<p>I've been reading a number of threads regarding cars and college. D will definitely NOT have a car in college, so I am now checking the walkability of the schools in which D is interested. </p>
<p>I assume that, there are services and amenities (pharmacy, grocery, coffee shop - - maybe even movies) within a short walk of the Pitzer campus, and probably some sort of airport shuttle. But are there popular student destimations or activities for which a car is necessary? And, for occasional trips, are there affordable alternative to owning a car - - taxis? Zip Cars?</p>
<p>It's about a one mile walk from Pitzer to the village of Claremont. Zip cars are also available, I believe. With a few exceptions, freshmen are not allowed to have cars, so she would be in the same boat as everyone else.</p>
<p>Pitzer/Claremont is EXTREMELY walkable. If you do need a car, there are always enough other kids who have cars that can give rides to your kid every once and a while. There ARE zip cars but most people just take the metro to get into LA.</p>
<p>Mass transportation is a disaster in So Call, but I know a guy who gets all over the place with a bicycle. He brings it on buses, etc with him to bike where he can't ride.</p>
<p>The college is between the 210 and 10 freeways. The 10 is usually a parking lot. 210 is OK if you have a carpool. L.A. can be 1/2 hour to 2 hours away.</p>
<p>Pitzer is a liberal school in a very conservative community. David Drier is the Congressperson, and he's one of the biggest pro-war advocates in the House. In Los Angeles, you have some of the more liberal members of Congress. Some of the top liberals speak at the college.</p>
<p>The air is healthier in areas to which you can drive. The Claremont colleges are in an area that has a lot of alerts (as in stay indoors and don't exercise or breathe). This is because of the way the foothills hold in the smog. Also, there was a problem with toxins in well water, which is where the city gets its water. This is something that student activism could fix.</p>