I've been thinking recently about dedicating some of my time to seeking out destinations that are accessible by public transit. For where we live currently, that is a challenge. Yesterday I drove do SF with the intention to do some shopping in Japantown - I ended up going to Noe Valley and just soaking up the atmosphere - and gorgeous sunshine. As we were enjoying ourselves yesterday on 24th Street, Jacob watched the people, strollers and buses go by, totally content. And I got a hankering to get out and do this more often.
By "this," what do I mean? I guess it's just to get out and connect with the urban environment. While I really LOVE where we live, I also really miss the freedom of public transportation. I find myself daydreaming about having a train system that shoots straight down the middle of Highway 101 - with 2 sets of tracks (local and express!). I imagine pedestrian bridges (or tunnels?) that allow people to safely pass over/under the freeway to get to the platforms. I'm afraid that it won't ever happen in Marin, which is really unfortunate. I would settle for more bike paths in the meantime. I wonder if anyone has done a study to see if building bike paths increases neighborhoods' property values? As Jacob is becoming more aware of his environment, I want for him to experience the world in other ways besides what I can access in my SUV. I want for us to walk, to get on our bikes and on trains more often than we get in our car. Wherever we end up next, I would like for this lifestyle choice to be a little easier than it is now.
