That’d be difficult for most people. But that’s what I just did. Granted, I was in big cities with good public transport systems, first traveling on business in NYC, SF, and DC; then when I returned home to Chicago, I put my car in the shop for a transmission overhaul. “Three or four days” they promised me – but it took two weeks! Anyway, for a month I’ve been walking and on public transport.
Thank God it’s summer. I often take the train or bus downtown, then walk 1/2 mile – 1 mile to my ultimate destination. It’s amazing how differently you see the world when walking; I noticed things I’d missed before. On many days, I’ve ended up walking 4-5 miles even though I wasn’t intentionally trying to get exercise. And I lost a couple of lbs, even though I’m no longer trying to lose weight.
In DC, I even got to use their bikeshare program.
- DC bikeshare; Jefferson Monument
- NYC Riverside Park
- Williamsburg, B’klyn NY Smorgasburg
- Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain
- Ferry Bldg, San Francisco
- Apparel Mart, Chicago
- duSable Museum Jazz, Chicagp
- Lakeshore bike path, Chicago
- Wrigley Bldg, Chicago
- Lakeshore bike path, Chicago Loop
- Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain; Loop (downtown)
- Kayakers on the Chicago River; downtown
We know that driving long commutes make people unhappy and more likely to be obese.
The real question is, do you need to drive as much as you do now?