Gas becomes Affordable for Commuter Students

By EMERY CHILDS

As gas prices hit their lowest point in six years filling up the tank is  becoming more affordable to Ramapo College’s commuter friendly community.

With prices dropping low at 1.69 in some parts of New Jersey students at the small liberal arts college can  bare to incur the travel costs that go along with traveling home for the weekend, traveling to unpaid internships and going away for the upcoming spring break.

One student is Adriah Rolling of Orange, N.J., who had a baby only seven months ago. She tells us that the price drop of gas makes it affordable for her to see her daughter between classes. “I used to pay 45 dollars to fill up and now it’s only $25 .”

According to the econimist.com, “the oil price has fallen by more than 40% since June, when it was $115 a barrel. It is now below $70”.  The site predicts that crude oil prices will stay low until upcoming summer months. There are multiple reasons why crude oil prices are plummeting. Firstly, the lack of demand in other countries as well as growing United States production.

An estimated 50 percent of students live on campus and 50 percent commute according to US News.  Hometown friends’birthdays, doctors’ appointments, and homesickness, some students spend more time on the Garden State Parkway then in class. So this recent price drop in gas has more of an impact than students expected.

Ramapo College commuter Jennifer Blair of Hillside, New Jersey spent nearly 50 dollars a week in gas but that number has decreased by nearly half in the past few months. “I love the lower prices of gas, I don’t dread commuting for my last semester as much.”

This drop in gas prices  is also making the investment of participating in an unpaid internship off campus more of an option. The cost of traveling for job experience was discouraging because of the high price of gas, but since then college students have more of a chance of being able to accept non paid internships.

With spring break right around the corner, gas prices continue to go down and road trip achiavebility has begun skyrocketing. The road tip movement lost its popularity for a short while, but students are increasingly thinking of filling up the tank, splurging on snacks, grabbing a few friends and hitting the road. One student says she’s been thinking about ditching her plans of flying to Myrtle Beach by planning to drive instead. “I was planning on flying but flights are so expensive. It’s more practical for my friends and i if we drive plus it adds this whole adventure element.” said student Kadie

The drop in gas prices has opened up a new world of opportunity for many students. College commuters finally getting a break with the new change. If the price of oil continues to decrease who knows what possibilities lay ahead for students.