As gas prices continue to rise, many motorists in Chester County are following the national trend and choosing to cut down on their driving to save money, writes Hardika Singh for The Wall Street Journal.

In the past year, gasoline prices in the U.S. have increased by about 50 percent.

According to data from price tracker GasBuddy, drivers are currently paying an average of $3.40 a gallon for regular, compared with $2.27 a year ago. In fact, this year’s increase is on pace to be the highest percentage increase in the past decade.

For many, this has meant cutting back on nonessential driving.

Lisa Longo, a self-employed business consultant in Phoenixville, routinely went hiking with her family twice a month, commuting two hours to her favorite trail.

Now, the Longos are still enjoying the outdoors, but they’re sticking closer to home. They traverse a route on foot that is only a 15-minute hop in the car.

“Right now, I have to look at gas prices and say: Is it worth $3 a gallon when I can just go hiking closer to home?” said Longo.

Read more about the rise in gas prices in The Wall Street Journal.