Will rising gas prices drive people to pedal?

Gas in Milwaukee topped $3.90 a gallon on Monday, up $1 dollar from a year ago on a sharp climb toward the record set in 2008.

Two recent stories suggest that the drain on pocket books is pushing people to ride bikes or find other forms of transportation.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the amount of gas sold in the country has dropped for five straight weeks, and WISN-TV in Milwaukee followed local commuter Dave Steele on his bike ride into work.

It should be noted that Steele has been biking to work regularly for three or four years, so his conversion was not based on the recent spike. But his comments may encourage others to make the change. He estimates that he's saved $3,000 to $4,000 and said, "I don't even notice gas prices any more."

WISN also quoted Chris Kegel, owner of the Wheel & Sprocket Shops, which sold about 1,600 bikes over the weekend during the annual expo at State Fair Park.

I wonder how many of those sales were driven by the price of gas and how long it will take consumers to change their driving habits. My instincts tell me that it would take a few more months close to the $4 mark (and warmer temperatures).