Everything Within Reach

It’s a great time to get around in something other than an automobile, and it’s getting better all the time. While infrastructure is improving it usually doesn’t include all the of tendrils that a city likely built while it was expanding. Plopping a bike lane into a multi lane, high speed road seems lazy. Not to mention dangerous. I don’t know how we put that toothpaste back in the tube.

When did it become common for people to live so far away from everything else? When did cities get so spread out? What was the tipping point? Living spaces connected by busy streets, and highways. Navigable only by automobile. I suspect post WWII. Long before my time.

Having everything close at hand sounds pretty nice. It’s the way we used to live. Most of us anyway. Your family, friends and shopping were just down the street. Maybe I’m remembering it wrong.

I’ve been talking about battery powered vehicles a lot lately. Maybe because I’m now surrounded by a gaggle of golf carts. Do you know about Neighborhood Electric Vehicles? (NEVs.)

NEVs are street legal vehicles that generally have a top speed of 25 mph. Depending on your states laws, they’re restricted to streets that have a posted speed limit of between 35-45 mph. Some resemble spiffed up golf carts, like the GEM from Polaris. One has been driven by James Bond. There’s no golf cart in my future, but I’d own one of those. With e bikes in their ascendency, you can bet that NEVs won’t be far behind. At least in cities that are designed properly.


This post started before the death of Frank Radaker last week. I didn’t know Frank. I don’t think we ever met. My condolences go out to his family, friends and co workers. These tragedies are almost always avoidable. I’m really tired of having to talk about them, but I don’t know when, or if they’ll ever end.


WHAT I’M READING: Dune (affiliate link). Finally. I’ve watched the 80’s movie so many times I’ve lost count. The new HBO movie is terrific, but I’d never read the book.

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WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: Adele’s new single. (affiliate link) On repeat. Haunting, and sparse in a great way. If some of those notes don’t raise goosebumps see a doctor. Rick Beato does a great breakdown of the song on his YouTube channel.

As always, I hope you’re all well. Thank you for taking the time to read the things I write.

Considerate, and constructive comments are always welcome at info@thepsychicderailleur.com

Chris


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