3 ms·

The article rings true to me. I don't think that we want to try to turn the clock back, as much as trying to find ways to combine the good parts of past and pr

The article rings true to me. I don't think that we want to try to turn the clock back, as much as trying to find ways to combine the good parts of past and present norms, while excising the bad parts. I'm a parent of 4 small children in a smallish town (16k, single school at each grade level), and I'm cherishing the sense of community much more than I expected. There's something to having shared context with almost every person I run into in town. I only wish I felt like it were safe for my kids to explore on foot. We also live by my wife's entire extended family, and that, too, has been incredibly helpful. I was raised in a tight knit Baptist church, and while I don't miss the theology, I do think the sense of community, service, values, and culture is something that I don't have a full substitute for, as much as I have the town and family communities. I'm considering seeking out a non-creedal group to belong to, like the Unitarian Universalists.

naasking 2y ago
> I only wish I felt like it were safe for my kids to explore on foot. Why do you feel it's unsafe?
- acjohnson55 2y ago
  Because people drive through my town like maniacs, speeding and running traffic lights. There aren't routes for pedestrians and cyclists to get around town without having to cross major streets at unprotected intersections. A lot could be done to improve the bikability and walkability, but the county and state own our major roads, and are historically more concerned with car throughput than pedestrian safety. This may be starting to shift, but that's the status quo.
  - naasking 2y ago
    Sounds like the local police should be pushed into enforcing the law. Reckless driving would definitely make cycling or even walking the streets dangerous for everyone, not just kids.
    - acjohnson55 2y ago
      That's only one piece of the puzzle. As they say, the 3 E's of traffic safety are engineering, enforcement and education. The engineering of my town and surrounding area puts us in a really tough starting point. But I do agree that greater enforcement would help. I used to hate the idea of automated red light cameras, but I've come around to thinking they're better than not having them. Also, cameras for people not stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks.

naasking 2y ago

> I only wish I felt like it were safe for my kids to explore on foot. Why do you feel it's unsafe?

acjohnson55 2y ago
Because people drive through my town like maniacs, speeding and running traffic lights. There aren't routes for pedestrians and cyclists to get around town without having to cross major streets at unprotected intersections. A lot could be done to improve the bikability and walkability, but the county and state own our major roads, and are historically more concerned with car throughput than pedestrian safety. This may be starting to shift, but that's the status quo.
- naasking 2y ago
  Sounds like the local police should be pushed into enforcing the law. Reckless driving would definitely make cycling or even walking the streets dangerous for everyone, not just kids.
  - acjohnson55 2y ago
    That's only one piece of the puzzle. As they say, the 3 E's of traffic safety are engineering, enforcement and education. The engineering of my town and surrounding area puts us in a really tough starting point. But I do agree that greater enforcement would help. I used to hate the idea of automated red light cameras, but I've come around to thinking they're better than not having them. Also, cameras for people not stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks.