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Or better yet, Campbell said, start rationing gas as has happened in decades past. She argues the government should step in to help working folks afford gas to commute from home to their jobs.

"You don't hear a lot out of me unless I get fed up with something," Campbell said in a phone interview. "And I'm tired of hearing people complain -- food prices, gas prices, everything. Nobody does anything about it. They sit back and complain. It's time for Americans to stand up and let their voice be known."

Their idea sounds ludicrous at first. How can someone start a mass movement from a small North Carolina town?

Answer: the same way four college students started a civil rights movement from Greensboro 45 years ago (though no one argues gas prices carry as much potency, or importance, as civil rights).

Gas prices soared to record levels this winter. Sort of. When you account for inflation, gas during the early Reagan years cost drivers more.

Prices appear to be leveling off, though it's unclear whether they'll hold steady or actually fall back to the good ol' days of $1.98 per gallon.

Stewart said she's been visiting Internet chat rooms, specifically to spread word of the effort.

"Each day I go into each room for places like Albany, Buffalo, Boston, Seattle, Las Vegas -- just everywhere," she said. "I was typing in 'Nationwide protest. Do not buy gas on Tuesdays.'

"You always have one wisecrack no matter what you're doing in a room. But overall, people are willing to do anything to make a difference because it's gotten bad everywhere."

It's hard for Campbell and Stewart to nail down exactly who they're protesting against, or what can be done about gas prices. Both realize it's a capitalist society with prices set by supply and demand.

So don't buy gas, and the supply builds up. When the supply builds up, prices go down. Tuesday is as good a day as any to keep out of the service stations.

In the meantime, here are some tips from AAA to "ease effects of current high gas prices."

• Look for the best deal, but don't waste too much time hunting around only to save a few cents on the purchase.
• Try to avoid letting your car idle too long.
• Maintain steady speeds. Quick stops and starts waste gas. Proper tire pressure, folks.
• Here's a good one. Be conservative with the air conditioner, and use the "recirculation" setting to keep the engine from having to chill hot air drawn from the outside.

Highway checkpoints
Dave Stroble of Greensboro called last week after finding troopers on the Mount Hope Church Road exit off Interstates 40/85, where authorities were working a checkpoint.

"State Police seem to really like having license check roadblocks there. Today I got stopped on the way into work -- the third time since they opened the (Interstate 85) bypass.

"I never see them do this at any other exit in Greensboro. I'm just wondering what it is about this particular spot in the morning that they seem to think they need to keep coming back?"

First Sgt. Kenny Smith said the Mount Hope Church Road exit is ideal for checkpoints because of its daily traffic volume. It does no good for troopers to set up shop along a road with little traffic.

The whole point is to ensure compliance with motor vehicle laws.
Checkpoint schedules vary depending on call volume, Smith said, and Mount Hope Church Road isn't the only off-ramp the Highway Patrol monitors. The Groometown Road exit south of Greensboro makes a good checkpoint, too.

"We're making sure (drivers) have a valid license and we're looking for traffic violations, whether it be a seatbelt violation or equipment violations like a (broken) headlight or tail light," Smith said. "You name it, we find it at these checkpoints."

What do troopers find most often? Expired or suspended licenses, and drivers who aren't wearing seatbelts.

Final thoughts
Hans Roethling of Greensboro shares a recent driving experience leaving the new First Horizon Park in downtown Greensboro.

It concerns the parking lot on North Edgeworth Street behind the Grand Stand party deck on the left field corner.

"When you come out of the parking lot, there's no arrow (for the one-way street). It was dark when we came out and made a left turn. All of a sudden three sets of headlights are coming at us, but there was a driveway we could duck into ...

"Really, if they haven't done it by now, they need a big arrow that shows you it's a one-way street. I went back the next day to make sure I didn't miss it, and at that point there was no sign indicating one way."

Roethling said he later found a painted arrow on the pavement.

"But when you have your cars sticking out, you're not looking onto the street. To me, visually, there should be something straight out from your car."

I called Joe Mullinax, a traffic signal engineer at the Greensboro Department of Transportation. Nothing's in the works. Yet.

"That's a great suggestion," he said when I told him of Roethling's comments. "And we'll take a look at it."

Fast Forward runs every Saturday. Got questions you want answered or need to vent about transportation issues? Send 'em my way at 373-7008 or etownsend@news-record.com. Be sure to leave your name and a way for me to get in touch with you.