According to the Department of Energy's weekly survey of service stations, the average price of gasoline has hit an average of $3.892 per gallon in California, a record. Students at Valley College are faced with a familiar question: How high will gasoline prices rise before a change in transportation method is made?
"It cost me $90 to fill up my gas tank think weekend," said Valley student Marcos Jara. "I don't know if I can continue to afford much more than that."
The rise in the price of gasoline is no new topic. For months, jaws have dropped as the cost at the pump has continued to rise. However, a new semester approaches and the price of crude oil, which accounts for 70 percent of the cost of making gasoline, has only been going up. The commodity recently closed at a record $122 a barrel.
If the trend continues, students will be faced with paying the cost of tuition, books and now elevated gas prices, which have already hit $4 in some locations throughout Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.
"I'll have to cut down on how often I drive myself to school and take the bus more," said Brett Neuner, a full-time Valley student. "When I do drive, I figure I can stay at school in between my classes as opposed to going home."
Alternate transportation options for students include the Metro Orange Line, which stops near the corner of Burbank and Fulton Avenues. Students can make their way to many Los Angeles and Valley spots with a $5 for a day pass. Students have also begun to carpool and pump their pedals.
"I recently bought a bike that I use to get to school," said student Tony Villasenor. "It's probably one of the better investments I've made. Although, it is a lot more comfortable to drive."
Although it seems as though there is no foreseeable decline in prices, many some analysts say that gas prices could shatter the $4 a gallon mark. But Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Associates, an energy consultancy in Galena, Ill., said prices could fall to around $3 a gallon by late summer.
When asked whether this would change his transportation methods, Villasenor said, "I'll continue to ride my bike until that is definite."
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