Family turns to bikes to beat fuel hike

WHEN Leiticia Cranston heard about the increase to the fuel excise, she decided to start riding bikes to school with her kids.

FUEL FURY: Leiticia Cranston and her daughter Georgia will ride to school to save petrol money. Picture: Kirsten Cunningham

WHEN Leiticia Cranston heard about the increase to the fuel excise, she decided to start riding bikes to school with her kids.

"It's a long way to ride but we need to save money somewhere," she said. "(The petrol tax) is ridiculous.

"We will have to redo our budget and change the way we live."

>> High price of fuel in Gladstone set to get worse

Ms Cranston and her partner support a family of seven.

"We've had to rethink the way we use our cars and make some serious budget decisions," she said.

"The more costs go up, the more it affects us."

Her partner drives in and out of the Gladstone region to work at the mines, and he spends at least $100 each way in fuel.

He tries to "ride share", she said, but it wasn't always possible to get a lift.

"We both need a four-wheel drive because of the kids," she said.

"I don't know how we could do it another way and still fit seven people in the car with prams and all the other gear."

Ms Cranston said her family was lucky at least with good steady jobs.

"I can't imagine what it would be like for other families who aren't in the same position," she said.

"If it affects us, it must hurt other people more."

Originally published as Family turns to bikes to beat fuel hike