My ex owned the last car I drove. She did not have a license, so I was pretty much the only person to ever drive in the house. Now I’m out of her house, so no more car. I’m walking everywhere in an extremely car dependant area, there’s public transport it just sucks ass. However, I’m liking the walking. The more I do it, the less I even think about it. My ass is gonna look great, I can still get pretty much everything I care about within walking distance, life is good.
God I wish… I’m in the fucking suburbs with our grocery store within walking distance. But there’s a major stroad through the route with no crosswalks and a 55mph speed limit that is more of a suggestion - chuds rip at 80+ in their lifted trucks.
Yeah, I’ve said what city I live in before, this is something I’m quite familiar with. These moments are the only time I wish I had a car.
Walking in an American city is a great way to realize how totally fucked our transportation infrastructure is. So many people seem to have never even bothered to try walking anywhere
The moment you realize you’re happier carrying your groceries uphill than you were when you had to battle for a parking spot is truly liberating.
I don’t drive my car for anything under 10 miles and I live in a walkable city with every amenity close by so I walk or ride a bike most of the time. But I’ve gotta admit, climate change is making it miserable in the summer months. The oppressive heat and humidity just makes you instantly sweat and even the breeze from bike riding won’t evaporate it. Summers were perfectly walkable 10 years ago but those rare Heat Advisory days went from a week to entire months.
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In some ways, places like Florida have it better off than more Northern climes that are now blanketed with heatwaves. The infrastructure and culture have already adapted to living under brutal heat so they are better prepared for it. Every indoor space is blasted with AC and everyone has relaxed dress codes. But now you’ve got regions in Europe that rarely ever saw 90 degree heat having to suffer through prolonged weeks of it and people are dying in droves. There were over 60,000 deaths attributed to heat last summer across Europe!
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Yeah it’s nice. Honestly the biggest downside is just that it takes a while. But it’s time spent walking so like, how much of a waste is that, really.
driving sucks! the 36 degree weather is getting a little old with the walkin tho lol
as someone undergoing an ass makeover of my own,
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Welcome to the club. I’ve been at this since high school when I didn’t want a car (much to the dismay of my parents) and didn’t feel like bumming my friends for rides. Ever since then I’ve lived all over the US without getting behind a steering wheel once. It’s harder in some places, but I’m lucky to live in an area with a long history and thus, more walkable layout. I haven’t even seen a suburb in months.
I do recommend that you always have sunscreen and headphones, both of those will improve the quality of your day dramatically. I also would suggest that during summer you have some water with you.
As long as the weather’s not too bad, walking is great. If I’m in a hurry, I bike, but that’s always a little stressful cuz you gotta deal with either cars/drivers or poorly-maintained sidewalks. Haven’t owned a car in 12 years
used to motorcycle everywhere and i feel this. the worst part of being a motorcyclist in florida is during our rainy season you are waiting for rain a lot and gearing up in your rain suit which you will die in from sweat because its raining and also 95F/35C out and you are wearing a fancy trash bag
I live in a place with good public transit and I still walk or bike or skate everywhere I can. It’s great to get the exercise and I also get to just be in the community more by being outside. It’s definitely the way to go if you can
Yeah I love meeting people on my way to things. Any idea how many times I’ve been asked for a lighter because I reek like cigs? I get to talk to so many people around me, it’s great
if where you live is that car dependent ive seen most people who ride bikes in long island do it on the side walk
oh you sweet summer child, you’re assuming they even have sidewalks where she lives
amerika is a cursed country
I really want to record a (45m+ long) video of me attempting to cycle to the nearest grocery store, paying special attention to the nonsensical sidewalks that start nowhere and lead nowhere. but I wouldn’t want to narrow down so much where I live lol
Walking rules. There’s so much you get to experience at that speed. bugs and critters, people’s gardens, just people, smells, birdsong, just the weather!
Plus yeah, it’s great mild exercise. I’m also a believer that walking does something really good for our cognition because we grew up as a species doing it so much.
I agree. Some of the brightest most creative people in history took walks as part of their daily routines. I think it’s a great way to reset the brain and get in touch with your surroundings and your body
I am in a similar spot. There is a grocery store easy walking distance from me. There is also a 6 lane medium speed street, might actually be a highway, and a freeway on ramp right there. That intersection is scary with a car. I know I should be walking there but I haven’t worked up the nerve yet.
I know I should be walking there but I haven’t worked up the nerve yet.
I’m pretty far gone on the “stop making excuses for taking the car” scale and I don’t think that is something you should approach without a car
Username checks out (you can call me 5bicycles)
Yeah, making a habit of walking something like what you’re describing is not a great plan. Make noise at your city council meetings instead.
ngl i miss the bus… i used to write so much and read more and i texted people back in a semi-timely manner. now that my hour+ of commute has been replaced with time where i actually have to pay attention to where i’m going, life at large seems harder to deal with.
i’m sure driving is WAY worse tho lmao
When I put my earbuds in, and I’m just getting lost in the music while I’m feeling the sunny weather, I’m happiest. And these days, I’m not smiling often.
I think I need to get earbuds again, I lost my last pair. But being in the sun (no a/c) and listening to music were my favorite parts of driving, an activity that I hated. I should incorporate that into something I like
