By Christina Martin
With gas prices rising above the $3 mark, attending classes at the University has become even more expensive for the large commuter population.
According to ABC news, gas prices this year have increased at the fastest rate in 50 years. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average retail price for a gallon of gasoline, rose from $1.11 per gallon at the beginning of this year to $1.40 last month; but with taxes, consumers pay much more.
Since January, the federal government has collected an estimated $9 billion in gas taxes. The taxes cover excise fees, business taxes, testing fees, spill taxes, as well as the county and state sales taxes.
Currently, the average price of regular self-serve gasoline at the pumps is $2.94 per gallon, a 3-cent increase from just two weeks ago. The highest gas price in the nation this week was found in San Diego, Calif. at $3.41 per gallon; the lowest in Cheyenne, Wyo., at $2.61 per gallon.
The rising cost of gas is affecting all Americans, especially those with household incomes of $35,000 or less. According to an ABC poll, conducted via telephone from April 24 to 28 with 1,027 adults in this income bracket, 58 percent said gas prices were causing financial strains and 27 percent said it was a serious hardship.
With the average college student working at the University making $10.76 per hour, according to Human Resources, this puts college students far below the $35,000 mark. Add tuition and fees that total between $20,000 and $30,000 per year, and college students fall into the “serious hardship” category.
“It’s asinine that the United States is still dependent on oil . . . what should happen is a bold agenda to wean Americans off of oil,” Patrick McDonald, a junior who commutes from Levittown, said.
McDonald said he tried commuting via public transportation in the fall of 2004 but switched to driving because buses often did not stop and it was too much of a hassle.
“It takes a much bigger chunk out of my wallet,” Joe Napoli, a junior who commutes from Farmingdale, said.
Napoli, who drives a fuel efficient Honda Civic, just filled his tank at over $30 for the first time.
“The rising cost is awful,” Pete DiSilvio, a sophomore of Massapequa, said. “It makes it very hard to get around.”
DiSilvio said, “It’s a blessing in disguise” because it will encourage students to get involved.
“The rising cost of gas is going to affect people no matter what,” said Napoli. He added that he hopes students start thinking about conservation and become more involved in the campus rather than driving back and forth between classes.
A University student fills his gas tank at a local station.