Everyday Systems

It makes me laugh how many people drive by as I am walking and give funny/crazy looks. Evidently its ok to run, ride a bike, or walk a dog. BUT.................. do not walk down the street without a dog/by yourself.

They don't know what they're missing!

yesterday i did a 90 min. walk/run combo. It felt good being outside for a while. My legs only feel a little tight today. Not too shabby.

I started watching Mad Men, and the episode I just wtched the neighborhood busy body is wondering why her neighbor "just walks"? If people walked more they'd stare less.

Nice work, Mattman. I salute your boldness. You are on the front lines of the urban ranger war against sloth. Cambridge MA is pretty much already conquered territory, so I do my rangering in relative safety from funny looks.

Reinhard

I get funny looks all the time. On last Monday, some guy in a car stopped, asking me whether I was hitch-hiking. I work in an industrial complex, and I walk everyday along a 55-mph road. (because there's barely anything else here. Everything is built on the assumption that you get from point A to point B with a vehicle)

When I was Urban Rangering (in the city), I once told one of my colleagues that I just came back from the city centre (~1.5 miles away) by foot and that I was feeling great. The answer was predictable "You should have told me! I live in the center and go home (by car) everyday". He had a funny look when I told him I did this on purpose.

I don't get funny looks. Walking is considered pretty normal where I live. In fact, our town is pushing to build some greenways (think really good walking paths on disused rail beds or in areas with lots of natural planting) between some of the residential and shopping centers. I'm so excited about it I could pop.

Here's a link to Ray Bradbury's story, "The Pedestrian," about a man considered suspicious because he walks alone in the city. Has a much more sinister feel. Worth the read, I think, after you finish your walk.

http://mikejmoran.typepad.com/files/ped ... bury-1.pdf

Walking may be weird, but not driving is downright wacko according to some folks! Like the bank manager who had to verify my signature from my government-issued health care card because I don't have a driver's license! He couldn't imagine how I get around. And he was dumbstruck when I told him I manage just fine with good shoes and a bus pass.

I see many recreational walkers in my neighbourhood, which is the downtown core of Montreal. We are all pretty entrenched in our respective walking routines. We wear unsexy sports sandals or sensible shoes, are mostly old enough to remember the Beatles, and we're pretty hardcore!

Rachelocity wrote:Walking may be weird, but not driving is downright wacko according to some folks! Like the bank manager who had to verify my signature from my government-issued health care card because I don't have a driver's license! He couldn't imagine how I get around. And he was dumbstruck when I told him I manage just fine with good shoes and a bus pass.

I see many recreational walkers in my neighbourhood, which is the downtown core of Montreal. We are all pretty entrenched in our respective walking routines. We wear unsexy sports sandals or sensible shoes, are mostly old enough to remember the Beatles, and we're pretty hardcore!

How do you handle the winter? I've been to Montreal a couple of times (awesome city, I love it) Once was in the summer and it was fine, but once was over New Year's and the sidewalks were solid ice. I'm guessing that they were not salted or sanded over the holidays.

I use Yaktrax, and it's easy to get around because they grip the slickest ice. I also am fortunate enough to live in an area where the snow removal is decent, and my janitor is anal about making sure that the entrance to my building is meticulously groomed.

I once went on vacation to South Carolina. I needed some cash so I went into a bank to get cash out of the machine. Their only bank machine was outside - a drive-through.
So I queued in between a sportscar and a truck. Imagine the drivers' looks!

Still one of my most amusing "walking memories".

Eschano -- Very funny/sad.

Would be a great scene in a "fast food nation" style documentary about our correspondingly destructive sedentary habits.

(any aspiring film makers out there?)

Reinhard

I try to walk at least 1/2 hour everyday. When walking I relax my mind and just enjoy the walk with its scenery.

While walking in my neighborhood, sometimes people in cars flag me down asking for directions. I hate it because the interruption takes me out of my "zone."

I developed a response. Whenever people in a car ask me for directions, I tell them "follow me." They always go away.

In my area you definitely qualify for funny looks when you go by bike when it's below zero degrees Celsius. Today it was about minus 10 degrees and it had been snowing the last couple of days - and some drivers went reaaally slow to have a look at me (and the weather was beautiful, no snow storm, the sun was shining). Okay, I was also wondering what it would be like going downhill (or uphill) on my bike...but all the major bicycle paths had been cleared.
Walking the children home from kindergarten (1.5 km) also leads to a confusion of thoughts here (Has your car broken down, the poor kids, you should have told me, I could have given them a lift - Mum, I think they're really poor they don't have a car) even in summer. And there's so much to discover on the way home, like a mini adventure. Oh well.

I have had the police stop me a couple of times and see if I needed a ride. Now they just shake there heads and wave.