I live in an ideal part of the suburbs. I’m close to my work, school, the swimming pool, the grocery store, etc.,. In many instances, the scooter is more consistently faster than driving and finding parking.
Commute times (door to door):
: Work : School : Grocery : Swimming Pool
Walk : 40 min : 15 min : 25 min : 15 min
Bike : 15-20 : 5-10 : 15 min : 5 min
Scooter: 10-15 : 5 min : 10 min : 3 min
Car : 5-10 : 5-10 : 5-10 : 5 min
My problem is, I really need to make changes in life, like go to the swimming pool more often even in winter; get a better job which will be farther away. I think I’m putting these off because I don’t want to drive.
All of these will be easier if I just embrace driving my car more. I can take groceries more easily. I can carry more swim equipment and I won’t get so cold coming home from the pool. But I don’t like driving because I feel like I’m a greater danger to myself and others, even though I’m a pretty careful driver.
Do any of you face similar challenges; do you just drive when it makes the most sense to drive?
Sounds like, I’m in a fairly ideal suburb for everything I need but the distances can be far for things I want
My biggest mental shift was instead of “driving if it makes sense to drive” to “driving if it doesn’t make sense to walk/bike/transit.”
Basically I look at all other methods of transit/destinations first; then drive only if required.
Biggest example: I usually take the bike and trailer to drop my kid off at daycare on the way to work. Weather hasn’t stopped me yet; but if the school busses are canceled, I will drive because there’s a marked increase in more drivers paying less attention on the roads I must take. If I had separated bike facilities I could still bike.