←back to thread

526 points cactusplant7374 | 7 comments | | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
Show context
999900000999 ◴[] No.44076233[source]
>Though I and my wife do not presently live in Massena, we live nearby, and we’re doing exactly this — we do not have an automobile, nor do we want one. We use the rural county transit bus, which we have found to be extremely cheap and quite reliable; and it has certainly saved us thousands and thousands of dollars by liberating us from the onerous expense of keeping a car.

This part has me screaming shenanigans. Unless you basically don't leave the house, you need a car outside of like 8 American cities. More believable would be a pair of used bikes.

replies(5): >>44076636 #>>44076913 #>>44076976 #>>44077424 #>>44084527 #
bombcar ◴[] No.44076913[source]
That’s obviously not true, if you change what you “have” to go to.

There are thousands of American towns that are about 10k population - large enough to have a Walmart and other stores, small enough to walk across in an hour or so.

replies(4): >>44077037 #>>44077156 #>>44077444 #>>44093176 #
999900000999 ◴[] No.44077156[source]
Once it gets cold you won't be walking much anywhere. I guess grocery delivery from Walmart can mitigate this, but that fundamentally changes the situation.
replies(3): >>44077206 #>>44077530 #>>44082923 #
cozzyd ◴[] No.44077206[source]
Why not? You can walk plenty in the cold with the right equipment. I walked 2+ km a day at the south pole ...
replies(4): >>44077365 #>>44077472 #>>44077669 #>>44079021 #
999900000999 ◴[] No.44077365[source]
It's really dangerous if you don't know what your doing. I'm about .5 km from the closest supermarket.

If it's snowing or just cold out I'm still ordering food.

If I'm mildly sick, ordering food.

I'm going to guess that you're a really good shape that a 2 km walk isn't a big deal, but I don't think most Americans can do that.

replies(8): >>44077406 #>>44077457 #>>44077614 #>>44077846 #>>44079764 #>>44079964 #>>44080317 #>>44086987 #
coolcase ◴[] No.44077457[source]
> I'm going to guess that you're a really good shape that a 2 km walk isn't a big deal, but I don't think most Americans can do that.

Shit that's horrifying.

I have health issues and walking 2km a day to try to help fix. So I see 2km a day as basic. 6-10km run a day would be "fit" IMO. things as humans are designed to walk.

Living in suburbia means I have to walk "for the sake of it" although I cam make it useful e.g. get some milk!

As for cold. Anything above minus 5 should be OK just wear stuff like skiiers wear which can be got cheap off brand.

replies(1): >>44077560 #
1. 999900000999 ◴[] No.44077560[source]
77% percent of young Americans aren't fit for service.

2 km of walking in a day, even in great weather is exceptional for me. I probably average 1km or less.

And I'm not a car owner. My family members will literally hop in a car and drive 30 minutes over walking .5 km to the grocery store. They like the other one more they say.

replies(4): >>44077903 #>>44080650 #>>44081010 #>>44085460 #
2. bcraven ◴[] No.44077903[source]
This is just utterly astonishing to me. I've just checked a map and it's ~0.5 km between where I park at work and my office!
replies(1): >>44078075 #
3. 999900000999 ◴[] No.44078075[source]
Your going to have to walk both ways, in the rain/snow, etc ?

Like a lot of comments have already mentioned these towns don't even have sidewalks. You'll be walking on the side of the street risking an accident

replies(2): >>44079498 #>>44080597 #
4. oblio ◴[] No.44080597{3}[source]
Is there a lot of traffic in places with 10k residents?
5. esrauch ◴[] No.44080650[source]
Are you sure you mean .5km? That's only 0.3 miles, 1500 feet. That is the distance if you drive to a Walmart supercenter and park in the center of the parking lot and walk to the door.
6. harvey9 ◴[] No.44081010[source]
I am 50 years old and don't think I'd pass fit for service either, but I can still easily walk a few Kms.
7. sarchertech ◴[] No.44085460[source]
The average American walks 2.4 miles per day per the CDC.