Enjoy the Ride

I didn’t exactly choose to give up my car; rather my car chose to give up on me. It’s a ten-year-old PT Cruiser that has had more problems and idiosyncrasies than any other vehicle I’ve owned, but frankly, I loved it. But a few weeks ago the repairs it needed became substantial, even more than the car was worth, especially after the thousands I have already put into it. And so the PT and I decided to part ways.

As kismet would have it, a few years ago I came up with an idea to give up driving for a year, and write a blog about it. Something that I thought I might do when I was retired, when I would have lots of time on my hands to sit around in transit stations, writing my memoirs, watching other travelers come and go. But the PT chose not to see me into retirement, so I have become a pedestrian a little sooner than I had planned.

I’m lucky to live on a 13-mile long island, with great bike paths and bike lanes; there’s a grocery store one half mile from my home, and whether I choose to bike or walk, I’m only a few minutes from just about anywhere on the island. But becoming a pedestrian is still fraught with problems. Lousy weather, last minute appointments, and crazy drivers offer challenges to the nascent pedestrian.

 

My PT is still drivable, which is helping me through the transition period, and I plan to donate it to a charity in the next few weeks. In the meantime I’ve procured a new Giant Liv Enchant bike from Camden Bicycle Center in St. Marys, Georgia. Owners Darlene and Terry Landreth were extremely encouraging in my pursuit of peddle power. I doubt that I will become a cross-country cyclist or pedestrian athlete, but I think that walking and peddling my way through 2015 will be an experience I’ll never forget - I welcome you to come along with me!