MOVIE IN PRODUCTION: Woman Survives 10 Days in L.A. Without a Car

Los Angeles, CA

Katie Rogers successfully survived ten days in Los Angeles without using a car. No, not just without her BMW or Land Rover. Without any car whatsoever. And she didn’t do it because her car was stolen or repossessed. Katie chose to do it.

“I think she’s freakin’ nuts,” says Lielle Arad. “I mean this is L.A. You have to have a car in L.A. It’s just impossible not to.”

“It’s definitely been a challenge! I am used to driving to get around, so I had to educate myself on public transportation. I even have to hike to get to work,” says Katie.

Katie is going “around L.A. in eighty days” — without a car — for the new documentary she is working on, and starring in, Carless in L.A. Since then, she has covered this town by foot, bus, and bicycle.

The road hasn’t been smooth so far, however. Her commute, from Mar Vista to Coldwater Canyon, takes her at least two hours. For a part-time job. On day four, the cinematographer’s bicycle was stolen.

“It sounds silly, but I realize I am breaking an addiction,” she says. “I’ve learned a new term through this: ‘autoholic.’ I went through serious withdrawal. I even got physically sick. I am usually pretty adaptable, but this case was different.”

Things were better on day ten. A generous donation from Helen’s Bicycles in Santa Monica – a brand new Trek commuter bike with all the accoutrements – put the cinematographer back on the road.

“Seventy days to go,” Katie sighs.

Katie and her filmmaking team want to inspire people in Los Angeles and the rest of the world to drive less, or not at all. They want to create an awareness of the “car culture” that Americans are buying into on a daily basis.

“Fossil fuel burning is the single largest contributor of global warming gases into our environment. We each have the personal ability—and responsibility – to make a difference,” says Co-Producer, Drew Falkman.

Building off of interest garnered in earlier movies such as Al Gores’ An Inconvenient Truth and Who Killed the Electric Car, among others, Carless in L.A. hopes to deliver an uplifting film that brings an empowering message that small, mindful changes by many individuals leads to big change.

“I started for environmental reasons but am quickly discovering other benefits to not having a car. I’ve made new friends, gotten in better shape, and saved money. What every Angeleno wants! We’ll see what the next seventy days brings, and if this is truly doable with my busy lifestyle and in a city so big,” says Katie.

Until the movie is finished, Katie’s journey can be followed online at www.myspace.com/CarlessInLA

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