Recent turmoil in Egypt and Libya has caused U.S. gasoline prices to rise again, causing enormous impact on the economy and many peoples’ lives.
Last time gasoline price increased at this pace, there was a 10 percent increase in Long Beach bus ridership, according to Marcelle Epley, chief administrative officer and senior vice president for Long Beach Transit.
“It’s a little early to tell,” she said, indicating that they would know more in the next few weeks.
Graduate student Celeste Meza lamented U.S. reliance on foreign oil, saying that people were going to have to get creative with transportation by either using public transportation or carpooling.
As gas prices approach $5, Epley said people who don’t ride the bus will begin to.
There are four gas stations located near the Cal State Long Beach campus.
These gas stations include the Arco on Atherton Street and Bellflower Boulevard, the Shell on Atherton Street and Palo Verde Avenue, the 76 on Palo Verde Avenue and Stearns Street and the Shell on Bellflower Boulevard and Abbeyfield Street.
The cheapest of the four gas stations is Arco, where, as of the afternoon of March 14, a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline could be purchased for about $3.83. Arco, however, applies a service charge of 45 cents to any purchase with a debit or ATM card. The most expensive of the four gas stations is the 76, where, as of the afternoon of March 14, a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was about $4.05.
“It’s a big problem because I have a car,” junior Naif Alajmi said. “I was shocked when I saw the price.”
Alajmi said that the increase in the cost of gas makes him spend more money. He said he usually spends $40 to put gas in his vehicle and now it costs him $55, adding that this situation is hard for a college student.
According to the Los Angeles Times, California gas is the most expensive nationally, costing customers on average about $3.84 for a gallon of regular gas at the start of the month.
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