After walking for a few days I have noticed that in 20 minutes I can cover more distance, bringing my "market" area to about a mile from home. This brings our village center into consideration. Unfortunately, as with many villages on Cape Cod, the mix of uses lend themselves to the tourism market and not the day to day needs of area residents.
Yes you can find fine coffees and teas, sandwiches, pizzas and snack foods. But the people who live and work here must leave the area for their basic needs. Not to mention those who live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Overall, the village fails as a live-work-shop location.
Expanding beyond the 20 minute walk, to 30 minutes, brings a chain convenience store into play. Better prices, but still a very limited selection. The walk score of 20 sure seems generous, on a sustainability rating I think is far lower.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Carless on Cape Cod - Trash Day
So Sunday is supposed to be trash day. We actually live within walking distance of the tansfer station by way of an old paper street. The right of way currently has a trail that is used by hikers and mountain bikers. So you would think that we could dispose of our trash without a car.
No such luck.
Our town requires you to be a "resident" of town to dispose of your trash. You would think that residency could be easy to show, after all there are so many ways to show residency. Not so fast. Those "non-resident taxpayers" don't deserve to throw their trash away at resident rates, thus the tax bill is not a valid measure for access to the transfer station. Voter roll, also unacceptable. The Town has chosen to use where you register your vehile, and every pass is tied to your vehicle.
No vehicle, no access to dispose of your trash. Car sharing programs (Zip Car) and rental cars do not cut it. you get to buy a pass based upon paying your vehicle excise tax
So trash day does not pass the carless test.
No such luck.
Our town requires you to be a "resident" of town to dispose of your trash. You would think that residency could be easy to show, after all there are so many ways to show residency. Not so fast. Those "non-resident taxpayers" don't deserve to throw their trash away at resident rates, thus the tax bill is not a valid measure for access to the transfer station. Voter roll, also unacceptable. The Town has chosen to use where you register your vehile, and every pass is tied to your vehicle.
No vehicle, no access to dispose of your trash. Car sharing programs (Zip Car) and rental cars do not cut it. you get to buy a pass based upon paying your vehicle excise tax
So trash day does not pass the carless test.
Carless on Cape Cod: The Farm Stand
Walkscore.com gives our neighborhood an index of 20, this means we are considered "car dependent." Check out your score here: walkscore.com.
The convenience store I previously talked about is about 3/4's of a mile from our house. Walkscore shows the farm stand as a "grocery" as well. After being disappointed by the selection at the convenience store, we chose to walk to the farm stand.
From spring to fall this stand provides fresh vegetables, eggs and other homemade items such as pies, salad dressings and preserves. Since we did not find anything we wanted at the other store, we hoped for more luck at the Farm Stand. Today we were looking for potatoes, carrots, salad items and dressing. Found everything but the carrots, substituted zucchini as the days vegetable of choice.
Overall, at least during the growing season, we could survive on what we can buy at the Farm Stand. Walkscore also notes that the Farm Stand is only a third of a mile from the house. It could be a doable walk, even in the rain.
The convenience store I previously talked about is about 3/4's of a mile from our house. Walkscore shows the farm stand as a "grocery" as well. After being disappointed by the selection at the convenience store, we chose to walk to the farm stand.
From spring to fall this stand provides fresh vegetables, eggs and other homemade items such as pies, salad dressings and preserves. Since we did not find anything we wanted at the other store, we hoped for more luck at the Farm Stand. Today we were looking for potatoes, carrots, salad items and dressing. Found everything but the carrots, substituted zucchini as the days vegetable of choice.
Overall, at least during the growing season, we could survive on what we can buy at the Farm Stand. Walkscore also notes that the Farm Stand is only a third of a mile from the house. It could be a doable walk, even in the rain.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Carless on Cape Cod - The First Trip To The Store
Now we start to test whether where we live can support a car-less lifestyle.
First, it is clear I cannot make my commute. I am 51 and well beyond the years I rode over 20 miles each way for work. So I start from the position that I must have a vehicle for the most basic of needs.
Taking the next step, what errands are possible by foot. The convenience store nearby advertises that it has "groceries." Well, you probably could sustain yourself, minimally, on the cold cuts and tv dinners, but the food selection is limited. There is no fresh fruit or vegetables to be found in the store. The store would hardly sustain a healthy diet and given alcohol products make up at least half the shelf space, it is more of a package store than the convenience market/grocery that it bills itself as.
Size wise, the store probably could serve as a grocery, but it needs a wider variety of food products. Its offerings are clearly limited by its clientele. Most in the neighborhood probably do not think of this store as a destination for meeting one's day to day needs. Needing to survive financially, it lives down to those expectations. In the end, one has to conclude that this store does not support a car-less of car-free lifestyle.
I guess this neighborhood is sinking fast into being one where a car is mandatory.
First, it is clear I cannot make my commute. I am 51 and well beyond the years I rode over 20 miles each way for work. So I start from the position that I must have a vehicle for the most basic of needs.
Taking the next step, what errands are possible by foot. The convenience store nearby advertises that it has "groceries." Well, you probably could sustain yourself, minimally, on the cold cuts and tv dinners, but the food selection is limited. There is no fresh fruit or vegetables to be found in the store. The store would hardly sustain a healthy diet and given alcohol products make up at least half the shelf space, it is more of a package store than the convenience market/grocery that it bills itself as.
Size wise, the store probably could serve as a grocery, but it needs a wider variety of food products. Its offerings are clearly limited by its clientele. Most in the neighborhood probably do not think of this store as a destination for meeting one's day to day needs. Needing to survive financially, it lives down to those expectations. In the end, one has to conclude that this store does not support a car-less of car-free lifestyle.
I guess this neighborhood is sinking fast into being one where a car is mandatory.
Carless on Cape Cod The 20 Minute Walk
If you are carless, you need to fill your basic needs within walking distance. A good walk from where we live, in our 70's style subdivision, is about 20 minutes. Within this walking distance we find:
- A convenience store which advertises they have groceries;
- A farm stand, which, at least during harvest season can meet some needs;
- The town transfer station: and
- A pizza place.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Carless on Cape Cod
Okay, here is the challenge. Think about what is available to you within a 20 minute walk. Can you meet your most baxic needs? Most will immediately realize they could not get to work. But, what else would you be deprived of?
Traditionally villages grew around their church, market and common services. So, until you stop and think about where you live, or find yourself temporarily carless, do the problems of modern day (Euclidean) separation of land uses become so apparent.
So, I challenge you park your car for a few days, put your T pass away, and see if you can find your basec needs within walking distance.
I will share our experiences. Give it a try.
Traditionally villages grew around their church, market and common services. So, until you stop and think about where you live, or find yourself temporarily carless, do the problems of modern day (Euclidean) separation of land uses become so apparent.
So, I challenge you park your car for a few days, put your T pass away, and see if you can find your basec needs within walking distance.
I will share our experiences. Give it a try.
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