A year ago on this day we had just returned from nearly three weeks in France. One of the first cultural readjustments I had in coming home was noise. Even in the heart of Paris, France was quieter. In the cities of the south, we could hear the birds sing. At home in northern Michigan, on my “quiet” residential street, this is the current situation (and it gets far worse when lawn equipment is in operation):
It doesn’t have to be this bad, and next week is the 25th anniversary of the event that encourages folks to consider other options. Smart Commute Week was started as Bike to Work Week by my terrific neighbor to celebrate and encourage folks to think outside the metal box. Car-centered transportation is damanging our personal health and the planet. We desperately need to dial it down.
This is usually the point in the conversation where people chime in with their reasons for driving. I get it. Some of you have no alternatives, due to your job requirements or locations. Smart Commute provides a nudge for those who do have some flexibility. In my neighborhood, those who work downtown could probably walk there in less time than it takes to drive and find a parking spot. And next week, they can even get a free breakfast!
I’m excited because I’ve been participating for 20 years and this is the first time I’ve had a work team for the Smart Commute Challenge. I persuaded the crew at Brilliant Books to join me, and everyone who could reasonably do it gladly accepted. My coworkers care as much about this beautiful place we’re fortunate to call home as they care about books, and those who will be taking the bus also know that’s a great place to read. Those who aren’t in a position to ditch the car are our cheerleaders, and our boss (who likes to ride the bus) is so supportive he’s already talking about doing more next year. What a fabulous team! They’re Brilliant!
To everyone out there, no matter how you get around, my wish is that you’ll graciously share the road. We’re all human, prone to mistakes, and maybe sometimes we stray from our lane or don’t yield the right of way. Everyone wants to get there safely. Can’t we figure out how to make that happen?
