Seeing posts like this makes me realise how lucky I am to have been born in a country with sane pedestrian infrastructure and generally safe environment.
I found it funny when I watched a video titled “10 most surprising things about Finland” and one of them was about how kids just walk about in the city, on their own. I was confused as to why that is so shocking but then I remembered that North America has sort of forgot about using legs as a mode of transport.
The US is a very large and varied place. There are places like you describe that still exist in the US. It would be like saying all of Europe is canals and bicycles because you saw a few photos of Amsterdam
North America has sort of forgot about using legs as a mode of transport.
If they remember to use them a moron in a lifted emotional-support-pickup-truck will break every bone in their body at the first intersection. And get away with it. North American city design is not just car-centric, it’s actively human-hostile. Giant stroads, no sidewalks, no bike lanes…
I was walking myself from an inner suburb to dowtnown of a mid sized town in the US, maybe 3 km or so. Except for the part of the highway bridge which was positively dangerous, it was a pleasant walk. Locals considered us as crazy lunatics and the only reason they probably did not send us to an asylum was because we were Europeans and they do that crazy stuff like walking all the time.
"Authorities said they would drop the charge against Patterson if she signs a safety plan that involves the use of a GPS tracker on her son’s phone but Patterson told ABC News she is refusing to sign it.
“I just felt like I couldn’t sign that and that in doing so, would be agreeing that there was something unsafe about my home or something unsafe about my parental decisions and I just don’t believe that,” Patterson said.
Patterson, who is currently out on bail, faces up to 1 year in jail with the reckless conduct charge."
America does not want children to exist, yet perpetually laments that children never go outside to play anymore.
and they lament that while not building playgrounds where young children can socialize and play, while destroying third spaces to hang out and socialize in for teenagers, and… most egregious of all, when they finally do go outside, calling the cops on them for a variety of made up reasons regardless of their age. Especially if their tan is a shade too dark.
Some time ago I picked up my 10 year old niece from the train station. She first walked 3km to a bus stop, then went 15km with the bus to the train station, then 180km to where I picked her up and drove to my parents. Only reason I picked her up was because she didn’t know what buses to use etc. After that, my mum showed her how the buses work and which ones to use etc so ever since that, she’s been doing the trip completely own her own.
For what it’s worth, that’s how my youth in New England was. I would walk/hitchike to the bus station, to catch a Greyhound to Boston, to then hop on the subway to head out of the city to Quincy, then walk or take the local bus to my cousin’s house to visit. Roughly 100km of travel, unaccompanied, starting around age 11-12. Everyone walked/bussed/subwayed around the city.
Yeah I know there is areas in the US that have decent infra for non-car people. Boston has been mentioned quite often. I know a guy who grew up in Boston, now lives in Detroit and he is cursing his life all the time because he is so dependent on his car. He said that he can get to work in 1 hour with car, over 4 hours with public trans. Blew my mind.
it helps you have functional public infrastructure.
America? Not so much. It can take hours to get somewhere outside of like new york or chicago, where it takes a care maybe 20-30 minutes to get to. and I know this for a fact, because I’ve tried to take the bus on numerous occasions, and found it to be faster to walk unless you luck out and happen to have your destination on the same bus route you got on with no transfers.
I remember the day before the first day of school, my mom walked me to and from the school so I would know the path, every other day I walked myself to school, across a railroad and several blocks.
At 10 I was allowed to bike to and from school ( school rule)
I was so salty when I lived 50m too close to the school and wasn’t “allowed” to bicycle to the school haha. After a couple of years, I realized that nobody is going to punish me, or care, if I used a bicycle.
I took a bike to school from age 6 onward in the USA in the 90’s. It was pretty normal, too, lots of my peers would ride their bikes in from ages 6-13. It’s really weird how quickly this shifted in the USA, IMO.
I was just talking to a coworker the other day because I want to move somewhere outside the city center. I don’t currently have a car, but would like to have one again. But I still want to find somewhere walkable to live because that to me is freedom.
Yeah I like to “troll” some of the car-centric people by saying that a bicycle/walking is the ultimate freedom. You don’t need a license for it, you aren’t relying on fuel stations, you can bicycle on the road, on the sidewalk, in the forest, on the lake shore, mountains… With a car your freedom is limited.
Seeing posts like this makes me realise how lucky I am to have been born in a country with sane pedestrian infrastructure and generally safe environment.
I found it funny when I watched a video titled “10 most surprising things about Finland” and one of them was about how kids just walk about in the city, on their own. I was confused as to why that is so shocking but then I remembered that North America has sort of forgot about using legs as a mode of transport.
The US is a very large and varied place. There are places like you describe that still exist in the US. It would be like saying all of Europe is canals and bicycles because you saw a few photos of Amsterdam
Of course. But its the exception, rather than the rule.
Much like I’m sure Europe has some cities where its extremely difficult to get around without a car.
If they remember to use them a moron in a lifted emotional-support-pickup-truck will break every bone in their body at the first intersection. And get away with it. North American city design is not just car-centric, it’s actively human-hostile. Giant stroads, no sidewalks, no bike lanes…
i regularly cross a dangerous intersection and have to veep my head on a swivel because the only thing between me and a huge suv or truck is a curb
I was walking myself from an inner suburb to dowtnown of a mid sized town in the US, maybe 3 km or so. Except for the part of the highway bridge which was positively dangerous, it was a pleasant walk. Locals considered us as crazy lunatics and the only reason they probably did not send us to an asylum was because we were Europeans and they do that crazy stuff like walking all the time.
Meanwhile in the US:
https://abcnews.com/GMA/Family/mom-arrested-after-son-reported-walking/story?id=115903965
This is completely crazy. Land of the free.
"Authorities said they would drop the charge against Patterson if she signs a safety plan that involves the use of a GPS tracker on her son’s phone but Patterson told ABC News she is refusing to sign it.
“I just felt like I couldn’t sign that and that in doing so, would be agreeing that there was something unsafe about my home or something unsafe about my parental decisions and I just don’t believe that,” Patterson said.
Patterson, who is currently out on bail, faces up to 1 year in jail with the reckless conduct charge."
America does not want children to exist, yet perpetually laments that children never go outside to play anymore.
and they lament that while not building playgrounds where young children can socialize and play, while destroying third spaces to hang out and socialize in for teenagers, and… most egregious of all, when they finally do go outside, calling the cops on them for a variety of made up reasons regardless of their age. Especially if their tan is a shade too dark.
lol.
Some time ago I picked up my 10 year old niece from the train station. She first walked 3km to a bus stop, then went 15km with the bus to the train station, then 180km to where I picked her up and drove to my parents. Only reason I picked her up was because she didn’t know what buses to use etc. After that, my mum showed her how the buses work and which ones to use etc so ever since that, she’s been doing the trip completely own her own.
For what it’s worth, that’s how my youth in New England was. I would walk/hitchike to the bus station, to catch a Greyhound to Boston, to then hop on the subway to head out of the city to Quincy, then walk or take the local bus to my cousin’s house to visit. Roughly 100km of travel, unaccompanied, starting around age 11-12. Everyone walked/bussed/subwayed around the city.
Yeah I know there is areas in the US that have decent infra for non-car people. Boston has been mentioned quite often. I know a guy who grew up in Boston, now lives in Detroit and he is cursing his life all the time because he is so dependent on his car. He said that he can get to work in 1 hour with car, over 4 hours with public trans. Blew my mind.
it helps you have functional public infrastructure.
America? Not so much. It can take hours to get somewhere outside of like new york or chicago, where it takes a care maybe 20-30 minutes to get to. and I know this for a fact, because I’ve tried to take the bus on numerous occasions, and found it to be faster to walk unless you luck out and happen to have your destination on the same bus route you got on with no transfers.
Yeah I know, like I said in my original comment, I realize I’m incredibly lucky to have been born here with all this available for me.
and I’m so glad for you, and totally not seething with green eyed jealousy <3
Theehee. I’ve said this many times to many people, if anyone wants to migrate, I’m willing to do a Finnish equivalent of a green-card marriage lol
do I get to be the big spoon?
Sounds like a good deal to me! In fact, I demand to be the small spoon.
you know what, if I dont have to walk for
3 miles4.828032km of a5 mile8.04672km bus ride, I’d take being the small spoonThere is a wonderful moment in back to the future 3 where doc gets drunk and starts describing the car-centric future to the people of the old west.
Old timer: why, does anyone still walk or run?
Doc Brown: only for recreation
Old timers: Run? For fun?
*nearly die of laughter*
I remember the day before the first day of school, my mom walked me to and from the school so I would know the path, every other day I walked myself to school, across a railroad and several blocks.
At 10 I was allowed to bike to and from school ( school rule)
Sweden is great
I was so salty when I lived 50m too close to the school and wasn’t “allowed” to bicycle to the school haha. After a couple of years, I realized that nobody is going to punish me, or care, if I used a bicycle.
I took a bike to school from age 6 onward in the USA in the 90’s. It was pretty normal, too, lots of my peers would ride their bikes in from ages 6-13. It’s really weird how quickly this shifted in the USA, IMO.
I was just talking to a coworker the other day because I want to move somewhere outside the city center. I don’t currently have a car, but would like to have one again. But I still want to find somewhere walkable to live because that to me is freedom.
Yeah I like to “troll” some of the car-centric people by saying that a bicycle/walking is the ultimate freedom. You don’t need a license for it, you aren’t relying on fuel stations, you can bicycle on the road, on the sidewalk, in the forest, on the lake shore, mountains… With a car your freedom is limited.
unfortunately some asshole politicians want to require insurance to ride a bike
Really? Who and where? lol
Sounds silly
new Jersey https://www.nj.gov/mvc/vehicletopics/ebike.htm
Haha, should have guessed it was America doing shenanigans again