Rant: My walk to the bus stop today felt so different from ten years ago

I used to walk 15 minutes to catch the 7:15 bus downtown, rain or shine, and it was just part of my routine. Today I drove 2 miles to a park-and-ride lot near Denver and waited in my car for the express bus. The walk forced me to notice stuff like the old bakery on Main Street closing or the neighbor's dog escaping, but now I just sit in traffic on the way to the lot. Has anyone else felt like their commute got more isolated over time?

2 comments

2 Comments

jenkins.reese19d ago

Feels like we're trading real moments for convenience everywhere now.

raymitchell19d ago

Yeah, that really hits home. Jenkins is right, we're swapping out those small real moments for things that are supposed to be easier but end up feeling empty. I remember walking to the train every morning and you'd see the same faces, nod at the guy who always walked his beagle, maybe stop and chat with the old lady who fed the stray cats. Now I just sit in my car with the radio on, parked in a big lot with a hundred other people all in their own metal boxes. Nobody talks, nobody even looks at each other. We've made our commutes smoother but we've taken all the human bits out of them, and I'm not sure that's a trade worth making.