Many agree that reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that come from personal automobile use is probably the most difficult source to tackle. People love their cars; it's about freedom, convenience, security, status, and fun. Changing the way or how much people use their cars, or what type of car they drive, let alone getting them to forego their use altogether, is a "tough row to hoe."

Nevertheless, the adverse social consequences of unbridled personal automobile use - pollution, congestion, unproductive time, "road rage," land use issues, social inequity, etc. have become obvious over the past 30 years. And, notwithstanding the above, colleges and universities have MANY different vehicles (pardon the pun!) for influencing the transportation options and choices available to their faculty and staff. These include:

• Parking Availability/Proximity
• Parking Cost
• Campus Shuttle bus system
• Municipal public transportation system
• RideShare/Carpooling systems
• Bicycling Infrastructure and Programs

Some campuses have restrictions on undergraduate vehicle use or even access (i.e. won't permit freshman to bring cars to campus); others try to discourage private vehicle use through the set-up of campus (pedestrian-friendly, car-unfriendly). Increased future reliance on distance education (via the internet) may also have some potential as a useful tool for campuses weighing their options for cutting GHG emissions.