According to the American Petroleum Institute, gas prices have risen steadily by an average of 27.1 percent over the past five years. Statistics from the Energy Information Administration show that gas prices have recently leapt to a national average of $3.66 for all grades of gasoline.

The increasing prices pose a problem for those of the faculty and students who depend on their gas-consuming vehicles for the daily commute to and from school.“One of the factors in my decision to move out of the city to live closer to work was the length of the commute and the rising cost of gas in the last few years,” Dean of Students Christine Wang said.

According to Assistant Principal Tom Jacoubowsky, teachers and students who face the daily traffic on Arastradero Road or travel long distances to get to school feel the monetary strain of high gas prices. The idling time and perpetual “stop-and-go” pattern that characterizes a commute through Palo Alto empties gas tanks, forcing drivers to refuel afterwards. For faculty, this routine combined with a lengthy drive to the Palo Alto vicinity decreases the fuel efficiency of vehicles significantly.

“My commute isn’t that bad,” Jacoubowsky said. “But it’s definitely difficult for teachers who have to drive long distances to get to school and students who pay for their own gasoline. With gas prices the way they are now, many people’s daily commutes is a problem.”

California’s gas prices are comparitvely higher than those of other states. California law requires vehicles to operate on cleaner fuels than the federal government standards. California’s unique gasoline incorporates ethanol and other alternative fuels and is more expensive to produce than regular fuel, which forces the gasoline companies t. This impacts student drivers, particularly those who have to pay for gasoline.

“I don’t drive to school,” sophomore Adam Filipp said. “With the gas prices the way they are now, it just doesn’t make sense to drive such a short distance to school.”

Drivers turn to alternate transportation because of the growing difficulty to consume fuel in an economically feasible manner.

“I use public transit whenever I can,” Jacoubowsky said. “Bikes, the train, buses—they’re all great options to driving individual cars.”

The use of public transportation and other manners of transit such as bikes and walking have several advantages. Besides, saving money, keeping vehicles off the roads also eliminates the contribution to pollution and provides a means of exercise for those who choose manual conveyance.

“I walk to school,” Filipp said. “Driving wastes money and gas. There are much more advantages to walking rather than driving, especially because of the gas prices.”

In April, oil prices peaked to $125 per barrel. According to investment bank Goldman Sachs Group analysts, gas prices are projected to reach $4.40 per gallon in the next six months. Gasoline prices, although volatile, are showing no signs of quitting their current upward trend in the near future.