It will be interesting to see if this film gets distribution: Carless in L.A.:
This feature-length film is about Katie Rogers, and the sacrifice she made in the name of the environment: 80 days without a car in an attempt to have zero carbon emissions in Los Angeles…
The rules were simple: to get anywhere, she couldnít have any output of carbon into the atmosphere. No driving. No pickups. She could walk, run, bike, or take a bus, as long as she, personally, was not emitting carbon into the atmosphere.
I found myself wondering if it was just a reality show setup with zero-emmissions-Katie being followed around by a crew in a SUV. But apparently not:
Katie's eighty days finished on January 1, 2007…No carbon was emitted into the atmosphere during the production of this film ñ not by Katie, not by the cast, crew, or producer. Everyone involved rode the bus, carpooled, walked or biked, gear in hand, or in backpack! We are currently in post-production.
By the look of the trailer, it appears that Katie's views were transformed by changing her personal transport choices. Interesting, although if she wasn't open to having her opinions changed she probably wouldn't have done the eighty days.
But did she keep up her car-free ways after the eighty days expired? According to Katie's blog on myspace, at first she was ecstatic
to be able to drive again. But then:
I was in traffic. The radio was on the fritz, the sun was too hot for the sunroof, and I hadn't gotten enough exercise as usual. It was a beautiful day, and all I could think of was: "I could be on my bike right now." "I could be on my bike right now." Exercising, feeling the breeze and sun on my arms, and going much, much *#@?! faster than this %@#! TRAFFIC!!!
She reckons she now goes at about 50-50 driving-bike/bus.
I look forward to seeing the film.