High gas Prices: A Heavy Hitter on Commuters Wallets
Dennis Conrad
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: News
Record high gas prices are forcing Americans to limit their driving for the first time in nearly thirty years, causing families and students to tighten their budgets as well as a change in driving routines.
"With the cost of gas rising steadily over the last few months I have noticed a change in my driving pattern," said senior Christopher Carney. "This semester I have tried to group my classes together so that I only have to make one trip to campus from my house about two miles away."
With no other form of transportation to campus, students have made it a main concern to monitor the trips they make to campus each day.
"You may find more people will start to consider public transport, which is very limited in choice, or adopt ride-sharing as a way of helping them reduce costs. But there is no easy answer ahead that will provide a simple solution. Behaviors and lifestyles will simply have to adapt," said Enda McGovern, associate professor of marketing.
Still, commuters and students with off-campus housing are affected on a daily basis.
"It's typically hard to carpool since most of the kids in my classes I know do not live me. Without a car I would not be able to get to class however," said Carney. "We do not live in a city where public transportation is readily available and convenient. Conserving gas has become a top priority for me."
"Gas prices are always in the back of your head so making unnecessary trips places can be frustrating. I can definitely say that if prices weren't so high I would make more day trips back home. The drive is only a little over an hour, but the cost of driving there can add up quickly and simply isn't worth it," said senior Matthew Strich.
As consumers, many believe the issue lies with the gas station owners, but the circumstances are much more complicated than that. In fact, gas stations across the area and the economy are hurting not in spite of historically high gasoline prices, but because of them.
"With the cost of gas rising steadily over the last few months I have noticed a change in my driving pattern," said senior Christopher Carney. "This semester I have tried to group my classes together so that I only have to make one trip to campus from my house about two miles away."
With no other form of transportation to campus, students have made it a main concern to monitor the trips they make to campus each day.
"You may find more people will start to consider public transport, which is very limited in choice, or adopt ride-sharing as a way of helping them reduce costs. But there is no easy answer ahead that will provide a simple solution. Behaviors and lifestyles will simply have to adapt," said Enda McGovern, associate professor of marketing.
Still, commuters and students with off-campus housing are affected on a daily basis.
"It's typically hard to carpool since most of the kids in my classes I know do not live me. Without a car I would not be able to get to class however," said Carney. "We do not live in a city where public transportation is readily available and convenient. Conserving gas has become a top priority for me."
"Gas prices are always in the back of your head so making unnecessary trips places can be frustrating. I can definitely say that if prices weren't so high I would make more day trips back home. The drive is only a little over an hour, but the cost of driving there can add up quickly and simply isn't worth it," said senior Matthew Strich.
As consumers, many believe the issue lies with the gas station owners, but the circumstances are much more complicated than that. In fact, gas stations across the area and the economy are hurting not in spite of historically high gasoline prices, but because of them.
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