Living without a car

n a city obsessed with the automobile, living in Los Angeles without one - on purpose - seems unthinkable, unreasonable, maybe even a little nuts. Sue Doyle in the Daily News.

But with the days of low-cost gas gone and no national alternative-fuel plan at hand, living car-free is one way some Americans pursue their own energy plans to help save money.

Globally, a car-free movement is afoot to shrink dependence on automobiles and create places where vehicles are unnecessary.

Locally, however, the car-free idea breezes into Los Angeles on Earth Day and other environmental days and floats out 24 hours later. Some say the county's public transportation system is too limited to make living without a car possible.