On elders’ fears of “Having to give up the car keys”:
I dream of a world where elders don’t have to be forced to give up their car keys, because they can live rich full lives without cars. When all people (elders, kids, families) aren’t basically forced, by bad govt policy and corporate greed, to own a car in order to get their needs met. Other countries have this, why shouldn’t we? Not driving a car should not mean loss of independence.
Whenever I hear someone say some typical USA culture elder-praise thing like, “my mom is such a pistol, she’s 97 years old and still driving!” I totally cringe.
If I’m blessed to live into old age, I don’t plan to be the “pistol” by being the special one who is still driving. I plan on being the one who is agitating for a shuttle service for nursing-home residents, pushing for safer sidewalks, extended city bus service etc.
I’m only in my early 60s, but if I never have to drive again, I’ll be pretty happy. It’s going to take considerable activist muscle to make that happen though. We’re building some critical mass in my city, probably in large part because we have a large population of elders.
I can think of worse things for us elder activists to do than band together and make the big push for public transportation that is long overdue. And / or, fixing the zoning and coding restrictions that make it virtually impossible to have a lively urban village these days.
Photo taken at a restaurant that I walk to in my neighborhood. With great outdoor seating.