Jan 18 2009
How far do you go?
Take note of your travels in a given week. Most people go to and from a place of employment; they shop at the same grocery store, pick up and drop off clothes at the same cleaners, visit the same library branch, the same bank branch. If you’re driving, write down the odometer reading or use the tripometer that some cars hav
e.
How far do you travel, total, in a week? Would you be willing to walk to the closest destination once a week? Would you be willing to bike to anything within a mile? Because you’ve already done the winter maintenance on your bike or acquired one in the past couple of weeks, right? RIGHT? If your local weather is currently foul, as it is in much of the US right now, are you at least willing to set a goal of doing the above when it’s feasible? These quieter winter days are an excellent time to start gathering thing information and tools you’ll need to meet those goals once the weather breaks…which it will. It always does.
Self reliant transportation starts with Shank’s ponies; the next step up is employing that great invention the wheel. Beyond that is a wheel or animal that carries you and the level past that is motorized travel and perhaps the next level would be cooperative travel—car pooling, city buses, Amtrak. Practicing all forms not only eases up the pressure on your pocket book, it’s good for your body, your mind and the planet.
