During my high school and college years, I got really into urban design. I guess that sounds like a really weird hobby for a teenager, but I just couldn't get enough Jane Jacobs. Let's backpedal a bit though (bicycle pun intended), as this interest didn't develop in a vacuum.
I grew up in the suburbs and went to a French Immersion school, which meant I had to get to school by bus. If I wanted to see my friends outside of school hours, my parents would have to drive me to their house and pick me up afterwards. I couldn't just stay after school to play on the playground, as I would miss my bus home. All of this meant that I didn't get to socialize much outside of school, and that my life was extremely car dependent. This forever changed the way I think about community, cities, and commuting. Urban design fascinates me because as an adult I am determined to avoid the loneliness and loss of time and money that comes with car dependence. I have designed my life so that I can bike or take the train to work, and I live within biking/walking distance of most of my friends, as well as basic amenities, such as a grocery store and pharmacy. Most people will say this isn't possible in many cities in North America. I have lived in three Canadian cities, and it has been possible in all three - of course, with some sacrifices. Yes, we live in a small place. Yes, sometimes we hear traffic and see other humans, some of whom are pretty weird, and yes, we have a long way to go to make our cities more human-friendly. But here's what we have gained: Time: With a commute that is, in worst conditions, 15 minutes, we have lots of time together. Compare this to a 45 minute drive to work (which usually stretches to over an hour with traffic, construction and weather - the Canadian trifecta). Money: By being able to bike to work, we save thousands on gas, transit, and car maintenance. Safety: We bike mainly on protected bike lanes, and take the train when the weather is bad. The less you drive, the less likely you are to get in to a car accident. Fitness: Biking helps keep you fit, and bicycle commuters have far lower rates of mortality than car commuters. We also live a 10 minute walk from one of our city's world-class gyms, and use some of that extra time saved to attend fitness classes and workout. Stress: There's a reason car commercials show a professional driver on an open road. Because no one, even car lovers, enjoys bumper-to-bumper traffic. Community: We can easily bike to downtown festivals and walk to see friends and family.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Just the honest truth.Archives
May 2019
Categories |