I was listening to MPR this morning on my drive into work, like I do every morning. This is one of the perks of having a car again- MPR. Its one of the only places I get my news, or the opportunity to listen to interesting discussion. The topic du jour?
How Minnesotans love their cars.
Ouch.
The original topic was in reference to President Obama heading to Copenhagen next week to discuss cutting back on emissions. Of course that spawned the questions of "how will we cut back on emissions?" They said for Minnesotans specifically, they love their cars, and it will be hard to make lifestyle adjustments to meet the new requirements (ie. Carpooling, alternate transportation, etc). I started working downtown 4 years ago and as soon as I got my job, I knew I would take the bus, it was the most obvious choice. I live on a bus line, I work on a bus line, I'll take the bus to work. For a year, I did it without complaint or much issues, then one day, I had to drive. It was amazing. It cut my 45 minute commute to 15 minutes both ways. Driving to work could save me an hour a day? This seemed to good to be true. I traded in my bus pass for a parking pass, then my car broke and I didn't fix it for 6 months, so I was back on the bus. My car worked for a month before it broke beyond repair, and so back to the bus I went. No car = bike or bus. For another 2.5 years, I took the bus. To work, to school and then back home. When I came back to CL this summer, I figured I would take the bus again. That lasted 2 weeks...
If I had a job with set, standard hours, I would take the bus without any issues. I have a job where I show at the same time everyday and leave when I'm done- that's the fluctuating point. And the frustrating point. I've fallen in love with the freedom a car has to offer. I can run errands after work, I can leave when I'm ready, not when the bus is ready. I don't know how I'll cut back on my emissions, perhaps biking to work in the summer? Of course that hinges on the purchase of a new bike...
I would like to think I'm not at fault for global warming and do my part to cut back. But I'm not. I love my car and I'm not ready to give it back yet.
Deal with it.
2 comments:
I'm not a big bus fan but I do love public transportation when it's a train like the lite rail or the el in Chicago. I have long said I would gladly hand over my car in the city if I have unlimited access to public transportation. I survived 2 plus years in Chicago with no car and only el and bus and it went ok. Living out where I live, IMPOSSIBLE not to have a car. Unless I stayed home every day.
I agree- Until we have good public transportation, MNs will stick with their cars! Our system only works if you have to go downtown Mpls- during rush hour...
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