My hubby started a new job on March 5. His office is in the next city and the bus connections leave something to be desired. So we bought a car. Insuring it turned out to be a big hassle and very expensive but we got it sorted. Now we got the car … and don’t drive it. Noticed that the weather has been terribly awesome recently? That’s why. My hubby is not allowed to drive on his own yet so I would have to go with him and then go to my workplace, back in the city we live in. For me, it’s much easier though to cycle to work, 20 min on a trail that avoids traffic lights and cars. I love it. Taking the car does not get me to the office any faster even though I only have to turn twice! There’s like 2 dozen traffic lights on the way and an avalanche of cars at rush hour. My husband figured that walking 15 min, taking the Express Bus and walking for another 15 minutes is, without a car, the fastest way for him to get to work. And in good weather it’s no big deal. I am terribly disappointed again anyway. I thought with the weather people would leave their cars and cycle instead. Forget about it! Not here. People have it hammered into their brain that they can’t go places without a car. A bicycle is not considered a mode of transportation but merely a sports article that needs to be driven (not ridden) to the park and then one can circle around the park for a bit. What a waste of energy. Where I come from we use bikes to run errands, commute to work and visit friends in our town or city. I love my bike even though it’s a crappy one. I wished I was not such a lonely cyclist. I miss home.
So we did drive the car last weekend to get out of town. We drove from Kitchener to Guelph Lake Conservation Area. I am disappointed again. Sure, putting a fence around a piece of countryside and calling it conservation area will prevent it from having houses built on top of it. Great! Suburbia really does not need more spreading. But, building a road right through it and having lots of camping spots along it does not necessarily protect the land or wildlife. In fact, this land is heavily used (and probably polluted to a certain degree) every summer. Call it a campground then, which also justifies the entrance fees. I am not a fan of having to pay for a picnic spot or a walk in the park. I said to my husband, let’s go and visit conservation areas outside the season. At least our daughter can roam around freely without us having to watch for vehicles and protect her from being run over. Don’t get me wrong though, we rather give money to Parks Canada (although now that they approved that Brewster theme park nonsense I like them less) or other nature conservation efforts and organisation than any other cause. And, after all we might have to pay the fee just so we can swim in a lake in summer, since most of the lakes around here seem to be part of a conservation area. Sigh.
I come back to the evilness of cars ... and litter ... and lack of community spirit.
