When I was car-free in DC earlier this month, it was amazing to me that I walked consistently 4-5 miles a day. Now back home in Maine I’m paying attention and often matching that. But the functional walks are often less safe or pleasant (on the shoulder of a busy road). And the days I log big miles without noticing are the days I had to shop a big-box store I did not know well.
We experienced a similar effect when we had a fire and had to move out of our house in downtown Brunswick to a friend's house on Harpswell neck. We found ourselves trapped there unless we drove in a car -- it just didn't feel safe to walk 45 minutes along a busy road with no shoulder or sidewalk. It's a shame -- with a footpath or bike path it would be a lovely place to walk or cycle.
When I was car-free in DC earlier this month, it was amazing to me that I walked consistently 4-5 miles a day. Now back home in Maine I’m paying attention and often matching that. But the functional walks are often less safe or pleasant (on the shoulder of a busy road). And the days I log big miles without noticing are the days I had to shop a big-box store I did not know well.
We experienced a similar effect when we had a fire and had to move out of our house in downtown Brunswick to a friend's house on Harpswell neck. We found ourselves trapped there unless we drove in a car -- it just didn't feel safe to walk 45 minutes along a busy road with no shoulder or sidewalk. It's a shame -- with a footpath or bike path it would be a lovely place to walk or cycle.