Less Driving, More Walking!

I was interested to see this article, entitled "The End of Car Culture?" While the data suggesting that Americans are gaining more weight alarms us all, we can at least be excited that Americans are apparently driving less and less.

This is exciting to me for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to my extreme dislike of driving in general. I only just got my driver's license this past fall— in fact, I managed to rearrange two coming-of-age benchmarks in my life, as I actually got married before I learned to drive. Even now, I hate being behind the wheel of a car— it makes me sweat and shake just thinking about it. I've actually had nightmares about driving. In fact, yesterday and today I had to drive myself around, since my husband was out of town, and I ended up invoking Jesus' name in a pathetic plea for my life at least twice while driving to my mother's house to return a carpet cleaner. Seriously, I thought I was going to die. Today, I was so nervous about driving myself to work that my grandparents-in-law (with whom we are staying for about three days until we go down to Florida) finally just drove me there so I wouldn't stress so badly.

I also hate to drive because I feel silly doing it. I'm always looking for ways to incorporate physical activity into my day, and I'm always looking for ways to be eco-conscious— so why would I drive more than I have to? I'd rather walk to the store and enjoy the day, or take my bike to the library and get some fresh air. (Although when I do that, I frequently get hit on by high school football players, who seem to mistake me for a sixteen-year-old ingénue instead of a twenty-four-year-old preacher's wife.) I suppose it's easier for me than for most people, though— growing up, my mother didn't drive, so she made me walk EVERYWHERE, and now I'm used to it.

So the fact that people are driving less is great for me, because maybe this'll mean that public transportation will be important to more and more people. One of the things I've missed here is public transportation— and I know that a subway or light rail system probably isn't possible in a place like this, but why couldn't we have buses that run on actual schedules?

Ever since last summer, I've noticed more and more people on bicycles. Before that, I only ever saw children riding bikes; now I see people of all ages riding them, and not just in the park— they ride to the store, or to the hair salon, or sometimes even to work. And while I know that's not possible in these frigid Ohio winters, it's still nice to see people making an effort in the summer months.

So hats off to you, America! Thanks for driving less. I sure do appreciate it.