Shanks's Pony

I try to walk instead of drive wherever I can. It started because I work not far from where I live and I changed to a less active role, so for a small amount of effort I still manage a little exercise. This gradually became my preferred mode of transport due to a few reasons. I will talk about them in this post.

At first it was the exercise, but I soon noticed that not driving to work was saving a little money each month, which is probably a lot more now the fuel prices have skyrocketed (153.7p at time of writing). Not only this, but starting and driving your car for a short period of time is not really great for the car, so if you include the maintenance cost to the fuel I bet there is quite a saving. In the winter I could get to work quicker on foot than my windows could defrost.

It's the things you notice during the walk – if you take a look at the cars driving past, there are not many people not playing with their phones in some way, this can range from a sly look down to read a message to a full-on video call with the stereo pumping, all whilst being in "control" of 1.5 tonnes of metal on wheels! Crazy! It is also against the law. It would easily pay for an officer's wage stopping people and fining them on the 1/2 mile stretch of road I walk twice a day. I've often thought, if they gave me a slice of the fine, I would happily take the pictures and send them in.

Another thing I notice a lot is people parking on the pavement, not just two wheels slightly over the kerb, but the whole car taking up all of the pavement. The stretch of road I walk has bungalows for the elderly, where I can manoeuvre myself around most of the time without having to walk in the road. My thoughts go out to the old 'uns who can't get off the sofa without something to hold. To make the pavements a little more unsafe, you have to dodge the cyclists too. Even they are too scared to go on the roads, but are happy to take out someone who chose to go on foot. I'd understand if it were parents teaching children, but it is grown adults who should know better.

When I do get behind the wheel, I notice how everyone seems to be in such a rush wanting to get ahead of anyone in the way. Not only that, the general standard of driving skills seems to have dropped off a cliff. Yet, I'm sure these people will tell you they are "great drivers". In my experience these are the worst. It's as if people do not care about their cars, driving through gaps that don't exist. Some believe they are more important than any other road user and will do anything to get in front and cut you up. I often find myself muttering behind the wheel at someone's incompetence, shouting in some cases. I don't usually get angry, but driving I find infuriating.

I find walking de-stresses me, takes my mind off the day or any issues that I may have. I can stick my earphones in, put on an audiobook or an album of some kind and forget the world around me for a short period. I wish more people would as they could see the same things I do and take a different view whilst driving or cycling. They may even enjoy it.