If You Build it, They Will Walk (and bike)

Great story, it makes me excited for the soon to open (and already rideable) Shirlington underpass.

This day found me crossing the [Sister City Friendship Bridge in Rockville] and happily saw another bridge user ahead traveling by foot.

He asked the pedestrian why he was using the bridge that day

It seems that recently his car needed mechanical work that would take some time to complete.

His wife also had a car and so the children could be taken to and from school and to appointments, and shopping or errands could be handled as usual. Unfortunately, he could not also be delivered to and from work simultaneously. He said that a rental car was an option. Perhaps sharing a ride, or maybe the bus. But he thought that it would be good if he put the new pedestrian bridge to use. Perhaps it would suffice. Now he found that the bridge, which he admitted he had resented as a wasteful capital expenditure that did not serve him, transformed into a capital improvement that perfectly matched his needs. He also said that the car was out of the shop, had been for a while, and still he found the walk worthwhile, and he could see the possibility of actually selling the car and only keeping one in the family.

Comments

[Jamis Bicycles]

It's truly amazing how locked into cars and car payments feel.

Buying a bike, or walking to work is not only healthy for you but you'll find that the financial freedom is gives you eases your mind an incredible ammount.

[AustinBikeBlog]

It's really good to see people come around like that, and realize the use of things like pedestrian, cycling, and transit infrastructure.