Running on ‘E’

Rising gas prices could affect students’ summer plans this year, forcing them to make sacrifices to budget their money. \nThough a Monroe Country Convention & Visitors Bureau representative said he does not think the number of people visiting Bloomington will be affected by gas prices because of the city’s location, some say prices have hurt their pocketbooks and their plans. \nSophomore Travis Martin said the possibility of increased gas prices has him thinking twice about making travel plans this summer. Martin, who drives a 2003 Honda Accord, spends approximately $45 to fill up his gas tank.\nMartin plans to attend summer school and will drive 40 minutes back and forth to campus several times per week. \n“The increase in gas prices definitely affects my budget,” Martin said. \nHe said a large percentage of his budget will go toward gas this summer, leaving him with little money to do anything else. \nLast year, Speedway gas stations on April 10 charged an average of $2.80 per gallon. This yearon April 10, Speedway gas stations in Bloomington charged their customers $3.45 per gallon, an increase of 65 cents in just one year.\nMartin said the gas prices affect how many times he goes out per week and where he can afford to go. \nMartin used to visit his girlfriend, who lives an hour and a half away, every week, but now he is only able to visit her once a month, partly because of gas prices.\nStill, Mike McAfee, executive director of the Monroe County Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the increase in gas prices – which are rumored to rise to above $4 this summer – does not worry him too much. \nHe said he is not expecting people to cancel trips, but instead they will most likely change their travel patterns, McAfee said. \nMcAfee expects people to take more frequent two- or three-day vacations instead of the usual two-week vacations. He said they expect more weekend getaways, all closer to home than in previous years.\nAccording to the American Automobile Association, leisure travel is expected to remain flat while business travel will see an increase this summer, McAfee said. \nBloomington is a driving destination for many people in the Midwest, McAfee said. People can reach Bloomington relatively quickly; therefore, the gas price increase will not affect local tourism too much, he said. \nSophomore Andrew Gardiner said the increase in gas prices will not affect his plans for the summer. His activities and trips are more important to him than gas prices going up, he said.\n“I will keep on doing my thing.” Gardiner said.