What would have to change for you to be a pedestrian?

Shouldn't it be the goal of every progressive being
to produce no obnoxious emmissions?

so your decoupling noxious emissions from pedestrian activity is, in point of fact, erroneous. :-)

however, the noxious emissions you produce are but a mere fraction
of the deadly emmissions from the profusion of internal combustion
mechanisms that overide our fresh air.
:silly:

Say that 'King' bit again, wouldja? :D

New Dude.

:crazy:

I'll have you know, Gump INVENTED the lounge (except for those other people who really did invent it).

And all of a sudden you draw a line between "obnoxious" emmisions and "deadly" emissions? No fair changing the horses in midstream.

:D

Next I'm going to get to work on inventing the Internets.

And yeah, we want and admission that changing definitions of emissions, without permissions, was quite an omission in the internal logic of this thread.

There is some public transport here, but it's not enough. The closest grocery store, for example, is 3 miles away. 6 miles, carrying groceries is doable, but not pleasant. Especially when it's 100 in the shade.

So, unless this area becomes more of a neighborhood, or until I move to such a place, I'm stuck having to rely on my personal vehicle.

And, I think it should be our goal to reduce our noxious emissions as much as possible. There is no way to fully participate in modern society while producing ZERO emissions. At least I don't think there is.

I can only say, the internal combustion propulsion
unit is the work of the devil.

I hope you are able to soon throw off the shackles of
the petro monopoly.

As it stands for me, there's simply no way to go to and from work in any sort of reasonable way without an automobile. A reliable, state- or nation-wide system of public transportation would help, but I don't know how that would work.

I hope you will do your best to work towards
a place that you are able to walk to work.

I was car-free for ages, but people around here drive like maniacs and road rash sucks.

Transit that gets somewhere in a hurry without the smelly drunken creeps would be a nice thing, too.

I hate having to have a car and I'd rather not deal with the expense. I'd sell the damned thing tomorrow if I could.

from my work.
I hope you will soon find a closer commute.

The problem is that I have to go downtown to get a decent selection of food I can eat between my veganism and my innumerable allergies. I can't move closer to the store, my job is here.

I do try to do as much of my local errands as I can by foot or on bike (I have a nice very trailer for LeftyKid) but the weather here isn't always cooperative for that and as a single working mother I'm pressed for time.

A little apt or townhouse somewhere in Vienna, Salzburg, Prague, ... maybe Paris.

I could walk to get groceries or just window shop. I could take the subway or the tram anywhere else in the city I'd want to go.

I'm series here. It's HUGH.

I have all that here in my city.

You don't need to go to Europe to find a city.

I knew somebody was going to make that joke! And of course, it had to be you, FG! :D

I still can't imagine Tucson with one of these:

.....predictable. :-(

I'll be okay soon. Really.

But, yeah, I think you're right. The West, in general, is perhaps even less interested in mass transit than most of the rest of the urbanized United States. Some cities do it well, but I don't think anything in this country matches some of the systems like those in Yankee climes (and DC). Most other nations that I'm familiar with have far better systems, and it doesn't help that Americans overwhelmingly tend to be averse to walking -- again, I seem to notice that aversion more in the West than elsewhere (driving 30 minutes on the freeway to a walking track aside, of course).

I walked all over Tucson, but the heat almost did me in even though I was only 20 the first time I visited. I like Tucson a lot. But it's a big enough city now, with typical Western sprawl increasing, that I'm sure it's unrealistic for many to get around on foot or even on a bicycle. I don't know what the bus system's like there these days, but even walking to the bus stop and waiting for the bus could be risky for some of the growing numbers of more mature folks thereabouts and others who are not not esecially mobile or able to stand extremes of climatic exposure.

was too much for you.
I don't agree with your assertion that it is
"unrealistic for many to get around on foot or even on a bicycle."
I find this desert city to be easy for a huminoid to prosper.

At least if you happen to live in the newer suburbs and work far from them.

It was hot, all right, but the real reason I came perilously close to heat exhaustion was that I set off with no particular destination and just walked for much of the day, periodically running out of liquid replenishment and having to wait 'til I reached a store to replace it.

I live in the desert now, and have before, and manage okay even when I am trundling around in mid-summer dressed head to toe in black leather (I have no car -- if I don't walk, I ride my motorcycle, and I'd rather perpetually be on the verge of heat prostration than ride without full protection), but I am somewhat used to working and living in hot climates, tropically humid as well as arid, and I sure wouldn't recommend perambulation in such conditions to everyone. Not every person has the physical ability or state of health necessary to stroll even a few miles in desert heat...the millions of Americans with heart disease spring immediately to mind, as do those with musculoskeletal impairments of one kind of another. Even for people without physical issues, dehydration can be a real killer, and the desert sneaks up on people not well wise to its ways because they never feel themselves losing the water.

The smells that enamate from a Subway are not always pleasant.

I am able to transit Tucson without
indivudual exhaust devices.

There is an underground that thrives here in the
Baked Apple.

about what Tucson is about.

:hi:

I can't walk very far, a couple of blocks at the most.

Prior to it, however, the vast majority of my travels were on public transportation.

I hadn't thought of the difficulties others might have.
:blush:
I am only trying to encourage others to give up petro-based
indulgence.

:hug:

I, too, wish we could lessen our dependence on the filthy stuff. :hi:

So I would have the luxury of a 1 1/2 hour commute two times a day? A longer weekend so I could get everything done that I need to without driving? We are all deprived of time!

I drive a small, fuel-efficient car.

And the nurses said farting was good for me after my colonoscopy. In fact, they insisted.

Edited to add smartass last word. The nurses really did say that!

Do I get some kind of ribbon or something?

:D

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

in town; I would feel guilty if I drove the 1/2 mile to the Post Office instead of walking or riding the bike.

Redstone

I grew up on my parents prairie farm.

I learned how to work in my father's fields and my mother's home.

It was a short walk to my chores, and I often regress to
the simpler times.

Wake, work eat, sleep.

:-) I am already exclusively a pedestrian/bus rider.

I know that it is not possible for everyone;
I'm glad to meet someone that is able to do without
the indulgence that the auto represents.

:thumbsup: :hi:

If I lived in an area that was designed to be more pedestrian-friendly, I certainly would. There are a few things that are within walking distance (a post office, a small grocery store, a convenience store, a library), but everything else that I need is 5-10 miles away and that's too far for me to walk on a regular basis.

Also, when my kids get a little older, I'm sure I'll do more walking. My kids are 3, 5 and 8, and if I have to walk any significant distance one or more of them whines that they can't walk any more (usually the youngest one) and I end up carrying them.

I like beans.

But they do sometimes produce obnoxious emmissions.

And as to your first question, I will never be totally pedestrian because I cannot produce or procure the things I need within walking distance of my home.

you must cease consumption of those vegs. :pinch nose:

It's terribly painful for me to walk very much. I have five degenerated discs, one that is bulging, a neurological disorder called Meralgia Paresthetica (brought on by the back problems), spinal stenosis and two torn ligaments in my ankle. Walking or even riding a bike is not an option for me.

I have some physical problems in some of the same body areas. Not good. I drive.

I live 15-20 miles from the nearest town, 60 to the next city.

reduce your miles.

so you may be right.

N/T

When I moved to Minneapolis, I purposely chose a neighborhood that was in walking distance of all the essentials.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to be car-free here, as it was in Portland, but I fill the tank on my old car (my mother and stepfather's "extra" car) no more than once a month.

What's needed to encourage alternatives to the automobile is building patterns that don't assume that everyone is in a car. For example, two strip malls, side by side, with a chain link fence between the two of them. If you work in one, you can't go to lunch in the other without driving. Or a bus stop by the side of a busy highway with no way to cross the street if you want to go in the other direction. Where's the sense in that?

People get so used to these stupid buliding patterns that they don't even notice them anymore, and they become "car potatoes," who can't conceive of walking outdoors farther than the distance from the front door to the curb.

automobiles.
I'm just trying to encourage folks to give up autos
whenever possible.

Your paragraphs are eloquent.

Thanks.

:thumbsup:

I understand the difficulty of being a ped. in the
Far North.

I hope it never gets 'that warm.'

and actually even after it started getting colder -- we just bundled up really good -- but it's really hard to walk around once there's a lot of snow on the ground, at least until it gets packed down some.

But I'm here in the desert and not willing to go cold.
I have enjoyed the photos you have posted.
:hi: :thumbsup:

Did you read in the PhotoGroup that my sweet husband just got me a Canon D20 with 10-20 mm, 18-75 mm and 70-300 mm lenses and a bunch of other cool stuff to go with it? Of course, ever since the camera arrived on Tuesday, it's been all about the ice fog and snow so I haven't even been able to get out and take any shots to speak of, but I am so-o-o-o excited and can't wait to get out and start shooting. In the meantime, here's a picture of Anchorage I took yesterday, clouds be damned... NOT a black-and-white photo, by the way.

that luxury.

I do remember you photo of the glacier.
I think it was my vote in the 'strength' contest.

This photo of Anchorage give me the chills.
:scared:


Where are my slippers?

and I don't know how I'll ever be able to pay him back. He says just seeing me so happy is reward enough. I don't know how I got so lucky.

Where I am now I have no public transport, and both of my jobs are at least 15 miles away. Hopefully wherever I end up settling when I move early next year will be better.

I hope your settling will get you
close enough to commute by foot.

:boots-made-for-walkin:

I need the exercise, and I'd love to get off the petroleum teat to the fullest extent possible.

I make are from chilli and burbon.

Well bourbon or good stuff?

Being that I live in the suburbs and work in the suburbs in Chicago, public transportation SUCKS and theres no way im walking 5 miles to work in winter. In addition I like to visit my parents and my sister and niece who live 7 miles away in the suburbs. In addition, real estate prices are CRAZY and Im lucky to live as close to work as I do.

America was designed for a car culture over 50 years ago. The whole suburbs system would have to be scrapped.

Only three more posts, and you escape from the 700 Club!

You can do it!

Good to see you tonight......

I cannot be a pedestrian here....everything is so spread out, and our public transportation is a freaking joke......

When I have to go into downtown LA for jury duty, however, I do take the light rail we have.....

It is slow, but I don't have to worry about parking! Plus it's cheap...

:loveya: :hug: