More reasons to drive less

Additional reasons why we might all consider spending less time in our cars, or ridding ourselves of them all together, from Divorce your Car.


One who prefers to "hoof it"

A study by Donald Appleyard showed that as vehicle trips on a given street went up interaction between neighbors went down. 

A car dependent society doesn't allow our elderly to operate independently with safety.

Simply by sitting behind the driver's seat can turn otherwise charming people into scowling,quick-tempered road warriors.

"The modern sedentary lifestyle is a kind of toxic intervention... very much like a slow infection that gradually creates discomfort, disability, and finally, disease... The leading edge of that intervention was the automobile."  The "convenience" of cars reinforces our addiction to them; the less we leave them, the less we are able to do, as the sedentary lifestyles cars support allow our muscles and our motivation to atrophy. Distances once considered  walkable have shrunk  tremendously since the car literally swept us off our feet.

Divorce your car?!

As noted in a December blog, this year I plan to commit to being more contentious about saving fuel; be it by car pooling, riding my bike/walking or simply clustering travel for shopping needs and other errands when possible.

Yesterday I stifled the urge to drive to the grocery store to pick up ingredients needed for beef stroganoff. It was a cold Minnesota morning for the mile long hike to a Cub Foods store. It was just below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m pleased to report it turned out to be a nice walk in the sun and fresh air. I took my backpack to carry the groceries. It was my only real exercise of the day.

I've been reading the book "Divorce your car: Ending our love affair with the automobile", by Katie Alvord. I found at a used bookstore in Bayfield over the holiday. It is providing inspiration for me to be much more resistant about getting into the car for a drive. In addition to the numerous environmental problems caused by cars, the increasing gas prices are also making driving a much more costly means of transportation. A big upside to walking or biking is the physical and mental health that comes with exercising outdoors.  It might also be a whole lot safer.

While I'm not ready to fully divorce my car just yet, I'm working diligently on a separation.