Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Brooklyn, New York

New York City, the cultural capital of America, is consequently home to the most grandiose of prices for all goods and services. New Yorkers must frequently pony up the extra cash to enjoy said convenience and access.

The suffocating amounts of New York State and City income taxes, combined with the scarcity of land and outrageous real estate costs manifest themselves at a Tri-State area that features some of the highest cost of living statistics on the planet.

Interestingly, New Yorkers do catch a break upon fuel costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, New York City prices per gallon of gasoline average out to $2.714 at June 22, 2009. Although this figure is a shade higher than the $2.691 U.S. average, The Big Apple does enjoy cheaper fuel costs than Chicago ($2.877), Miami ($2.787), and the West Coast cities of Los Angeles ($3.024), San Francisco ($3.015), and Seattle ($2.855).

Large Hudson River ports at New York and New Jersey, along with the sprawling oil refinery complexes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania manage to keep Tri State gasoline prices in check. The Bayway Refinery at Linden is the most significant and features crude oil distillation capacity of 238,000 barrels per day.

Of course, the taxman always extends his hands out and into the pockets of all New Yorkers. First, New York State collects 59.6 cents per gallon at the pump, which is second only to California at 63.9. Secondly, New York City motorists must fork over sales tax charges at an 8.375% rate.

Still, Brooklyn is Brooklyn.

The diverse borough is New York's largest in terms of population, with a 2008 U.S. Census estimate of 2,556,598; and Brooklyn would stand as America's fourth largest metropolis after Chicago as a standalone entity. The BK features its very own commercial district, large residential areas, beaches, and depressed ghettos all in within these Kings County borders. Essentially, Brooklyn is the most "regular" of all 5 boroughs.

Brooklyn gas prices are best described as "middle of the road" per New York City standards.

The highest New York City gas prices are posted at Lower to Midtown Manhattan; and within close proximity to all Hudson and East River crossings. Interestingly, prices are relatively high across the Bronx and Staten Island. These two boroughs feature one-way out road networks and geography that typically undergird high gas prices.

Kings County exhibits all of these gas price action characteristics and drivers must learn to play the Game. This guide details how to buy cheap gas in Brooklyn by first identifying the most expensive areas before we proceed to present viable alternatives to those outrageous costs.

Where NOT to Buy Cheap Gas in Brooklyn, New York

Expensive Brooklyn gas is strategically located along a virtual Ring of Fire that surrounds the borough.

High priced gas relative to Brooklyn forms a barrier along the Shore (Belt) Parkway and the I-278 Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Although Manhattan drivers will escape to downtown Brooklyn for cheap gas relative to New York County, the locale is a disaster area for Brooklyn residents.

The Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridge are all choke points for New York City traffic to traverse the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn free of tolls. The convergence of the BQE, Flatbush, Atlantic, and these bridges into the area creates a mixing bowl of traffic - susceptible to paying up for convenience at the pump.

Prices range from $2.90-$2.95 for regular gasoline at downtown Brooklyn and along I-278 at the time of this writing. The Fort Greene Exxon at 140 Vanderbilt Avenue is the best alternative for downtown Brooklyn motorists in terms of location and price. This service station is just to the east of Myrtle and Flatbush and is currently selling regular gas for $2.85.

278 and the Belt Parkway are the only viable expressways through Brooklyn, with access to East River crossings and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge for Staten Island and New Jersey. Again, "one way out" roadways are always a combustible mix for high priced gasoline.

For example, the Coney Island Exxon at the Shore Parkway and Coney Island Avenue is retailing gas for $2.91, which is particularly high for Brooklyn standards.

Although Belt Parkway and BQE service stations transmit the highest gas price readings, I would not advise that Brooklyn motorists escape towards the Brooklyn interior, Staten Island, Queens, or even New Jersey specifically to purchase gas.

Brooklyn and Queens prices deep into both boroughs are hit-or-miss in terms of expense. In particular, Long Island City, Queens at the Queensboro Bridge and Midtown Tunnel is yet another death trap for high priced Brooklyn - Queens gasoline. The time and energy wasted to drive across New York City is quite illogical for the sake of saving gas money.

Only Manhattan motorists should consider spanning the East or Harlem River into the outer boroughs for cheap gas. Surface street bridges are free of charge and may be worth the trouble to combat the crushing costs of Manhattan Island.

Of course, the Metropolitan Transit Authority will begin charging $11 one-way tolls at the Verrazano on July 12^th, 2009. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will then slap drivers with $8 tolls on the return trip to New York City at the Staten Island Goethals.

What is the purpose of blowing $19 worth of tolls, specifically to save 20 cents per gallon upon New Jersey gasoline?

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Brooklyn, New York

Manhattan motorists will cross the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges into Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, and Fort Greene for relief from today's prevailing $3+ price levels at New York County. The Fort Greene Exxon at Vanderbilt and Myrtle will be attractive for Lower Manhattan visitors descending into the area for cheap gas. Again, "cheap gas" is relative.

Per Brooklyn denizens, I must identify a box-like area of cheap gas, largely bounded by Knapp Street, Avenue U, Flatbush, Flatlands, and Pennsylvania at Jamaica Bay. Specifically, this affordable gasoline zone is concentrated from Knapp to Paerdegat Basin.

Motorists will exit the Belt at Pennsylvania, Rockaway Parkway, Flatbush, and Knapp Street and navigate at least 1-2 miles away from Shore Parkway into Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, Canarsie, and the Flatlands for cheap gas.

Jamaica Bay parkland and smaller population densities relative to the majority of Kings County dominate this section of Brooklyn. These residential areas are worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Lower Manhattan and do not represent choke point destinations for commuter traffic.

Gas retails within a $2.75 - $2.80 band at Knapp Avenue, Bergen Beach, and Canarsie, before shifting towards $2.85 along Neptune Avenue into Coney Island. Hess, Eagle, and ExxonMobil service stations are all underselling the competition by hawking cheap gas for less than $2.80.

The Mobil at Knapp and Avenue X is the most convenient location. The 2402 Knapp Street Mobil is directly north of the Belt and offers cheap gas for $2.79. The Eagle at 10504 Flatlands Avenue also peddles regular gas for $2.77.

New York City based Hess Corporation always seems to offer the cheapest gas within the Tri-State area. Hess is selling cheap Brooklyn gas at Neptune and W. 17^th, Flatbush and Avenue T, and the critical East Flatbush intersection of Linden Boulevard, Kings Highway, and Remsen.

New Yorkers returning to the City upon business or pleasure from Jersey via the Goethals or Outerbridge Crossing should always stop and fill up at the Garden State. New Jersey gasoline tax is a scant 32.9 cents per gallon and prices are typically 40 cents cheaper across the Kills. Rest stops and gas stations line the New Jersey Turnpike, for the sake of convenience.

All New Jersey filling stations are full service and attendants should be tipped $1 - $5 at your discretion. Sorry, your gas price "savings" just got smoked.

New York, New York.

Where to Buy Cheap Gas in Brooklyn, 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

Visit Brooklyn, http://www.visitbrooklyn.org/

Brooklyn Gas Prices, http://www.newyorkgasprices.com/Brooklyn/index.aspx

AOL.com, Brooklyn, New York Gas Prices, http://autos.aol.com/BROOKLYN-NY-gas-prices