Neighbor Guy
City People. Urban Living. Other Stuff.
Ode to a Comfortable Pair of Shoes
I’ve been thinking about car-free societies lately. My interest was piqued by recent efforts of the residents of Vauban, Germany, a suburb of Freiburg, to make their community car-free. I understand that some American cities have endeavored to achieve something similar. All of this makes me wonder what it would take for the members of my own car happy community to become less reliant on their precious wheels.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly turned up my nose a time or two at friends, colleagues and family members who hop into their cars to drive all of three blocks to a meeting or the grocery store or a dinner party.
Hoof it, I mutter to myself. You’ll benefit from the exercise. You’ll set an example for your neighbors. You’ll help reduce the carbon footprint.
And then I happen to glance down at their feet.
Do you have any idea what percentage of the shoes we wear as a society actually causes harm to our feet? I don’t either, but I’m guessing it’s pretty high.
And I’m not talking about mild discomfort, either. I’m talking about searing blisters, severe sprains, broken bones.
The culprits are legion. Stiletto heels, leather boots, d’Orsay pumps: these pinched, pointy wayfarers aren’t shoes; they are instruments of torture.
The problem is particularly acute for women. I’ve seen many a sharp-dressed woman navigating the urban grid in a pair of wobbly walkers. They look terrific, save for their inability to move in a straight line.
No doubt each of these unfortunate femme fatales was heading for the parking garage to pick up her car to drive three blocks to whatever appointment awaited her.
And you know? I don’t blame her one bit.
But, clearly, there are ramifications for this bit of sartorial sadomasochism that transcend style.
How can you become a less car-dependent, more walker-friendly society if the thought of walking anywhere causes you to break out in a cold sweat?
Like the rest of us, the fashion industry must do its part. The shameful peddling of punishing footwear in the name of style simply cannot stand.
Ultimately, the push to create more car-free communities will include many things. We can establish incentives for people to carpool. We can reduce the number of available parking places in our city centers. We can scream and holler until we’re blue in the face about the value of mass transit.
And yet, it seems to me that the drive to achieve a more walkable world begins much closer to home.
It begins with a pair of comfortable shoes.
