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Thread: I'm gonna be brief, b/c among the stressors of this pandemic, I'm keenly aware that this one is minor, @MayorJenny & @SeattleCouncil & @seattleparks, but again: closing the parks is a TERRIBLE idea. Read this: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/closing-parks-ineffective-pandemic-theater/609580/ & watch this: https://twitter.com/BrentToderian/status/1244841096045182977?s=20
I wholly support physical distancing, & practice it carefully.
But closing the parks WILL backfire, esp. because you aren't clamping down on car-priority. It means more people on the narrow sidewalks, & in narrow bike lanes. It means older folks with literally no fresh air.
But closing the parks WILL backfire, esp. because you aren't clamping down on car-priority. It means more people on the narrow sidewalks, & in narrow bike lanes. It means older folks with literally no fresh air.
People have been sweetly creative in this crisis, both in helping each other & in trying not to go insane. The other evening I saw two station wagons w/ teenage girls (two in one who seemed to be sisters, one in another). The cars were backed up to each other, about 8' apart, and
the girls were sitting facing each other, having a great time. My sweetie and I went to the lake the night of the full moon, and many couples were in cars in the parking lot, eating takeout and enjoying the incredible view. Are you going to close those lots too? To leave folks...
with nowhere to be or to exercise but at home staring at the walls and computers? You do know, right, that there's literally nothing more important to health than exercise? And that being in beautiful places is critical to our mental health?
So you take the most strange & stressful time many folks have known, & take away the chance for them to walk amongst trees and birds?
Sure, some folks are clueless. On my runs, I've seen folks w/ SUV strollers on 3' wide paths on the water, leaving zero chance of safe passage.
Sure, some folks are clueless. On my runs, I've seen folks w/ SUV strollers on 3' wide paths on the water, leaving zero chance of safe passage.
But grouchy reminders are generally enough, and people will get the hang of it. Most people are already alert & considerate, & when they don't hear me coming I just holler "could I sneak by you before the path narrows?" & everyone is good-natured about it.
This could be MONTHS.
This could be MONTHS.
Again, it's not just that it's boring & makes us stir-crazy—it's that it's those things and COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
Now is the time to stress the essential rules (distance! masks in enclosed spaces! stay totally home if sick/exposed!)...and let people enjoy what they can.
Now is the time to stress the essential rules (distance! masks in enclosed spaces! stay totally home if sick/exposed!)...and let people enjoy what they can.
There is literally no logic to letting non-essential deliveries continue if you think people 100% shouldn't be out. It's either food-and-meds only, or the parks should be open AND all non-arterials should be ped-priority, so we can all walk safely, & not go out of our minds. /end
