It's that time of year again, that time in spring when folks, anticipating the usual rise in costs of gasoline for the summer, decide it's time to really do something. Their solution? Filling my inbox with spam bullshit. Ugh.

So I guess national gasoline boycott day is May 15th this year, according to the latest message I've received, which reads:

In April 1997, there was a "gas out" conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight.

If all users did not go to the pump on the 15th, it would take $2,292,000,000.00 (that's almost 3 BILLION) out of the oil companies' pockets for just one day. So, please considering pre-planning filling up your tank that week and avoid pumping gas for just one day: Tuesday, May 15th. Let's try to put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry for at least one day.

I really don't know where they got that figure about 1997. I was driving then and I have zero recollection of such a drastic price drop. I didn't even have to be driving. I was congiscent. One would think that such an event would be newsworthy.

But an even more glaring piece of ridiculousness is the lack of logic in this scheme. It's simple economics. Sure, for one day people don't buy gas, but that just means that people buy more gas before or after that one day. Hell, it's even spelled out there in the chain letter: "please considering [sic] pre-planning filling up your tank that week." One day away from the pump doesn't mean anything to the evil oil companies because they still aggregate the same revenues since everyone is still consuming the same amount of gasoline.

If people actually want to "put a dent in the Middle Eastern oil industry" they need to actually take some frakking responsibility and change their consumption habits for the long term. That means consuming less gas. How about instead of a one-day gasoline boycott, everyone simply didn't drive? What if they walked or rode their bikes or took the bus? Think of all the oil that could actually be saved. Think of all the prevented air, ground, and noise pollution. Think of all the damage prevented by people NOT getting into car accidents, all the lives saved. Now that would be a statement.

I am so sick of this type of passive protest. I'm not a major activist, but I do want to make a change, even if it's just for myself. Change takes genuine effort. It doesn't have to be something so drastic as everyone ditching their cars. Simple steps could mean so much if enough people adopted conservation practices. Even keeping one's car tires properly inflated makes a significant difference in gas mileage. If enough people right there fixed that problem we'd be making an impact on gasoline consumption. But why stop there? The majority of trips people make in their cars are under two miles. How about if people choose one regular destination they go to, let's say the grocery store - or maybe even the barbershop, and instead of driving they ALWAYS walked or rode their bike. They don't have to do that for any other destination, just that one. Over time that saves a lot of gas. In the meantime, it'll hopefully inspire people to use alternate methods of transportation for other destinations.

It's obvious I'm a fan of bicycles. May is national bicycle month. In Los Angeles, the week of May 14-18 is Bike to Work week. Bicycle commuting is a major step one can take towards saving money on gasoline. So far this year, I can honestly I've spent less than $30 at the pump for when I take my scooter out to places like Santa Monica. I don't own a car. Less than nine out ten days I ride my bicycle to work. I'll admit I'm a bit more commited to a car-light lifestyle than most people could see for themselves, but that doesn't mean that people can't make effective changes themselves.

Progress can come in small steps, but they have to be substantive steps with actual results, not empty dramatic gestures of day-long boycotts.

Check out cicle.org for some inspiration for a sustainable future via bicycles.