Long before the eco-friendly tsunami crashed over the US, and reusable shopping bags roamed the earth... Long before movie stars traded in their Bentleys for Priuses... Long before anyone ever questioned their carbon footprint... I decided not to drive. This was hardly a decision born of some sort of environmental precognition, or even the faintest early inklings of "earth friendliness". Simply, I don't like driving. I took driver's ed with the rest of the lot when I was 16, but somehow, it didn't stick. I was bad at it. It felt unnatural to me. I had nightmares where my car would flip over and burst into flames. I failed my driver's test, and I never went back.
Admittedly, over time I have become less afraid of driving, and at times even interested. I have held my permit no fewer than 6 times (I am shockingly good at the written test). But still, it just never happened for me. And thus, I became the perpetual walker.
Having lived a fulfilling and far from hermit-like life thus far with nothing but my legs for transit, I often wonder why more people aren't willing to give up their engine addiction. I realize that it would be harder for the driving public to go backward after having become accustomed to that luxury (and I assure you that it is a luxury). But, I wholeheartedly believe that it can still be (and in many cases should be) done.
Giving up the keys doesn't necessarily mean giving up your wanderlust. Buses, airplanes, taxis, and good friends are all potential escape hatches if you start to feel too confined living within a 5 mile radius. But, you do have to become more comfortable with the boundaries of a slower pace. No more 2 minute runs to the grocery store to pick up that thing you forgot, no laying on the gas to get to work a little faster, and no more spur of the moment trips to the mall that don't involve waiting for the bus. I find that most people have such a difficult time getting past what they perceive to be a "loss of freedom", that they can't see the benefits like the loss of car insurance (and excise tax, and registration fees, and inspection fees...), loss of weight, loss of parking tickets, and of course, loss of a need to stand in line at the DMV.
There are, I suppose, a few other issues to be considered:
2. Inclement Weather- Maine is cold for about 6 months out of the year. As a full-time walker, it is important to become somewhat weatherproof. This can be achieved with a combination regular weather monitoring, appropriate wardrobe, and a general attitude of "suck-it-up-itiveness". Of course, it doesn't hurt to have good friend on speed dial to pick you up when a freak monsoon or hurricane should make its way into town.
3. Footwear- Sorry stilettos, we're breaking up (Perhaps we can have the occasional dalliance on special occasions?). The good news is that there are, depending on how far you're going and the needs of your individual feet, a number of beautiful and fashionable flat shoes in the world. Or, if you need something more industrial, you can always put the cute shoes in your bag, and embrace the sneakers & pantyhose life of many a female commuter.
Although I have lived 31 fairly blissful carless years at this point, I don't necessarily think that the walking life is viable for everyone. Things get tougher when people have children, need to travel for work, or want to live in a rural area. That said, I do think that some of the car-free philosophy can be worked into to the lives of even the most lead footed car junkies with one very simple rule: If you can walk there, do. It will help relieve some of the daily impact on your body, your car, your budget, and your carbon footprint.
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