Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Bronx, New York

The Bronx is the lone New York City borough that is affixed to the mainland of the United States. Logically, this positioning manifests The Bronx as a crossroads for Connecticut, Westchester County, Rockland, Upstate New York, and North Jersey roads and bridges, which descend into New York City. The Robert Moses Power Broker confluence of the I-95 / Cross Bronx Expressway, I-87 / Major Deegan, and I-278 / Triborough Bridge have forever altered the Bronx, New York landscape.

These monuments to concrete and vehicular traffic have divided neighborhoods and promulgated "white flight" with no remorse. According to the U.S. Census, median household income at the Bronx is a miserly $34,031, and 27% of Bronx residents struggle beneath the poverty level. The South Bronx, in particular, has been associated with decay and urban warfare for decades.

Interestingly, the Bronx borough features some of the highest gas prices within the Tri State area. The prevailing rates are just one shade beneath Manhattan's fuel costs despite the abject poverty at the Bronx. I must speculate that money talks, and Bronx' aforementioned geography is sandwiched between some of the wealthiest municipalities in the country.

Indeed, median incomes at New York County (Manhattan), Bergen County, NJ, and Westchester County, NY are $63,704, $80,063, and $77,097, respectively. Motorists hailing from these well-to-do population centers, along with posh Connecticut travelers, commingle at the Bronx to effectively drive up the price of gasoline. The high cost of fuel in relation to the legions of working poor at The Bronx is a tragedy.

Gasoline prices are predominantly influenced by crude oil values and tax policy. Of course, "cheap gas" is a relative term and I do believe that the majority of New York City does achieve breaks at the pump. For example, the U.S. Department of Energy pegs the average cost New York City retail gas at $2.714 on June 22, 2009.

New York City, America's largest metropolis, actually undersells Seattle ($2.855), Chicago ($2.877), San Francisco ($3.015), and Los Angeles ($3.024) for regular grade fuel at the register. The Tri State area stands to benefit from large accommodative New York and New Jersey ports for North Sea crude oil and the towering oil refinery complexes at Linden and Perth Amboy, NJ.

Still, the idea of "cheap gas" is a complete sham for large swaths of Bronx residents. This guide will present two extremes of the equation. We will begin by detailing the most expensive areas to buy gasoline at Bronx County and finish with our presentation of viable alternatives to said service stations.

Ironically, I must speculate that Connecticut, Westchester, Rockland County, Manhattan, and North Jersey motorists forging roadway connections into the Bronx will stand to benefit the most from this guide.

Where NOT to Buy Cheap Gas in Bronx, New York

Expensive gas is par for the course at all expressways, Harlem, and East River crossings into The Bronx. New Yorkers will recognize the fact that the Bronx is traversed by I-95, I-87, I-278, I-678, I-295, I-695, I-895, 9A, Hutchinson River Parkway, and The Bronx River Parkway. Meaning, gas is expensive at almost all quarters of this borough relative to New York City.

Only Manhattan drivers should buy gas at the Harlem River and South Bronx Deegan or Riverdale and Marble Hill (technically still Manhattan) neighborhoods. Although these sections do undercut neighboring Harlem and Washington Heights filling stations, South Bronx and Riverdale post the borough's highest prices as a direct consequence of this proximity to Manhattan Island.

For example, the Mobil at 164 Willis Avenue peddles gasoline for $2.91 at the time of this writing. The Mott Haven location is just across the River from Manhattan at the I-87 - Deegan and is frequently swarmed by Manhattan drivers searching for cheap gas.

Unleaded gasoline is also moving at a going rate of $2.90 - $3.00 at Riverdale Avenue. The Main Drag of this historic playground for the rich, which overlooks the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades, is lined with BP and Sunoco stations peddling expensive gas per Bronx standards.

Marble Hill (Manhattan) and Riverdale residents will continue north into Yonkers, where prices slip beneath the $2.90 barrier and continue to fall the deeper that one travels through Yonkers.

Bronx proper, bisected by numerous heavily trafficked expressway routes offers minimal alternatives to expensive gas; and BX residents often must grin and bear the circumstances. $5 and $8 tolls at the George Washington, Triborough, Whitestone, and Throgs Neck bridges will destroy any prospective savings garnered at New Jersey or Queens.

Bronx residents may only avail themselves to two limited, yet viable options for cheap Tri-State are gas.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Bronx, New York

U.S. 1 - Boston Post Road and the working class sections of Westchester County offer cheap gas. Boston Road represents the original Main Street of the Northeast. At present, the roadway has emerged as old-hat and off-the-beaten-path per the 1950's completion of the Cross Bronx and I-95 Thruway configuration.

Of course, Westchester outside of Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Yonkers, always beckons as an escape from the crushing New York City sales tax rates. (Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, and Yonkers match NYC at 8.375%.)

Boston Road is a diagonal cutoff through the Bronx between I-95, the Parkways, and Fordham Road shopping. Gas currently retails at the $2.80 mark along Boston Road and at the 95 - Thruway outside of Pelham Bay Park. These prices represent a 10 to 20-cent downshift from the majority of The Bronx.

U.S. 1 is a pocket of cheap gas, where prices trend downward towards the Westchester County line and final I-95 interchanges at The Bronx.

The 2280 Tilllotson Avenue Gulf and 1945 Bartow Avenue Sunoco, which are both off the New England Thruway past Baychester are selling affordable gas at $2.81 per gallon. Of course, this tucked away locale may not offer ideal convenience for all Bronx motorists.

New York City gas prices are spiked with an 8.375% sales tax upon all fuel purchases at the five boroughs. Several Westchester County retailers between the Bronx border and Connecticut are poised to take advantage of this legislation and increased distance from the Manhattan epicenter.

Yonkers and Mamaroneck are the best cities to buy cheap gas per Bronx geography. Connecticut commuters will exit 95 at Westchester County 8 and Fenimore Road for $2.70 gasoline, prior to entering New York City.

Gas is shifting from $2.80 - $2.85 at Bronx River Road, which parallels the Parkway into Yonkers at the time of this writing. Exit 10 off the Bronx River Parkway to E. 233^rd Street crosses over the Parkway to Webster Avenue, which transitions into Bronx River Road north of McLean Avenue.

Shell is peddling cheap gas for $2.84 at 143 Bronx River Road in Yonkers.

Happy Trails.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Bronx, New York Sources:

Kofi Bofah, Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Manhattan, http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1848765/where_to_buy_cheap_gas_in_manhattan.html?cat=27

The Bronx Tourism Council, http://www.ilovethebronx.com/

Motor Trend, Bronx Gas Prices, http://www.motortrend.com/gas_prices/33/new_york/bronx/bronx/index.html

New York City - Bronx Gas Prices, http://www.newyorkgasprices.com/Bronx/index.aspx