EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Rising gas prices are prompting some UTEP students to rethink how they travel around campus and manage their monthly budgets.
AAA reports that gas prices continue to climb nationwide.
In El Paso, the average price has reached $4.42 per gallon, five cents above the national average of $4.37 and 54 cents higher than Texas’ statewide average of $3.88.
For UTEP student Taylor Hopkins, higher prices have meant using her electric scooter more often and saving her car for longer trips.
“Gas prices have risen a lot, so I take the scooter most of the time,” Hopkins said. “Before, I definitely took my car everywhere. But now, I definitely say I ride my scooter at any chance I can. The car is only for the long-distance drives.”
Hopkins said parking on campus can also be difficult, making the scooter a convenient option for nearby trips.
Destiny Venecia reports on UTEP student turns to scooters, carpools as El Paso gas averages $4.42 a gallon (Credit: KFOX)
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“Especially with UTEP campus parking, it’s super difficult to find a spot,” she said. “A lot of the time, I’ll just pull out my scooter if it’s super close. It also saves a lot of money on gas over the month.”
Before relying more heavily on her scooter, Hopkins estimated she spent between $150 and $200 each month on gas.
El Paso prices are significantly higher than they were before the war in Iran, when a gallon of gas cost about $2.88 on average, according to AAA.
AAA estimates the cost of public electric-vehicle charging in Texas at about 42 cents per kilowatt-hour, matching the national average.
Hopkins said she charges her scooter roughly once every two days.
“After charging it, I definitely save a lot on gas,” Hopkins said. “Going from campus to a Starbucks or the grocery store that’s nearby would normally take a couple miles of gas, while it just takes one charge on my scooter.”
Hopkins still uses her car for longer drives, but says using her scooter for nearby errands gives her more flexibility in her budget.
As prices remain elevated, drivers may look to options such as electric scooters, carpooling, and public transportation to reduce transportation costs.
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