Just Keep Walking
When my sister and I were little girls mum often used to take us to the shops or the park, this was when we lived in England. We always walked. We didn’t own a car and although we occasionally used the bus more often than not mum would walk taking our big pram, or later on a pushchair for Naomi which I would ride on if my feet got too tired.
I guess because of this we didn’t find it a problem to get around on foot. We walked to school, with mum and later alone or perhaps with friends. If we wanted to go to the shops we walked too. Later, when we were a little older and living in Elizabeth, South Australia we also walked to the library or to the railway station to catch a train to Adelaide. We thought nothing of it, nor did it bother us to walk home again afterwards. I remember that our cousins would often call their parents to come and pick them up from the station and we would wonder what the fuss was about. It only took about twenty minutes.
All that walking came in handy when as an adult I was working at the Adelaide Station myself. There was a lot of walking involved going through each train picking up rubbish.
I think walking is a great way to get to know a place. When you are on foot you see a lot more. The first summer I lived in Tasmania I often had to wait an hour or more for a bus home from work. I used the time to explore the various streets of the Hobart CBD.
My feet and ankles get sore now if I have to walk too fast, especially in hot weather but I still enjoy a walk in the park or by the river.
Our Other Blog: Two Sisters and Two Points of View 
Lovely post. It reminds me of my childhood too. We walked everywhere since we were a one car family and Dad took it to work.
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We, too, were a one car family for many years, and my father worked odd hours. The closest bus was a mile away, so I did a lot of walking growing up. I still walk regularly, and have always liked to walk. Usually only not wanting to walk in ice or a lot of snow nowadays because I don’t want to break a bone. Walking is excellent exercise for everybody of all ages.
But that tunnel in your picture looks kind of scary. I hope that you didn’t have to walk home that way. It looks pretty desolate.
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It’s funny you should say that because I was scared of that tunnel as a small child. Not because of the tunnel itself but because I was always afraid a train would fall on my head. It was on our route to the park and the main shops in Romford.
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I wouldn’t be too afraid of the train falling on my head, but it looks like the type of place where someone could jump out from around a corner and grab you. I wouldn’t want to be walking through there at dark. A spooky looking place!
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I don’t know what it is like now but when I used to use it it was always daytime and I was with mum so I never worried about bad people.
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Yes, going with your mother would always be safer. Glad you don’t have to walk it today.
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I don’t think I would be doing it at night these days.
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I’m still the same. I have no car and I don’t want one. I’m living cheaper without that stuff. I definitely see the benefits of owning a car, like getting around easily… but still, the yearly costs, I’d rather throw the money somewhere else. And that’s what I do. I mean, I see with my friends how their monthly and yearly costs add up… it’s petrol, insurance, car repair, regularly a new car if it can’t go through inspection anymore or if costs of repair are higher than a second-hand car and so on (which seems to be a regular occurance since nobody can afford a new car in my circles, and the used ones break every one or two years). I don’t want to be that dependent. That’s a life choice I made, one that many can’t understand. But I am fine without a car. And I think the nature thanks me as well, I guess (laugh).
This is of course possible in our small city, because it’s easy to reach every place. Certain walks can take hours too,if you need to get to the other side or a bit more outside. But that doesn’t happen too often… well ok, for me it does because I like walking anyway (photography and so). But it’s not like I am forced to do that often. It’s voluntary anyway. And I like walking, so it’s all fine.
I am not alone, I know another dude who thinks the same. I see him once in a while when I go shopping and he’s doing all that by foot too. We had this talk a few times and once said to me “See it this way, we stay fit”. I hope so, at least it is healthier than using the car for everything. I do understand why people want a car, but some of my friends use their car in situations where the walk would just be 20 minutes. We are usually honest with each other, and respectful. We tell each other our opinions. I once said “Using the car when the walk would just be like 10 or 20 minutes, that appears a bit unnecessary to me”. They even agree with that, but I understand, once you have a car, the temptation is probably big to do things the easy way.
I like to do things by foot, as long as I still can. Not just related to hobbies like hiking, photography or running. Also the daily tasks like going shopping. I meet people on my way, I am on the move everyday, I can breathe fresh air every day. I just like that. But talking about strangers, my experience is that it’s socially stigmatized. You’ve seen as not independent if you don’t have a car… which is ironic, because as said, I am feeling pretty independent without.
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If you live in a place where shops and services are in walking distance or there is good public transport it’s pretty easy to manage without a car. It’s a little harder in Australia, especially in the country. Distances are greater and public transport not so good. Nevertheless I manage and as I have a small income at least I don’t have the expense of a car to worry about. The main reasons I would like to have access to a car at times is to be independent as I dislike having to ask people to take me places such as to the vet or kennels with the pets and it would be nice to visit places that I’d like to see as you can’t rely on others for that either. Over the years many people have told me that I should learn to drive . When I am asked for ID the driver’s licence is always the first thing that is asked for too.
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Yeah, it’s generally possible in German cities. It’s even easier in Hamburg than Lübeck because of their subway and suburban train network. So, yeah, it’s not just the size of the city but also how well public transport works. When I’ve been in Reinfeld, my opinion almost changed… not far away from Lübeck but too far away to walk. Over a longer period I would have needed a car. You don’t get everything there. Instead I used the train quite a bit during that time, and sometimes friends or family members helped us with their car. I can imagine that Australia is a completely different case and that a car is even more important there.
I know what you mean. There have been quite a few situations where I wish I would have had a car too. Also, I would be more flexible with jobs. Now I can just take what is in our city… it’s ok, but with a car I could be a lot more picky… some really cool jobs outside, and it’s known that some companies just don’t get workers because not everyone likes commuting. Those that are fine with it usually have a nice, and especially greater choice of jobs. And these companies are less picky too, because they desperately need workers. Here in the city they’re usually super picky due to the high demand.
But I still had no issue to work in Hamburg in the past, for example… it was usually 40 minutes train ride and if the company paid my monthly pass, I was fine with the 80 extra minutes per day. So, depending on the company, even that was possible without a car.
I guess commuting in Australia is another story 😀
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