4 ms·
It's not only a question of time, but also of how that time is spent. For example, I would much rather prefer to walk 30-40 minutes instead of taking a crowded
by vladvasiliu 5y ago
It's not only a question of time, but also of how that time is spent.
For example, I would much rather prefer to walk 30-40 minutes instead of taking a crowded, smelly metro for 20. I actually used to regularly walk 50 minutes to get home in the evening because I didn't want to deal with the transit.
There's also the fact that this is the time it takes when everything works well. Again, I take an automated line, which is fairly reliable.
But most of the other lines have "incidents" going quite often (more than once a week). In this case, if the delay isn't extreme (less than 30 minutes) people will just wait and stuff themselves in the even-more-crowded trains when they do show up. Or they'll try taking another line, adding to that train's usual crowd.
When there are too many people, trains usually have delays, because they have to deal with people literally not fitting in the train at the stops.
So even if you're OK with riding a train packed to the brim (say you ride from end to end, so you're guaranteed to have a seat and won't have to fight your way off the train), you still can't count on getting at your destination on time.
- jimmaswell 5y agoThat's interesting, I'd generally much rather drive an hour than walk 20-30 minutes. I lived on a college campus for a while where you could walk to everything and I like it much more now driving everywhere.
- chrisseaton 5y ago> I'd generally much rather drive an hour than walk 20-30 minutes Why?!
- closeparen 5y agoIt depends what you're walking through! I'll walk for hours on a beautiful nature trail or a pretty, safe cityscape with interesting sidewalk-addressing buildings. I won't walk for 5 minutes sandwiched between a fast road strip-mall parking lots, industrial facilities, or open fields.
- chrisseaton 5y agoLol what’s wrong with walking next to an open field?
- Talanes 5y agoWalking the small path between a highway and some fields was literally how I got to high school.
- closeparen 5y agoIt's exposed (to the sun and the wind) and it's dull. Inviting pedestrian environments need a sense of enclosure. Can be sidewalk-abutting buildings, can be trees, can be parked cars, can be all three. And they need stuff to look at that isn't monotonous.
- valarauko 5y agoFair enough, but you couldn't do 5 minutes of walking by an open field?
- closeparen 5y agoThat kind of thing usually occurs in low-intensity suburbs/exurbs where I can just drive.
- Talanes 5y agoFor a five minute walk? With having to start and park the car, you might not even make it faster.
- jimmaswell 5y agoThe car is climate controlled, has a stereo, I can have water/food in it without needing a backpack or carrying anything, and it's sitting in a comfortable seat while I'd find a super long walk like that uncomfortable. I could use headphones while walking but something about walking feels like a constant distraction if I'm trying to listen to something. And if I'm in a car, I feel like I can go anywhere I want on a whim, while if I'm walking I'll just want to get it over with and only stop somewhere if it's directly on the way.
- chrisseaton 5y agoIf you find walking 20 mins uncomfortable and don’t think you have any health conditions I’d recommend seeing a doctor.
- jimmaswell 5y agoI don't mind walking if I want to, on a trail or something, but not if I have to. I guess I'm just not used to it and don't like it enough to make it a habit.
- arbitrary_name 5y agoBecause he's American. By and large, they love cars.
- rsynnott 5y agoI was vaguely irritated when I moved office because it was 10 minutes walk from home; the previous one was about 35 minutes. So it cut down on my mandatory walking; I had to start going for a walk in the evenings to compensate :)
- baby 5y agoThat's crazy o_O a 20-30 minute walk is like the best commute. I think you're doing your health a disfavor.
- jimmaswell 5y agoWhere I live now isn't very walkable anyway, but I am planning to get a treadmill and electric bicycle.