Uneasy Rhetoric

Carl visited one of my all time favorite cities, Vancouver BC, and has this to say about a downtown that must be incredible now, because it was pretty good when I visited over 15 years ago:

Vancouver’s compact downtown, large residential population and big tourist industry combine to make the streets thick with pedestrians. Walking feeds on itself. If no one else is on the street (Sacramento’s K Street after dark), no one wants to walk around. The more people walk, the more others do the same.

“Marvelae dictu!”* as my father would have shouted.

One of the reasons I walk, and one of the reasons I am such a belligerent pedestrian, is because I’m trying to set an example. People think it must be uncomfortable to walk two miles in Sacramento’s unrelenting heat, but my walk takes me up H, I, J, or K Streets through Midtown. These streets are largely shaded and, if I feel the need, there are plenty of convenience stores in which to purchase refreshment. I am constantly amazed at how few people walk in Midtown. If more walked, it might be less scary.

*”Well said,” but his Latin was pretty rusty and I seem to recall the phrase being incorrect.