Car(bon) free in California

California dreaming is all about putting the top down on your convertible car and driving up and down the coast, burning rubber with a hottie by your side, road tripping through the redwoods, or cruising L.A.'s miles of freeway. Right?

Wrong! The new dream is green, according to Charles of Car(bon)free in California. This San Francisco Bay Area guy has a blog about reducing the impact of cars, especially on the Golden State. And if he can cut back on auto use in asphalt-paved suburban Cali, then so can people living across the U.S.

He posts news, both local and national, ideas like a carbon subsidy, and notes about how your schedule effects commuting.

Recently, Charles started his own Five for Footprints campaign. Just reduce five percent of your diving -- that's only 1 trip in 20 -- and he's posting five easy steps to help.

First up, telecommuting. Let me tell you, we love this one at Yahoo! -- people get more done without all the hustle and distractions in the office (and personally, I enjoy sitting at my home computer with a cat in my lap).

Next, carpool. Someone you work with probably lives within a reasonable distance or on the way. Just ask around. If you work for a big company, see if it has a carpool list set up already. Some cities have services to connect potential carpoolers, like 511.org Ridematch in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Check the blog regularly to see his other recommendations. I bet biking and public transit may show up. Maybe walking? They're all good, carbon-neutral ways to get around, and I should know -- I've lived in California most of my life without a car too!