure on gig workers who rely on vehicles for their livelihoods. Alvaro Bolanos, a ride-hail driver in Los Angeles, said that recent fuel prices "skyrocketed overnight," marking the sharpest increase he has experienced in over a decade—particularly noticeable after the U.S. and Israel struck Iran. To maintain his income, he has started actively avoiding less profitable short-distance rides and shares tips with fellow drivers in Facebook groups to help them cope with rising costs.