The fuel crisis has forced Astrakhan residents to use personal cars less often.
Residents of Astrakhan, commenting on a social media post about queues at gas stations on the weekend, reported that due to the fuel problem, they have started using personal cars less often, walking more, and taking buses more frequently.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", against the backdrop of the fuel crisis in Astrakhan, the demand for the installation of gas cylinder equipment has increased. As a result, there is a shortage of it in the region, and consequently, prices have risen.
The authorities of the Astrakhan region, amid the gasoline shortage, introduced a fuel refueling system at gas stations on even and odd days depending on the last digit of the car's number. After this measure was implemented, queues at gas stations did not decrease; drivers take their place in line early even at non-operating gas stations in hopes of buying fuel, local motorists told "Caucasian Knot".
Despite the fact that gas stations in Astrakhan started selling gasoline today from 12:00, queues formed as early as 9 a.m. The system of distributing queues based on even and odd digits on license plates did not solve the problem of fuel hype; on the contrary, it supports it, noted the Astrakhan publication "Point-A".
A post about the queues at Astrakhan gas stations was published today in the Instagram*-public astrakhan_znaet, which has about 144 thousand users. As of 14:00 Moscow time, this post received 1012 likes and 214 comments. Some of the authors mentioned that they have started using their cars less often.
"Life hack: I walk for accessible distances. They say it's good for health. And the psycho-emotional background stabilizes," noted user ovirastrahan.
"Everyone to public transport," called olgalukova04.
"Let them take buses to work like in the USSR," wrote roatislavkrasnozharov.
Some users suggested giving up cars in favor of bicycles. "Get on bicycles," wrote user akrilovie__stoleshnici_.
"All that remains for ordinary people is to switch to bicycles," believes user donskoy96.
"Friends, switch to electric trains and don't worry," noted user v20let.
Some commentators noted that they use cars only for the most necessary trips. "My neighbor has already made a 100-liter stock in the garage. But he only goes to the store for bread," wrote olgerdnovok.
"Selling a car with a full tank, message me in direct," sarcastically wrote doc.aliev_a.
Users also stated that they are forced to wait several hours in line at gas stations to refuel.
"Yesterday I really noticed older men in line... you need to have so much free time to stand in line," noted _evgenia86.
"People wait for hours," wrote lisovaia_daria.
Recall that the fuel problem arose against the backdrop of drone attacks on oil refineries, including those located in southern Russia. The issue with components for installing gas cylinder equipment on cars has arisen not only in the Astrakhan region but also in other regions of southern Russia. This has led to long waits for the change of fuel systems, and prices for the installation of gas equipment and gas have significantly increased. Switching to gas is not a universal solution and does not suit everyone, drivers surveyed by the "Caucasian Knot" stated on July 11.