Students, local businesses will have to adapt to expected gas prices

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Buying a gallon of gasoline for $3.50 may seem like a steal to most Michigan residents in a few months.

As gas prices are expected to significantly rise in coming months, some Mount Pleasant businesses and Central Michigan University students have expressed concerns about transportation.

The rise in price for gasoline may lead to higher rates for Mount Pleasant’s taxi and transportation companies, but are also certain to affect CMU students commuting from across the state.

Dennis Adams, director of marketing and public relations for the Isabella County Transportation Commission, said the expected gas prices are a definite concern, though the company catches a break with taxes as a government-funded business.

Adams said the company expects to see the most significant rise of commuters in “out-county” service, which travels to cities including Remus and Clare.

“As the prices go up, so do our ride requests proportionate to the amount of the price increase,” Adams said.

He said the company usually sees more CMU students using the transit service as gasoline prices rise as well.

“I suspect if this happens around early summer and (students) come back to class in the fall with gas somewhere around the $5 price they’re predicting, I’m sure we’ll see enormous responses with the amount of riders,” Adams said.

U-Ride Taxi employee Jim Linville said a rise in gas prices could lead to more passengers, but higher rates as well.

“If the gas prices really rise, then we may have to raise rates,” Linville said.

Shelby senior Kyle Clark said if prices continue to rise, it could affect how often he travels home to visit his family. Clark said he does not have excess money to spend on gas, even at current prices.

“I find it very unfortunate to hear that gas prices are going up,” Clark said. “I work primarily on the weekends and don’t make much money, and I feel as though I spend a good chunk of my money on gas for the week, and that’s when it still costs $3.50 a gallon.”