Walking... bringing it to the burbs

I was born in Minneapolis and lived there as a kid. I'm city folk. Even though I've lived in the burbs for the past 15 years I still get my city urges from time to time. Sometimes I just want to drink tea, put my little iPod buds in my ears, read hippie books, or sit in a coffee shop and edit youtube videos on my MacBook Pro. Ok, maybe not that last one since I could never justify spending an extra grand for the "trendy" option on a laptop, but the other one's are valid.

Lately I've been getting an old city urge: walking. I thoroughly enjoy walking places and I still have fond college memories of walking everywhere. Over the past few weeks I've been getting my walk on. And I have some major complaints about walking in the suburbs.

First, people look at you like you're crazy... or homeless. Since when did walking become a definition of social class? It's like there are two kinds of people in the world: those who have to walk and those who don't. What about people who like walking or like exercise? Actually, there's an amendment to the rule, it's acceptable to walk for exercise but only if you dress so others know you're walking purely for exercise. You've seen these people, clothed in moisture-wicking fabrics for maximum breathability, stabilizing walking shoes and an mp3 player strapped to their upper arm. Do you really need to put on a walking suit to walk around your neighborhood? People have been walking in regular clothes for thousands and thousands of years. Come on people. I'm also tired of people looking at me like, "Oh, poor kid can't afford a car, or a bike, or even roller blades or those shoes kids wear these days with the wheels built in." You think I'm being melodramatic but I walked to lunch today and a lady literally swerved off the road because she was staring at me. Another woman slowed down and shook her head in disapproval. I'm not making this up!

My second qualm with suburban walking is the ridiculous path you have to forge to get anywhere. If you want to just wander around meandering roads that's one thing but if you try to walk TO a destination... good luck. Roads will turn 90° or dead end, sidewalks will just end or switch sides of the road for no apparent reason. I feel like I need a compass, water proof shoes, and a topographic map just to walk to the library. Seriously, I'm not exploring the Oregon Trail here, though I may die of Dysentery before I get anywhere useful. I seriously think city planners just add sidewalks for aesthetics... like a nice boarder for a street. But I'm trying to walk here. How about you plan a sidewalk that goes somewhere.

I think people hate walking so much because it takes too long. You really can't expect someone who freaks out because they have to wait 45 seconds at a red light to go for a 20 minute walk By far the most ridiculous display of walk-a-phobia is at the YMCA parking lot. I've actually seen people cut each other off for a closer parking spot. Heaven forbid you have to walk an extra 30 feet to the tread mill. Ah, but I forget they're not wearing their workout clothes yet. It's not acceptable.

So what am I to do with my walking urges? I could drive to the city to walk around but I don't think I need to explain the irony there. No, I think I'll keep walking around, in my "regular" clothes to get places. So get used to it Burnsville, I'll be walking around. Maybe my walk will be an inspiration to others who want to walk but fear the judging looks. Wake up O sleeping walkers, wake up. Walk. Enjoy the spring.