Driving Is the Pits
Yesterday I had a doctor appointment. It was raining so I decided to drive Elle. That is a really good way to increase my blood pressure. I was driving and stopped in traffic and wondering why people drive in conditions like that every day.
Many people say they don’t have a choice. In reality they do, they just don’t think outside the box. The problem I believe is two fold. The first is attitude. We have an attitude in American that just automatically thinks car when you need to go from point A to point B.
Three years ago I lived in Utah and attended a church where every person that attended that particular church lived less than a mile away. Yet I am sure that the number who walked to church each Sunday was much less than 50 percent. It was also interesting to note some of the walkers and non-walkers. One woman who lived about two houses from me walked each Sunday. She was in her eighties. Another couple lived across the street from her. They were empty nesters. Not only did they not walk, they took two cars.
The other problem that makes getting around without a car is how we have developed.
I read recently that prior to WWII, the United States had one of the best public transportation systems in the world. After WWII, we chose a path of abandoning cities and public transportation and instead subsidized suburban sprawl. We are now paying the consequences.
Countries such as Denmark and The Netherlands emphasized public transportation and a bicycle culture. So now while Americans hop in a car for a mile trip to run an errand, a substantial number of trips in The Netherlands are done by bicycle.
Unfortunately, the American culture seems to be prevailing in many developing countries and as they get more affluent they pattern their transportation system after the U.S.
It was 7.7 miles to my doc. It took thirty plus minutes yesterday. On the days I have ridden my bike there it has taken about twenty more minutes and it is along a much more scenic and pleasant route.
Recently I stopped along the 14th street bridge and took this picture.
Where would you prefer to be, in a automobile or on the bike path to the right?
July 15th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I hope to be more of a bike commuter some day. But not until I can afford to replace my sorry excuse for a bicycle. It’s served me well though — 15 years of miles all around south Texas, Provo, Salt Lake City, and Boston.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
ack! That picture is disgusting! I hate traffic too, and we have taken to walking every where. My limit tho, is One Hour of Walking, each way. If the place is father away that that, we just dont go there anymore.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Looking at that picture, I suppose I’d rather be on the bike path. However, just think of all the exhaust you’d be breathing!
July 18th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
you would like Beijing - am many lanes for bikers as there are for cars! Just the pollution will kill you!
July 18th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
They have bike lanes in Bejing? Who’d a thunk it? The pictures make the place look so crazy. Not so sure I would want to ride there. Might make DC seem tame in comparison.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Wow, what a great post!!!!
I really wish that I could bike or run to every place I had to go…I am for the next week going to try to ride my bike or run to–store, bank, etc. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Getting back to checking in on you! Missed reading your blog.
Carey
July 19th, 2008 at 5:40 am
I find that most trips of 2 or 3 miles are just as fast or faster by bicycle. And the other time saver is you avoid the problem of searching for parking.
I think gas prices are causing more people to think about it and do it. A few months ago there were only two or three at the most bicycles in the bike rack at the gym where I work out. The past few weeks it has been full.