Walkin' the days away

Is it wrong that this sign makes me smile?

Unfortunately the top half of the sign is missing...seems the vandals got vandalized. When I first saw this sign it read, "We are not canaries in a coal mine.  Quit driving.  Fix the fucking air." (My apologies to the sign's author if I've misquoted it). 

I thought that this would be a good way to end this blog since:

1. We are moving outta Salt Lake, so the title would be a bit silly to keep, and
2. We are breaking down and buying a car soon

We are only getting a car because the ranch/organic farm we will be working on for 6 months is 40-50 miles away from the closest grocery store and as die hard as we'd like to think we are...this would be a bit over the top...plus we have to get there (along with our dogs, cat, and crap to last us the season). We were going to get a pickup truck but decided that we don't really need a truck right now, so we'll likely get an older volvo or subaru wagon, something with room that gets good gas mileage. Of course I'd like a VW bus but Jake thinks it'd make us look to hippie...

So, looking back at our time without owning a vehicle I'd definitely say that there were inconveniences- not just for us but for others as well (thanks to all of you who have given us rides :) ), but they were never anything we couldn't deal with. Being in a city with decent public transit and a car share program made the transition much easier and more sustainable for us but Salt Lake has much room for improvement. I think a big part of the problem isn't necessarily the city or the transit system though, it's the people...the stubborn, arrogant people who don't see pedestrians (or bikes), who are more worried about their phone call or text than they are of the life in front of them on the street, and who feel entitled because of the vehicle that they feel is an extension of them. I'm not saying that all drivers are like this, but after walking my fair share of hours in this city I'd have to say that there are more out there than I previously thought.

Creativity, flexibility, and planning have been essential in getting places. Often it takes 2-3 times as long to get where we want to go, but as long as we planned ahead it seemed to always work out ok. Patience is also something which has been necessary in using public transit...missing a bus or the train by (literally) a matter of seconds can be maddening so you get used to leaving early and waiting, sometimes very long amounts of time in all kinds of weather so that you don't miss it by moments again.

Should this be my last post I hope my take away message is clear- YOU CAN SURVIVE IN THE CITY WITHOUT A CAR!!! It may be a pain in the ass at times but it can be done and one less car on the road can make a difference! Do it!! Drive less and clean up the fucking air!!

Red Air Days

I always forget what an inversion trap this valley is, but now that we are looking at 5 days in a row of increasing 'smog' I'm quickly remembering why I dislike the winter in Salt Lake so much.

Wait, isn't this what my last post started out like??? Hmmm...I guess that is because it seems like we keep repeating this inversion...clearing....inversion....worse inversion....slight clearing....inversion cycle. I guess living downtown and working up at the University makes it much more visible to me since I can look out the window at work and see the layer of gunk sitting over where I live, where we walk our dogs, and where we shop, (not to mention where many of us have gardens that are probably soaking up this warm fuzzy layer of ozone).

I guess I should confess though. We have been contemplating getting a truck....I know, I know, what the hell is this blog about and we are gonna get a truck???? But wait, it's not to drive around SLC or even to play in the mountains, it is to work...on a farm...outside of Utah. But as of this point we are still not car (or truck) owners and when we do buy a truck it will be because we are working to learn sustainable and organic farming methods in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. So we would still technically be car free in SLC... ummm, ok maybe not...I guess we'll have for forfeit this blog when that point comes, but until then we will continue to write about our frustrations and challenges and rewards of not owning a car in SLC. Cause who doesn't love to read about other people bitching??? :)

Take care and breathe safely-