Gas price nears national all-time high of $3.11
Rising cost forces some to consider alternative modes of transportation
Brian Reisinger
Issue date: 9/19/05 Section: Campus News
In light of the concerns surrounding the gas hike, state legislators from the area are developing proposals to alter the state's minimum mark-up law, eliminating the mandated mark-up on wholesale gasoline and capping the minimum mark-up on retail gasoline.
Proposals by Sen. David Zien, R-Eau Claire, and Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, are still developing in committee.
John Hogan, chief of staff for Zien, said while the "free market" could reduce the price of gas, just how much is still unclear.
In the meantime, many students are relying on lifestyle changes to address the issue, like biking or walking to conserve gas.
Senior Stacie Olson rides her bike to class, extracurricular activities and even to her cleaning job about five miles away, when normally she would drive.
"I bike everywhere instead of driving," she said. "I plan my schedule a lot more."
Kimberly O'Kelly, interim Parking and Transportation coordinator, said she has noted the influx of bikes on campus, and with it another dilemma - illegally parked bikes.
"It definitely seems like there are more bikes out there," she said. "And I noticed there were a lot of bikes not in bike racks."
She said the increase in bike traffic prompted initial concerns about parking availability on campus, which she asked her staff to consider.
Department staff investigated the issue, she said, and found that while racks near places like Hibbard Hall are periodically cluttered with bikes, there is usually space near the McIntyre Library and Schofield Hall.
She advised students to park their bikes only at designated racks and said parking staff will begin ticketing illegally parked bikes in the coming weeks.
Proposals by Sen. David Zien, R-Eau Claire, and Rep. Jeff Wood, R-Chippewa Falls, are still developing in committee.
John Hogan, chief of staff for Zien, said while the "free market" could reduce the price of gas, just how much is still unclear.
In the meantime, many students are relying on lifestyle changes to address the issue, like biking or walking to conserve gas.
Senior Stacie Olson rides her bike to class, extracurricular activities and even to her cleaning job about five miles away, when normally she would drive.
"I bike everywhere instead of driving," she said. "I plan my schedule a lot more."
Kimberly O'Kelly, interim Parking and Transportation coordinator, said she has noted the influx of bikes on campus, and with it another dilemma - illegally parked bikes.
"It definitely seems like there are more bikes out there," she said. "And I noticed there were a lot of bikes not in bike racks."
She said the increase in bike traffic prompted initial concerns about parking availability on campus, which she asked her staff to consider.
Department staff investigated the issue, she said, and found that while racks near places like Hibbard Hall are periodically cluttered with bikes, there is usually space near the McIntyre Library and Schofield Hall.
She advised students to park their bikes only at designated racks and said parking staff will begin ticketing illegally parked bikes in the coming weeks.