Car-free in the US?

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Last weekend, the people of Italy breathed easier. To cut down on pollution, cars were banned in Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples. Some Italians would like every Sunday to be declared a car-free day.

Can you imagine trying to do that in the U.S., where driving a car is nearly a Constitutional right? It takes a lot to get an American out of a car. Not even skyrocketing gas prices seem to be keeping us from our love affair with the open road. The Travel Industry Association of America released a January survey saying Americans plan to drive more and fly less this summer for pleasure trips. Of course, in January, gas prices weren't near two bucks a gallon in some places.

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