I think it’s cultural, too. You might also notice that people drive up and down the parking lot at Walmart looking for a space just ten feet closer to the entrance. Getting out of the car and walking somewhere is anathema in places like Tx.
Yup. Although to be fair, the urban/suburban sprawl here is pretty wild. I’m in DFW suburbs and there is nothing walkable around me. Closest grocery store is a 6mile round trip with missing sidewalks and I’d probably consider anything within like 20-25 mins by car to be “close.” When you have to rely on your car so heavily, it’s no wonder that it doesn’t even occur to people there’s any other way.
That’s why I think car dependence is one of those rare issues that could still benefit greatly from simple awareness campaigns. Critics of anti-car folks say (not entirely unfairly) that all we do is complain and don’t do anything about it. Well, a lot of people still need these basic things pointed out to them. Simply having these conversations (and starting them with carbrained folks) is useful for the time being.
I think it’s cultural, too. You might also notice that people drive up and down the parking lot at Walmart looking for a space just ten feet closer to the entrance. Getting out of the car and walking somewhere is anathema in places like Tx.
Yup. Although to be fair, the urban/suburban sprawl here is pretty wild. I’m in DFW suburbs and there is nothing walkable around me. Closest grocery store is a 6mile round trip with missing sidewalks and I’d probably consider anything within like 20-25 mins by car to be “close.” When you have to rely on your car so heavily, it’s no wonder that it doesn’t even occur to people there’s any other way.
That’s why I think car dependence is one of those rare issues that could still benefit greatly from simple awareness campaigns. Critics of anti-car folks say (not entirely unfairly) that all we do is complain and don’t do anything about it. Well, a lot of people still need these basic things pointed out to them. Simply having these conversations (and starting them with carbrained folks) is useful for the time being.