(no subject)

[arethinn]

Lately I've been taking a walk most mornings, some mornings just for the exercise (and excuse to get coffee ^_^), others because I need to drop something off at the post office which is down the street. In just a week or two of doing this, I've at least given acknowledging nods to various and sundry neighbours on almost every outing. I noticed that I've only done so while walking, because usually when you pass someone on the sidewalk when you're driving, your difference in speed is almost too great to even make eye contact. The thought occurred that perhaps all our driving everywhere in cars has something to do with the fact that so few of us know our neighbours these days? Do people who walk more places get to know more people? (It also probably has something to do with the delay in transportation one puts up with when one doesn't have a car. It's hard to talk to people at bus stops when you never ride the bus.)

Comments

[tiggrrl.livejournal.com]

I know that when I walked to and from light rail I met a fair number of neighbors (and more especially their cats), and when I took the bus I didn't, and car driving is even worse in that way than taking the bus, so I think you may be on the right track. I've also read that the way a lot of houses have been designed in the last 20-30 years (snout houses) where the garage is the main immediate feature is also being pointed to as a reason people know their neighbors less. The idea, as I understand it, is that now people come home, drive into the garage, and go into the house from there. No outside time in which to pass a quick hello to the neighbors and no big front porch on which to sit and watch and interact.