Coronavirus bringing benefits — cleaner air, lower gas prices

QCrude oil prices have gone down more than half in the last few months but the cost of gas has not changed much. When will gas prices go down accordingly? Or will this be like what the water company did when we rationed and they just raised their prices to compensate?

— Mark Bortoli, Aptos

AWell

… Q Oil prices are selling at $21 a barrel and we are still paying way over $3 a gallon for gas in California, while some states are under $2. What gives? And please don’t tell me that the summer blend is making the cost stay at this level. I’m just really tired of California gas prices compared to other states.

— Tom Macfarlane,

Hollister

A

More drivers are in your camp.

Q

Crude has fallen below $30 a barrel, yet gas prices in the Bay Area are still well above $3? What is with California? A They will. Analysts say prices could fall 35-75 cents a gallon over the next few weeks.

Gas was selling for $3.21 on average in California as of Sunday, a 28-cent drop over the past month. But the national average was $2.14, a 33-cent drop. Our unique gas formula plus higher taxes are two major reasons we are forking over a buck a gallon more than drivers in many other parts of the country. Oklahoma has the lowest average price at $1.74 a gallon.

Prices are going down, which people like, but the coronavirus curse is a much greater worry.

With many people staying home due to the coronavirus, demand has dropped. So shouldn’t gas prices?

— Art Singh,

Fremont

Q

The one positive from this awful coronavirus is that since most people are staying home, it is reducing air pollution caused by too many cars on the road. … I went for a walk in my neighborhood in Sunnyvale and found the air very clean, with no noticeable smog. It reminds me of when

I go hiking on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. Crisp, clean air. … The light traffic, cleaner air and perfect cycling weather make now an excellent time to go cruising, Dutch style. So fix up that old bike and get outside in the fresh air.

— Cheryl Wong-Ng,

Tony Smith, Eric Bartelsman and others A Dutch style means no helmet, regular clothes (no spandex) and, no sweat, says Eric, who lives in Amsterdam. Q Last year, Caltrans began repairs on El Camino Real in San Jose, but never finished the job. Will crews return soon?

— Mike Harding, San Jose A Yes. They’ll be out now at night through the summer between Portola Avenue and McKendrie Street in San Jose for paving, new ADA ramps and Hawk signals.