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Gas has reached $3.319 in Westwood, well above the current national average of $2.91 and over a d
Prices at the pump soar to new heights
Armin Najadi just bought a new car, but he’s trying not to use it much.
In fact, the fourth-year history student leaves his car behind when he goes to school, preferring to walk to classes in order to save money on gas.
“I had a four-cylinder, and now I have a (bigger car), so the price is that much more for me,” Najadi said.
He now mostly uses his car to drive home on the weekends to Westlake Village, which he said costs at least $10 at the pump.
Like Najadi, many other UCLA students and nearby residents have been affected by climbing gas prices, though some continue to drive as much as they usually do.
Gas prices have been going up recently due to the rising cost of crude oil, which briefly reached $75 a barrel, about 33 percent higher than it was a year ago.
After falling for four consecutive days, oil prices were under $72 a barrel Thursday.
As of Monday, the average price of gasoline in the United States was $2.91, 68 cents higher than it was a year ago.
But the average price of gas throughout Los Angeles County was $3.081, because of state environmental requirements and a local sales-and-use tax of 7.25 percent.
At the nearest gas station to UCLA, a Chevron located on the corner of Le Conte and Gayley avenues, the price of one gallon of regular unleaded was $3.319 Thursday.
“It’s too expensive, right?” said Bumhwan Cha, a third-year computer engineering student. “It’s too expensive.”
Cha does not drive much because he lives on campus, but he said he still feels that gas prices are too high.
But other UCLA students, including second-year marine biology student Katie Ogden, said the price of gasoline has not had a significant impact on their driving habits.
“My mom pays for my gas,” Ogden said. “I noticed that (the price has) increased but it doesn’t really affect me that much.”
Though she sometimes takes the bus, she said higher gas prices have not made her more inclined to use it to get around. However, Ogden said she tries to find cheaper gas stations.
“I try to go to the hole-in-the-wall gas station (with lower prices),” Ogden said.
Pacific Palisades resident Rebecca Smith also said the rising cost of gasoline has not affected her because her parents pay for her gas.
As a new driver, Smith has not cut back on driving because of the price of gasoline, though she said prices are “pretty bad.”
“I love driving, and I need to drive to get places,” Smith said. “I don’t pay for my gas (but) if I did, I’m sure it would (affect me).”
With reports from Bruin wire services.
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