Don't Ban Cars, Reduce Your Use

In answer to Mike Librik's rather mild suggestion that some folks professing an interest in spiritual growth might work on reducing their addiction to cars, someone has written to say that an immediate citywide ban on cars is impractical ["Postmarks," Aug. 22]. But no one proposed a citywide ban on cars. Reducing one's car use was suggested.
   Burning gasoline isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. But many motorists seem to see it that way. If they can't see their way to doing without the car entirely, they give up on the whole idea of restraint. They decide to leave fuel conservation to the few of us who don't use cars at all. Unfortunately, there aren't enough of us to counter the effects of everyone else driving without restraint.
   We don't have to leave cleaner air and fuel conservation up to the government. The government is not going to be much help any time soon. But people of good will, acting freely out of good will, can reduce their own gasoline use. to cut down, the first step is to find out how much you use. Keep track of your mileage.
   I've never given up gasoline, because I never got the habit. (I gave up airplane trips, but they weren't a daily habit.) However, I have quit smoking (twice, actually). I've also lost 25 pounds that I gained while I wasn't looking. I didn't make any of these changes instantly, I assure you. It took me years, each time. It's not easy to change one's habits. The trick is to take your time, expect change to be slow, expect to backslide, but don't give up, and don't see change as all or nothing.