I think an important point that may be being missed is that we are thinking of a car free society with the infrastructure that exists now.

That, of course, is impractical.

If we wish to minimise car use, then places of entertainment, employmentetc would have to be closer to places of habitation. This is happening in developments in Edinburgh with some flatted (condo) developments not allowing for car parking.

It would be a change to people working nearer where they live, and would be dependant on better public transport facilities, backed up perhaps by loan cars (energy efficient or alternative fuel types) which could be available because the distances travelled would be small. Of course, there is already a shift to homeworking and this is likely to continue, with even manufacturing becoming less dependant on people. The difficulty is that we then shift to a society which is more dependant on taxation to allow those in employment to support those not.

I love cars, as examples of mobile architecture. I love powerful cars for the thrill they give. However I cycle because i want to be healthy and help preserve the health of the environment I live in.

To me cars are just like a woman who is beautiful, unpredictable and just a bit "on the edge". ( or a "dangerous guy" if you are so inclined) Great to be with, but there's always the nagging thought in the back of your mind that this is eventually going to hurt. (Sounded a bit like "Swiss Tony " for fans of "The Fast Show")

We have to face up to the fact that so long as we rely on oil based power sources, there will come a time when it's all going to go pear shaped.