People turn pedals to save money on commute

“Takes a chunk out of your check,” Mark Tull said about spending more than $50 to fill up his truck's tank.

The rising cost of gas is fueling a boom in bicycle sales.

“It's a plus for us,” said Chuck Nelson, of All-Star Bike Shops. “It seems to be partially related to people riding their bikes more to get around and not just for pleasure."

“I work locally. I live locally. So, I can get around (by bike) to most places, grocery store, my job, within 15 minutes,” Tull said.

The average commute to work is about four to six miles.

Industry figures show 19 million bikes were sold over the past 12 months in the U.S. That is close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s.