There is a campaign going around that encourages people to boycott gas stations on April 15. The idea is that by not buying gas on a certain day, the price of gas might be reduce, or at a minimum gas stations will see that people are not happy with their pricing policies and perhaps try to reduce costs overall. It's a lovely sentiment, but ultimately pointless, since not buying gas for a single day will not do much to get to the core of the problem.
Gas prices go up and down on the whims of the market. In some cases, it's due to pre-existing wells reaching the end of their life and supply being constrained. In others, it's pure speculation, as investors see potential problems down the road in oil-producing nations. Given instability in the middle-east, where large quantities of oil are produced, speculation is going to be quite high and gas prices are going to go up. That's unfortunate, and the reason why the prices have been quite high for the past few months.
Now, gas prices might go down if the situation stabilizes in those countries, though gas prices tend to go up much faster than they go in the opposite direction. Gas prices might also go down if demand goes down, which is the concept behind the boycott planned for mid-April. Unfortunately, reduced demand for one day will not make a dent.
The trouble with not buying for one day is that it either speeds up or postpones an inevitable result if the lifestyle overall doesn't change. Commutes and routines will still remain consistent, and the end result will be people simply buying gas on a different day, and spending the same amount overall.
The only way you're going to make much of an impact overall is if you take steps to reduce the amount of gas used overall, rather than simply changing the day on which you buy it. One could drive a more efficient vehicle, but that's the kind of thing that only works if you're already in the market for a different car and willing to spend the money. It's impractical suggest such a thing for the majority of people, as they might not have the budget for that change, or are already in the most efficient car that fits their need.
No, the only real solution here is to drive less. It's something that's difficult given the half-melted, half-frozen nature of the roads today, but it will become more appealing if the weather actually improves and walking and biking don't make one look like they've forded a small river. Once things are dry, using a bike to get around is a good way to navigate, if only for people who are already in town. The above does not apply if it's the person who has taken my bike. That person should just return said bike to my garage, and find a different way to get around which isn't a black $20 special with a slash in the seat.
Still, bikes are not practical for everyone, especially those out of town or those with difficulty getting around. Rural areas, being spread out as they are, don't come with easy solutions to reducing gas usage. However, the only way to reduce what you spend on gas is to reduce the amount needed. Any attempt to stage a protest on April 15 will simply be an empty gesture, as one stares at the low fuel indicator for a day. We buy gas because we need to, not because we want to. The only solution is to simply use less gas. It's harder, but it's the only way.
