This short report on a first-ever local car free day from the student newspaper of Louisiana State University provides us with an illuminating 'slice of life' view of the car dilemma which is built in to a very typical American context. The ring of hopelessness and unremitting 'in the box' thinking are hallmarks of all that goes with that dour phrase: "The American Way of Life". And yet, yet . . . there they are with their first car free day and almost certainly others to follow. How does that wonderful phrase of Gandhi's go? "At first they ignore you. Then they laugh. Then they threaten. And finally, they thought it was their great idea in the first place and what's the big deal?" And while that may not be exactly verbatim, we invite all to stay tuned. It is our best guess that the organisers of the Baton Rouge events are unlikely to give up on their efforts. (See Profile 167 here for details.)

Imaeyen Ibanga, Staff Writer The Reveille Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Each day 40,000 vehicles cross campus streets, yielding at corners and stopping at junctions, each increasing air pollutants by releasing toxins.

University officials are trying to change this college scene by participating in Earth Car-free Day, a five-parish Greater Baton Rouge area event that promotes alternative transportation modes.

University officials are encouraging students to car pool, walk or use bicycles on Thursday in an effort to reduce gas emissions, said Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation.

The Office is promoting the first-time event as part of the city's Earth Day celebration this weekend.

"We are going to try to get [students, faculty and staff] to voluntarily participate," said Mike Durham, director of the Office of Occupational and Environmental Safety. "We hope we can get more awareness to students."

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality asked all citizens, industries and state agencies to participate in the event.

The Sierra Club, Alliance for Responsible Transportation, Office of the Mayor-President-East Baton Rouge Parish and the University's Student Environmental Action Coalition are among the day's sponsors.

Officials said using alternative transportation modes has financial and social benefits.

"We save gasoline and a considerable amount of money," Durham said.

Students can ride the bus and get dropped off in the center of campus, instead of driving to school and then searching for a parking space, he said.

"I don't think people understand how much energy they use," Durham said. "They are doing a good thing by car pooling. It's a worthwhile effort. I hope we can get more students involved."

Durham said Earth Car-free Day may promote Ride Share use, a PAWS application that allows users to anonymously search for other students who car pool.

Graham said the LSU community should use buses and car pool more often in order to help ease traffic conditions.

"[Participation] would reduce traffic and save gas," he said. "Any reduction in traffic would be an improvement."

Carter Hill, chair of the Department of Economics, said he believes Earth Car-free Day is a good idea but probably will not change the habits of most people.

"It's a nice gesture, but it won't change anything," Hill said. "[The event] doesn't change the fundamental incentive for people to drive."

In order to have long-term participation, gas prices would have to increase drastically and maintain high prices over time, Hill said.

"Would people sell their existing car to buy more fuel efficient cars? I doubt it," Hill said.

Gas prices would have to approach $4 to $5 a gallon before drivers' habits would change, Hill said.

"Since the automobile became widely used in the U.S., people live farther from their work places," he said. "The alternative is [for] people to live closer to where they work or [use] a great deal of public expenditure for public transportation."

The majority of Baton Rouge's traffic comes from Interstate 10, he said. The University is just a small percentage of the city and its problem.

David Lindenfeld, Alliance for Responsible Transportation adviser, said people are not eager to use alternative transportation modes for several reasons.

"It's part of our consumer-oriented lifestyle," he said. "There's something very convenient about getting in your car and going where you want to go, when you want to."

Baton Rouge's layout also contributes to higher emissions, Lindenfeld said.

"A lot of the problem is tied up with questions of zoning development and land use," he said.

Many grocery stores that were in the campus' vicinity have gone out of business, Lindenfeld said. Students now must get in their cars and travel farther to meet their needs.

Lee Abbott, an English sophomore and Student Environmental Action Committee member, said he hopes students use the day to explore alternative transportation modes.

"Hopefully it will encourage students to try different forms of transportation," he said.

Abbott said he also hopes the event will make students consider making the University a walking campus.

"We should use this unique opportunity to voice our opinions on mass transit," he said.

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The University caters to vehicles because it produces the majority of the traffic, but if students opted to use bicycles and walk, then the school would pay more attention to pedestrians.

"We should be pressuring our senators and administrators," he said. "We rely too much on [cars]. We're encouraging more parking, when it's ineffective."