What Is Your California Dream?

Does the California dream have to involve having a certain house, a certain social status, or a certain car. I do not think so. There is enjoyment to be found in walking and bicycling for transportation, and I have finally reached the point where I am not afraid to say so.

Hiking In Southern California

Yesterday I went on a hike, which is a great way to get exercise in. You do not have to be a pedestrian to enjoy hiking in Southern California.

Cinco de Mayo Walking Memory

I forgot to post this Cinco de Mayo walking memory, but I created a video about it yesterday for your viewing pleasure.

Pedestrians And Bicyclists Should Just Stay In The Park

Pedestrians and bicyclists should get off the road and stay in the park. According to one jokester, that is.

I do believe we need some rules of the road for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Of course people break those rules, but there need to be some guidelines to keep people in their own lane so to speak. Beyond that we need more courtesy for all people, and that includes drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

I am not a fan of bicyclists or pedestrians who pull in front of drivers, or who are not aware of their environment, but there is another segment of the population who irk me a bit more. It is the drivers who say they are joking, but who say things like:

"Pedestrians and bicyclists should stay in the park."

So as much as you may say you are joking when you make comments like that, there seems to be a bit of truth to the joke. I often hear drivers complain about how they do not like bicyclists clogging up the street. As if only drivers have the right to be there.

I have even heard drivers say things about how they want elderly people to cross the street faster. I am the worst driver in the world, but the one thing that bothered me when I was learning how to drive was my driving instructor complaining an elderly lady was not crossing the street fast enough. I have had people honk at me for not crossing fast enough, and call me the b word if I do not make it across the street in one second. This might be a minority of people you say, but it seems the inclination to road rage increases when people get behind the wheel.  Bicyclists and pedestrians have to leave earlier to get to their location, but people in cars seem to think the laws of time do not always apply to them. Okay so you left late, but that does not mean you get to scare the bejeebees out of someone crossing on the walking light by taking your right hand turn as they are crossing.

Being a jokester and poking at a person who shares an alternative mode of transportation does not make you cool. To me it just sounds like the standard commentary of people who think that anyone who does not want to drive is an outcast.

Then again, the need to poke at someone says a lot more about you than anyone else. The most witty people with the best sense of humor do not usually have to prod others. They are not constantly making cheap shot jokes. It is not an endearing quality, but I realize the people who need to do that must be looking for some sort of validation.

The way people drive can be improved by simply displaying a bit of common courtesy. A lot of people do not want to drive for a good reason, and we do not contain our activities for simply going to the park.

I actually would rather go hiking on a nature trail when I do have free time, and not spend it in a park.

The Palm Tree

Today on my bike ride home I stopped to admire the little palm tree.

Why I Do Not Drive

Today I spotted some beautiful trees and other sights during my walk.

These are things I might notice if I were driving all the time. I am not the best driver in the world, which is the reason I sort of stopped trying to do it. Honestly, I never had an interest in owning a certain type of car, or even felt excited about driving. Thus, walking everywhere that was close-by just became practical for me. In 2013 I started riding a bike again, which cut down on my commutes, and also upped my fitness level. If you are someone who does not want to drive and is tired of people telling you that it is an essential thing to do, I created a vlog about this subject. I realize the majority of people want to drive in America, and I have no desire to tell anyone not to. On the same token, it is pretty disconcerting how people who drive do not show the same difference towards people who might prefer biking and walking.

Are Kids Being Told Not To Walk?

I have not been following the news closely as of late, but this morning an over the top story caught my attention.  Two parents are being criticized for allowing their responsible ten year old son to walk a mile to and from the park with his six year old sister, and I just that is a bit on the ridiculous side.  I am not saying all ten year old kids are capable enough to do that, but I used to do the same thing when I was a kid.  Of course it was a different time, and I grew up in the mountains, but now it seems if you are under the age of eighteen you cannot be left unsupervised, ever.  Maybe that is an exaggeration, but that seems to be the way things are headed. 

It is not as if these kids were left for eight hours in a public place, they just went to and from the park to play.  I know what that was like as a kid, and I can imagine they did not spend long there.  Too bad these seemingly good parents are being scrutinized by allowing their kids to get a bit of fun and exercise, and I am glad I do not have kids because it seems like a lot of things I did when I was younger are no longer allowed.

What also disconcerts me about this story is it is pretty much sending the message kids are not supposed to walk.  We continuously hear about how kids are more sedentary than thirty years ago, and they should go outside and play more.  Are parents going to want to let their kids go outside and play when they hear stories like this?

Also, when is there an appropriate time these days for a kid to learn certain crucial life skills, like how to cross the street on a traffic light?  That probably sounds like a mundane task to most people, but there are some eighteen year olds who do not know how to take a bus, or cross the road on their own because they have never done it before.  I have actually witnessed eighteen year olds who cannot do these things, and it will become much more prevalent since it seems we are heading towards an era where you cannot step foot outside of your house without being supervised up until the age of eighteen.  People complain that young adults cannot do a lot of things they could do at their age, but this story is more evidence why this is happening. 

Ten years old is a reasonable enough age for a responsible sibling to be able to go on a walk with his sister.  I feel these parents should be given kudos for promoting an active lifestyle for their kids.  When we continue to send mixed messages like this, what are people going to believe?  Should kids all go to corporate gyms to work out with a paid babysitter?  Maybe that is what this is all about.  It makes the writer of the Pedestrian Walking and Biking Life wonder.  Also, no wonder everyone thinks you have to have a flashy car, and to drive all the time in America.  Walking is always being discouraged.