SAN DIEGO -- Rising prices for gas are having a ripple effect around San Diego County.

"I take the Coaster five times a week," said commuter Ivan Garcia.

Like many others, Garcia has been converted.

"I have to save money on gas. (Coaster) is comfortable. Gas prices have gone so high, I just can't afford it no more," said Garcia.

North County Transit District spokesman Tom Kelleher said more riders mean less places to park.

"For the year, ridership is up 8 percent. For the month of April were up 13 percent," said Kelleher. "In Carlsbad Village and Carlsbad Poinsettia there are always more cars than spaces available"

At the Poinsettia station, if it is not marked red it is fair game, even to the point of sacrificing a designated lane to drive in.

At the Carlsbad Village station, the NCTD will add 130 parking spaces by taking half of an existing rail yard.

In Encinitas, riders use a city-owned dirt lot for overflow parking.

Oceanside has the least problems because it has 1,250 spaces, including a $10 million parking structure that has added 450 additional spaces.

But the state's budget won't allow NCTD to build more structures for at least 5 years.

"And so the long-term solution could be better parking management systems at all of our lots," said Kelleher.

With Coaster fares at $4 each way and gas well over $4 a gallon, riders are doing the math on what it costs to drive.

"I'm saving a lot of money, yes," said Garcia.

Until the price of gas goes down, riders will park wherever they can.