Last month, James and I spent a weekend in Chicago. We took a train into the city and walked a majority of the time or enjoyed a free shuttle bus. I am quite sure I walked more in that weekend than any two days of my entire life.
This week, I took my car to the dealership and walked to the mall. I estimate the walk to be half a mile, maybe less. This was a mere hop, skip, and a jump compared to the epic voyage that was Chicago (did I mention we walked the two miles from the train station to the hotel? while dragging my luggage?). Conditions were approximately the same: windy, chilly but above freezing, and partly sunny. This would be easy!
HA! Chicago is made for walking, while this “quaint” little suburb of Grand Rapids was a nightmare. Sidewalks on only one side of the road. Snow piled up in the crosswalks. Crosswalk signals that ignored my requests. Motorists that did not yield. I am lucky indeed to still have both of my feet.
Then there was the mall, which had no sidewalks at all. A steady stream of post-holiday traffic flowed in front, where not a single kind-hearted driver allowed me to cross. After risking life and limb, the parking lot was no better. Cars swerved in and out of the yellow lines with gusto, barely noticing other vehicles, let alone a weary pedestrian. I clung for dear life to a tree on a snow-covered parking lot island. I am fortunate that I lived to tell my tale.
Above: My feet, clad in fuzzy slippers, recuperate after today’s ordeal. They may never be the same. The ony thing I can offer them now is a bath and cute footwear.
Okay, perhaps I exaggerate (slightly) for effect. But, let the truth be told that it was not a foot-traffic-friendly facility. Now, far be it for me to speak for the city planning commission, but if we are going to encourage people to walk instead of drive, perhaps we should give them a pathway to do so?
This experience, in a neat little nutshell, is exactly what is bogging down the green movement in Grand Rapids. The infrastructure is not conducive to mass transit, carpools, and trekking on foot. There are no subways or monorails or bus routes to my city. The only people in town who ride a bus are those attending school, ironically the only ones living within walking distance of their destination.
While I do appreciate a good round of irony, I must say my sore feet and I are feeling just a little Bitter today.
By the way, Little-Miss-SUV who swung like a madwoman into the parking space closest to the door, for someone with a sports utility vehicle, you sure don’t like to hike.
