Gas prices are through the roof and it’s really just driving us all bonkers. I know as a broke college student myself, I am pulling all the tricks in the book to avoid the extra cost. But it’s not all bad. This could be a great time to hit the brakes and find better alternatives to transportation. So, if you ever do need to leave campus, unless you have an electric car – which, by the way, if you have a Tesla as a college student, you should reconsider the thrill of a broke college student lifestyle – or you’re a freshman, here are the some ways to forgo the gas, sidestep the spending, shed a few pounds and maybe do good for the environment in the meantime.
- Use the shuttle
Yes, I know, for students who are not freshmen, it can be so embarrassing to sit there on the wall outside of the prayer chapel waiting for the shuttle to come. And sure, it may take an hour for the shuttle to come back. And you may end up Ubering back to campus because the sun has set and the tracking app is down and the shuttle is nowhere to be seen. However, what’s worth more, your pride or your bank account? I would say the latter.
- Biking
If you’ve ever seen the Olympic cycling events, you know there is much more pay off than saving money. Your wallet will thank you, your legs will thank you and the earth will thank you; what more is there to consider? Just as long as you don’t live in Young. Or Hendricks. Or maybe Klassen, Finch, Goodwin and Wiley. But for those of you who live in Nease, this is very ideal. The cheapest bikes are around $75, which is a little pricier, but when you think about the long-term investment, it might be worth looking into.
- Heelys
I think it is time to bring this iconic footwear back. One pair of brand-spankin’-new Heelys is around $50-60, which is already less than a full tank of gas for most people. And it’s only a one-time purchase, so you would already offset the cost of gas in one week. Now you’ve saved money on gas and scored yourself a new pair of shoes all in the same run. Not to mention, the hills around campus are perfect for sporting your new ride. Sounds like a great deal to me.
- Roller skating
Have you ever felt like you were born in the wrong era? You can kick back to the ’70s with a pair of roller skates. The sport has taken the Tik Tok world by storm, and there’s no reason the trend can’t come to campus too. And if you don’t look too hard, people might even mistake them for a pair of Doc Martens. The cheapest pair I’ve seen are around $50, which is still much less than a tank of gas for most people.
- Walk
The great views around Point Loma aren’t there for nothing. Instead of spending time sitting in a car, try walking. We all know the health benefits that come with walking. And you don’t have to do it alone. Create a walking group with friends to make the trek more enjoyable, and you won’t even think about carrying your groceries up Lomaland Drive, back to your hall, all the way up the stairs and finally to your kitchen.
Overall, there are so many ways you can get around the rising gas prices, if you’re creative enough. There are so many alternative investments you can make that can even lead to a healthier, happier lifestyle, many of which don’t even require gas. Or, you could just get gas.
Grace Gaines