Sisters protest high gas prices

When a daily dose of Hannah Montana became impossible, the Vance sisters knew it was time to take to the streets.

Sadie, 9, and her sister Pyper, 7, marched around downtown Salt Lake City chanting, "Lower the gas prices," while carrying homemade signs. The sisters decided to protest after losing their favorite cable TV shows when their mother, Michelle, had to sacrifice cable TV to pay for her daily commute.

"Gas prices are too high," Sadie said. "I just decided to come and protest so they'd go down."

The average price of regular unleaded gasoline in Utah was $4.07 on Monday, up 24 cents since one month ago, according to www.fuelgaugereport.com.

The Vances were inspired after marching with their parents in several protests led by former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Their father, Randy Doyle, who accompanied them Monday, was ''very proud'' to see his daughters find a cause of their own.

''This is the way to get involved,'' Doyle said. ''If you see something that you don't like, stand up and say something.''

Though Doyle was supportive of his daughters' efforts, he gives them complete credit for the protest. The girls recycled old campaign signs and wrote their own messages. "All of my mom's monny[sic] goes to the gas tank!" proclaimed Pyper's.

Trying to stay in the shade, the girls camped out at the corner of Main Street and 200 South, chanting their mantra and waving at cars, hoping drivers would honk in agreement. Several passers-by waved or gave them thumbs up to show support.

Hamid Tayeb passed by on his lunch break. High gas prices have led him to commute to his downtown office on TRAX.

"I think it's great," Tayeb said of the protest. "It's unfortunate that kids are doing it before we do."

kdrake@sltrib.com