OK, so maybe we're not going car-free anytime soon, but the Towards Carfree Cities conference is happening this week in Portland: June 16-20, 2008 at various venues around town.

To sum up the goal of the event: "The conference program unites diverse interests, from city planners to developers to environmental activists to transportation service providers, around the common goal of reducing communities’ dependence on automobiles."

Events include an art exhibit and a "Depaving Day," where a parking lot will be turned into a space for community gardens and sitting areas.

Find out more about the Towards Carfree Cities conference.