There may be times in the day when everyone is too busy to notice, but I feel that there is a big difference in a person walking on the sidewalk and a person driving or riding in a car.
While it may be more convenient to be in a vehicle than to walk everywhere, there are some disadvantages in even having a vehicle rather than just walking around. Let’s take a look at this comparison.
In some places, it is so crowded that it would be considered foolish or inconvenient to have a car. In most cities in the state of New York, for instance, the populace is so big that there are more parking tolls and fewer places to park. Not only that, but almost everything in larger cities is more expensive and that does not exclude the tolls. Many find it more convenient to use the subways and trams or just walk or ride a bicycle than waste time and energy on the reliance of a car.
This leads me to believe that the bigger the population, the less need there is to have a car. However, this does not apply to small places like Lawrence, Baldwin or other suburban areas where small populations are more convenient for vehicles. Overpopulated areas are bad for independent methods of transportation. Other weaknesses of mobile vehicles are the effects that they may have on an individual’s health and money.
Because of cars and trucks, some people tend to have become more lax and do not fully enjoy the pleasures of nature. I find that walking everywhere is not only healthy for you but it’s almost like you are communicating with nature, something that cannot be created with the use of a car. I think that some of us, as humans, have gotten so lost and so dependent on transportation that we forget to stay in touch with the environment. I think that it is healthy for everyone to stay in touch with the environment.
Finances are another reason why it is inconvenient to have a vehicle, especially with this recession that our economy is going through. With the fluctuation of gas and the added expenses, one must be able to control his or her money to handle such a financial responsibility – a responsibility that some people feel they cannot handle. Junior Nathan Judy said, “Parking is really expensive in Chicago. It can cost about $60-$100 for a parking garage downtown. As a general rule, you want to take the transit if you can, depending on your needs and where you are.” Just like owning a house, owning a car is a big financial decision for most people.
Although walking may be less expensive and healthier than riding in a vehicle, a vehicle makes up for its flaws with the level of convenience and the advantage of time. There must be a way to get where we need to go in a timely manner and vehicles have been and may always be the best way to get from point A to point B in no time at all. Vehicles are also used to transport objects, not just people. Without the vehicle, I imagine that some things would be incredibly difficult to get from one place to another.
Overall, walking and riding seem to almost outweigh each other. But because of the advantage of less time, the convenience of transport and the simple appeal of a car and the pride of having one, the prospects of riding in a car are valued over simply using one’s natural body to get from one place to another.
