High gas prices, low fuel levels

The Mercedes-Benz S65 is a roomy, quiet and speedy automobile, lined with sleek curves and charged by a powerful 612 horsepower engine. Cruising through traffic in one of these is like cruising through the lap of luxury all the way to the top. That is, if you still have enough money for gas to start the car after purchasing it.

Gas prices in the U.S. have been climbing for the past 10 years. In 1996, a barrel of crude oil cost 20 dollars. In 2005, the price skyrocketed to 50 dollars per barrel, a price that continues to rise.

Whether you drive a luxury sedan like the S65 or the most ancient rattletrap this side of creation does not matter-gas is the great equalizer, for all cars are at the mercy of the pump and all drivers must pay.

Although gas prices have dropped significantly from the peak they reached in 2005, they are still double what they were 10 years ago.

Atlanta drivers pay approximately 2.10 dollars per gallon for regular unleaded gas and 2.50 dollars for premium gas. These high gas prices have drawn complaints from already poverty-stricken college students.

"[It] really sucks. I remember when gas prices were around 89 cents a gallon 12 years ago in Atlanta. I remember back when hybrids were girly," said Taejin Kim, a third-year Mechanical Engineering major.

In September 2005, CNN reported that most gas stations in Georgia were charging drivers well over three dollars per gallon for regular unleaded gas. One notorious gas station in Stockbridge charged 5.87 dollars per gallon.

This is unwelcome news for any student on campus who drives, especially for commuters.

"I commute 20 minutes to school every day because I live around Perimeter. I pay much less for rent over there, but I guess the money I spend on gas evens it out," Kim said.

"I live on campus, but I have to go home to Loganville every weekend because I'm in a rock band back home," said Russ Goldstein, a third-year Management major.

According to Goldstein, it takes roughly 35 dollars to fill up a tank these days, provided that the car has decent mileage, which generally means it is an average compact car and not a sport utility vehicle or S65.

"I have had my car since October, and I've spent about 500 dollars on gas alone up until now," Kim said.

Many alternatives to driving include getting rides from people, walking or taking MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority).

While gas costs nearly 1000 dollars a year for the average student driver, MARTA bus and rail services only cost 360 dollars a year.

Nevertheless, many students still choose to drive.

"MARTA is only convenient depending on where you're trying to go. The places I try to get to, such as Five Points and Atlantic Station, are places on the MARTA line," said Drew Buckingham, a first-year Polymer, Textile and Fiber Engineering major.

Kim, however, has no such use for the public transportation service.

"MARTA is not [part of] my routine. Also, it is just not as convenient or reliable as having a car," he said.

Goldstein agreed. "It's totally worth it having a car on campus. I'm not limited to places where I can only walk to. I don't have to get rides from people. Last year when I was dating a girl from Agnes Scott, having a car around made life a lot easier," he said.

Despite their preference for driving, most students understand how expensive driving is and thus try to conserve gas.

"I drive on the highway as much as possible and I switch to neutral if I can," Kim said.

"I drive a stick, so I try to drive cautiously. My friends and I carpool as often as possible. When we go out to one place, we take one car instead of everybody driving. Gas prices today are better than what it was two years ago, but it is still pretty ridiculous," Goldstein said.

For students who are concerned about fuel economy, www.cheapgas.com offers helpful information about where to find the cheapest local gas stations and strategies to reduce gas consumption.