Cars may seem like a requirement to live in the suburbs, but a growing number of communities in Europe and the United States are aiming to minimize their reliance on the automobile and make their towns car-free.   While reducing the number of cars on the road may be more of a challenge in some areas where amenities are spread out, and public transportation is limited, I would love to see more towns and cities work towards eliminating our dependency on cars.

As a resident of Los Angeles, I admit that cars can be very handy, but with improved public transportation, better urban planning, and (electric) car share programs, living with fewer cars begins to seem much more convenient.  With fewer cars on the road our communities would be safer, healthier and greatly reduce oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  And in areas where walking, bicycling and public transportation are used more frequently, people generally seem to be happier and less stressed.  Take for example these school kids in Italy who walk instead of taking the bus.

In the meantime, I highly recommend choosing one day on the weekend where you leave your car at home.  Challenge yourself to do without the car for at least a day.  Take a stroll, ride the bus or subway, cruise on your bike, dust off your rollerblades.  Your body and the planet will thank you.  But be warned:  fresh air and sunshine can be addictive.  Share your car-free stories in the comment section below.

Photo: myklroventine’s flickr photostream (creative commons)