I can't just get in the car and go for a drive in the country, maybe see something other than jackrabbits and yes, coyotes. Hear something other than magpies and ravens, not to mention trains, ambulances, police cars, helicopters, motorcycles and trucks. Oh and lets not forget the ongoing construction! I live three blocks away from where they are going to be running the LRT, they just started in my area this summer, but it will take them forever, to actually lay the tracks past here. I think 2010 is the projected completion date. The station will still be far enough away that I have to bus to get to it, by the way.
Reasons for needing a car in Edmonton:
- I am asthmatic and the winters are long and cold. Cold air and exercise shut down my lungs.
- I have compressed ulnar nerves in both elbows and carrying any weight in my hands makes my elbows hurt, which in turn increases the numbness in my hands.
- The city has really bad transit, you can only get to some places once an hour, so if you make an appointment and the bus arrives at 10 minutes after the hour you can't make appt's on the hour unless you want to wait for 50 minutes. It takes me 2 hours to go get my prescriptions! Our Light Rail Transit (LRT) currently runs from the Northeast corner of the city to the University @ 83 Ave (central on the South side of the river), about 12 km worth of line. They are extending that fairly straight South to 23 Ave. That's it.
- Metro land area of Ottawa is 5,716 km2, metro population 1.3 million; Metro land area of Toronto is 5,903.63 km2, metro pop 5.6 million; Metro land area of Edmonton is 9,417.88 km2, metro pop 1,034,94
I would not give up living in this city in exchange for one with better transit. I love this city. Even though it takes 30 minutes to get somewhere by bus that takes 10 minutes by car (20 on my bike, or 30 walking! But not in winter!), I would still rather live here.
There are so many jobs I could apply for if only I had a car, it is sick that our transit system would require me to take three buses and 45 minutes to get to a job that is a 15 - 20 minute drive. Straight east of my apartment about 12 blocks, but, because it crosses two transit dividing lines, I have to go to two transit stations to change buses.
I am dreading this coming winter, last year was bad, being bald and all, but I could choose when I wanted to go out. This year I will be working and will have no choice. My lymphoedema has gone out of control, so they are wrapping it again which is forcing the lymph fluid out of the arm, it passes through the lungs on the way out and they are not happy lungs to start with. Walking to the Cross Cancer Institute at a mere -2 C, about three blocks, reminded me of trudging through snow to get to school (4/5 blocks) at -25 ! I had to get there at least a half hour early in order to get my breathing back to normal. And they were in much better shape then!
Oh well, enough whining, lets all bow our heads in prayer that Reb gets a car some year! ;)
Lovely scenes of lakes and forests, the colour in the leaves, the smell of fall, the warmth of a fleece sweater, ah, my favorite season! Oh look, where does the path go? Oh damn, hot flash..... they just ruin my favorite season! I don't know how to dress anymore!
Good Morning!
9 comments:
Aww Reb. I'm sorry for all of your discomforts, but can commiserate about the non-vehicle. I have the same ultra-long bus rides in place of short drives too. I know what that part is like. Here's hoping that there's a decent car, and much better health in your very near future.
Thank you so much for the link. :)
Your welcome Hilary, you do such great photos, I just had to link.
Edmonton is growing so fast, our transit just can't keep up and it gets more and more frustrating every day!
Reb - Thanks for linking to the autumn path post.
May I suggest you get the book "Healing Yourself With Light" by LaUna Huffines?
I've done some of the meditations--my own version of them anyway-- and it's done wonders for my asthma. I'm especially fond of the new no-hairball mornings.
I didn't know Edmonton's km2. Interesting.
Keep up with the Abundance Cheques.
It all helps.
Leah, I'm just feeling sorry for myself, I think I have a cold on top of pushing the lymph fluid into my abused lungs. Makes it really hard, just the effort required to sit up in the morning should not be enough to set me coughing and usually it isn't!
I'll look into that book, but, I suck at meditation. I am doing the abundance cheques and I won't be stopping anytime soon.
Is there any etiquette I should be following when I link to other people? Like should I email them or something? I like your blog, so I imagine I will link to it frequently.
Reb - Pop back to the blog in question and leave a comment noting that you've linked.
Thanks Leah, I will try to remember to do that.
That's funny: Karen (the human who I allow to live with me)just today was whining about mass transit in Houston not being a viable option for transportation. According to her she would give her "eye teeth" not to need to own a car.
But would she really give it up?
Probably not. I don't take public transportation. I require a driver. So she'd have to keep one around for me.
-- P
Well, Penelope, you tell Karen to hang on to that car then. I find that having owned one for ....many, many years, being without is very, very hard.
Sibu has to put up with being lugged around in a friends vehicle and he really doesn't like very many people.
Well written article.
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