An Uncomfortable Reality
The recent incident on The I-74 bridge brings to light several inescapable hard truths. People really do believe they can get away with anything and no matter how heinous, we still tend to side with motorists.
The first is hard to prove. I believe persons that just know they are going to get caught and possibly lose their lisc for speeding, sure as heck won’t assume they can get away with driving on a sidewalk!
The second is more obvious and potentially more dangerous. Within minutes of this crime being reported people were asking why anyone was walking at 2am. The inference being that it is their fault this, ‘harmless prank’ resulted in injury and death. The idea that anyone might exercise their freedom of movement in any other way than by automobile is beyond them (do you really want your freedoms restricted further?).
What if that motorist had decided to walk instead of driving drunk? What if those were servers returning from closing that bar your frequent? Worst of all, what if they chose to walk rather than endanger lives, but had driven instead? The fact is, there is a large and growing subculture that will never again be able to afford a safe or reliable automobile (do you want anything less motoring beside you on the interstate?). I’ll add that there are many more of us that just plain choose not to be saddled with automotive debt and maintenance. Because of this, you will be seeing more and more people walking, taking public transportation or riding bikes. E-bikes make each of these choices a great deal more viable.
We need to make room for these fellow citizens. We need to slow down, leave a bit earlier and drive with a great deal more caution. Passing a cyclist will not take even five seconds out of your day. Waiting to make a right on red, til a pedestrian crosses, will not take a minute and being first at the next stop light does not make you the reincarnation of Dale Earnhard.
More walkable communities tend to have higher sales tax revenues. The more relaxed pace encourages impulse shopping which is best for local businesses.
Live and let live. It costs you nothing. Every person that chooses alternative transport is that much less the gov’t has to spend ever expanding our roads. Every gallon of gas they do not waste makes those you buy that much cheaper. It helps your server, cashier, grocery worker … get by, making everything more affordable for you.