Fuming from fuel prices? Here’s five ways to get around for free
Student loans, part-time jobs, rising cost of living and we’re meant to afford fuel at $3 a litre – nah uh.
With Jacinda showing disapproval to Russia, which is a major oil exporter, there is less supply coming to us so fuel prices are rising. A 25 cent off per litre tax reduction came into action mid-March, saving people a little bit of their dignity for the three months it will be in place. Public transport costs will be halved in April. All of this will be paid for with the Covid-19 fund which has made space for the reductions now that MIQ doesn’t need funding.
When will fuel prices go down? Your gas is as good as mine. In the meantime, here were the students’ top five suggested free modes of transport.
1. Start an affair with an Uber driver
I know you’ve looked at their eyes in the rearview mirror and envisioned a life together. Uber, as well as other ride sharing companies like Zoomy, have introduced a temporary fuel surcharge. This will lessen the impact of high fuel prices on Uber drivers. The surcharge will be per kilometre, drivers will get about 40 cents extra for an average trip. It’s a tough time for Uber drivers, they could use a cutie in their passenger seat, and you’ll save the extra 40 cents!
2. Find your old skateboard from your skater boy phase and Marty McFly your way around
You’ll find it somewhere behind your rusty scooter and deflated football. The average price per litre of 91 octane petrol was $2.45 in the December quarter last year, Stats NZ reported. Now most of the country has paid over $3 dollars per litre of 91. Labour said the tax reduction means drivers save more than $11 when they fill up a 40 litre tank, and more than $17 dollars when they fill up a 60 litre tank. This has definitely helped drivers, but 25 cents off per litre hasn’t taken away all the pressure. Make light of the circumstance by living out your bad boy fantasy on the streets.
3. Shave your beard, squeeze into your old school uniform and jump on a school bus
I’m sure you missed antagonizing your school bus driver and holding your breath from the kids vaping in the back. Jacinda announced public transport prices would be halved in April temporarily. As uni students have been begging for free public transport for years, this is an exciting step in the right direction. The Green Party started a petition calling for free public transport for everyone in Aotearoa. The petition got over 10,000 signatures in less than two days. We’ve all signed lots of free public transport petitions, but let's hope this one goes somewhere. Most secondary school students, lucky bastards, get free transport to and from school each day. If you need a ride to town, chuck a school hat on over your receding hair line and no one will notice you’re 23 with stubble.
4. Get in a rubbish bag and wait for the dump truck to pick you up
But don’t forget to use a biodegradable bag! Cars have been seen queuing all over the country due to warnings fuel prices may keep rising. Some places have lines going down the road with people arguing about queue cutting. If you get really desperate, get your flattie to put you out on the road side for collection and the lovely rubbish man will take you on a tiki tour around the neighbourhoods.
If all else fails, try number five:
5. Get really high and imagine yourself to where you need to be
