Katherine Mas/Contributing Writer
Photo by Katherine Mas
Prices have risen steadily these past couple of months. According to an article about the US economy on About.com, “High gas prices are usually caused by high prices for crude oil which accounted for 72 percent of the price of gasoline as of February 2012. Distribution and taxes influence the remaining 28 percent of gas prices.”
Other reasons why gas prices have gone up are also due to fears about unrest in Libya and Egypt which sent oil prices up to $113 a barrel, and summer is right around the corner and prices tend to spike during the summer driving vacation season.
There isn’t much students can do to influence the change in pricing but many are finding ways to save money during these times when jobs are scarce, living is expensive and transportation is not a commodity but a necessity.
The lines at the bus stops near the Biscayne Bay Campus grow longer every day and it’s no surprise. Ezell Raudez, a sophomore hospitality major, explained that she used to drive to school occasionally but with prices rising on a daily basis, she would rather wait for the bus to save money.
Jeffrey Sodusta, a junior and journalism major on campus described how it has affected his daily routines as a student and his personal life.
“I’m not going out as much,” Sodusta said.
He went on to explain how he had to find an alternate route to school in order to conserve gas and how he keeps a good eye out to not let the car go less than half empty or half full depending on your personal point of view.
Sodusta was also able to share some helpful tips on how to manage and stretch a dollar.
“Plan your routes,” Sodusta said. “If you don’t know where you are going, you are going to waste gas and money.”
He encouraged eco-friendly cars that offer valuable gas mileage and to shop around for cheap gas without compromising your safety. Pumping gas at a desolate and sketchy gas station offering a cheaper price is not a good idea.
“Your life is more valuable than possessions,” Sodusta said.
According to fueleconomy.gov, some tips to conserve gas include observing the speed limit, removing excess weight, avoiding idling, and using cruise control when possible.
Aggressive driving such as speeding, rapid acceleration or braking also affect gas. According to fueleconomy.gov, “It can lower gas mileage by 33 percent on highways and 5 percent around town.”
Reginald Thermitus, a junior information technology major, commutes from BBC to the Modesto Maidique Campus on a daily basis. Although he drives a BMW 745, Thermitus prefers using the shuttle to take him there and back.
“Gas costs too much,” Thermitus said. “I would rather spend the $5 to go there and come back rather than spend $100 in two days.”
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