How Far is Too Far?

[AccountingDrone]

That's why we have our permits, AccountingDrone.

But as well as your permit, you have my sympathy and understanding. I'm sorry. Have a big hug. (And give me one?)

{{{hug}}} of course =)

But I would still prefer to be able to walk =)

What is seriously annoying is in my dreams I can walk, and am always forgetting to use/bring my crutches, and always have to go back and get them, or remember to use them

[infinitemonkies]

For 6 years now, I've lived in a city, and haven't owned a car.
I don't need one, I don't want one, I don't miss having one.

Anywhere within a half hour, I just walk. Anywhere further, or if I bought a lot of groceries, I bus.

I find I need a car about one day a year, and when that comes up, I borrow one from a friend or my brother.



At a former job of mine, one of my cws lived on the same street as I did, but about 2 blocks closer. I walked, she drove. It would take me about half an hour to walk it. Between traffic and finding a place to park, it took her just as long, but she also had to pay for gas and parking. The icing on the cake is that several times a week, after work she would drive to a gym, where she would pay more money to use the treadmill and stationary bikes.

[HawaiianShirts]

Sure it is. Just look at all the people who park in handicapped spaces without proper permits or plates.

And the vultures who, while smart enough to stay out of the handicapped spaces, will circle the lot for ten minutes or more, searching or waiting for an open spot as close to the store as possible.

[Indigo]

Yeah, living a few years without a car taught me a few things:

1. It's ENTIRELY DOABLE. So many people are convinced that it's not possible to live without a car. But it is, especially if you live in the city.

2. You very quickly stop missing it. Yes, you have to walk and bus everywhere, but at the same time, you don't have to park, pay gas, or those lovely $600 emergency repairs when your car craps out.

3. You learn to be more frugal. Simply knowing that whatever you buy you'll have to haul home tends to curb the impulse buys.

The only reason I bought a car was because the job I had taken managed to be in some kind of bus route dead zone, and what was a 15 minute drive was a 2 1/2 hour bus ride, with three exchanges and a big 45 min layover in an uncovered bus loop (Which during an Edmonton winter would be horrible).

Exactly. I live on my college campus during the school year and was without a car for quite awhile and didn't have any issues getting to work or getting groceries. I walked or took the bus. The only thing that I couldn't do is go home as its an hour away and in the middle of nowhere. I was amazed at the people who didn't know that the city has a very nice bus system and thanks to our college IDs we could ride for free. There are times if I don't want to spend the money on gas, I still take the bus or walk because its cheaper.

[protege]

Not all areas are blessed with a good transit system. Pittsburgh's is OK...provided that you live inside the city limits. With that agency's recent cashflow problems, they've cut many routes that run out to the 'burbs. If the 'burb route has survived, the service frequency has been scaled back. Trust me, if I had a one-seat ride to work, I'd *gladly* take public transit. As it is, I'd have to take at least 2 buses to get to work--miss one, I miss the transfer downtown...and I'm SOL. It's a long-ass wait until the next one to where I have to go. Sorry, but fuck that.

Even though I live out in the 'burbs, and can walk to most places--the deli, grocery store, etc. I usually don't. I don't like the idea of crossing a major highway, and having to deal with the idiots who can't wait a second at the red light. It's easier to drive, and I can get more food in the car...than I can in my '88 Radio-Flyer

[FritzCat]

Years ago I gave my roommate (who had no physical problems at all) a huge ration of shit because he drove from our apartment to the liquor store (1 block) to buy cigarettes.

[Seshat]

I can carry five reusable grocery bags plus one (smallish) frozen-goods bag on my mobility scooter. (One in the front basket, one in the back carrier and the frozen-goods bag on top of it, one hanging off either side of the back carrier, and one under my legs.)

So one of my partners can walk, I can scooter, and we can haul quite a bit back.

[Tama]

I'm guessing your scooter doesn't have armrests....?

[Ironclad Alibi]

I"m waiting to see Wall-E style chairs any day now. Walking is such a hassle. XD

Something like this?

[Tama]

When I saw that movie, at first I was offended...then I was scared.

[LillFilly]

I do recall posting about a guy who parked his vehicle in a handicapped space at the swamp without the proper permits, got ticketed, and when he came back he just took the ticket and drove off. He probably just figured that was the cost of having to walk less.

I see people do that with the tickets I write; they'll either throw it on the ground, or drive-off and flick it with their wipers. I always note what they did on MY half of the stub, so they can't say "there was no ticket on my car!"

[morgana]

I used to love walking ... I would love to be able to walk 1 block, let alone 3 blocks. I miss taking the mutt out into the woods for a nice long walk

Same here. I can do about three blocks, sometimes more, but nothing like the five- or six-mile strolls I used to be able to do. I miss it.

Gotta go see the ortho again soon . . . *sigh*

[BeenThereDoneThat]

I love my car, but I wish I could walk more places too. I really need to get another bicycle...even if riding it in the Florida heat and humidity really can be brutal.

[Nyoibo]

Yeah, living a few years without a car taught me a few things:

1. It's ENTIRELY DOABLE. So many people are convinced that it's not possible to live without a car. But it is, especially if you live in the city.

Depends where you live, it's a half hour walk into the closest town, which only started to get busses about 4-5 years ago, as far as I know it only gets 2 buses, one going out at about 8am, and one comeing in at about 6pm, that's it.

One reason I think people seem to park illegally all the time is the fines aren't high enough half the time, I got a couple in Miami, they were $6, it was cheaper than paying for freaking parking. Got one in adelaide $90 and if it's late being paid there's a $32 dollar late fee tacked on to it.

[Argabarga]

Most people don't take the tickets around here seriously, they see it as a risk worth taking in lieu of paying a couple bucks for a meter/hour of garage time. (They're $15 unless you do something REALLY bad) WHich is why getting ticketed starts the clock on a tow truck. $120 tends to get people motivated to not linger in their illegal spots for very long.