No Kings 3 was great fun and a big success. But now what? And given the insane situation in the Middle East, how do we broadcast our disgust?
Admittedly it’s unclear what reasons the Orange Toddler had for the immoral and catastrophic war with Iran (or for deposing the Venezuela head of state) but given his obsession with fossil fuels and his remarks about taking their oil, it certainly would seem that thirst for fuel and power are among the reasons bouncing around in that empty brain.
Joining in anti-war protests (when we can find one!) is satisfying. Connecting with others, raising our voices, and contributing to the visible anger with this regime is vital. We cannot sit this one out.
But there’s another way we can show our anger and disgust, our non-compliance with what our Moronic Leader is doing. And it’s the kind of protest that yields multiple benefits. Oil companies are major donors to T----. They thrive on Americans’ dependence on the car as the main form of transport. They do not want to see other forms of energy replace fossil fuels, and they do not want Americans to realize that it’s possible to move around without a car.
I’m not suggesting you take the radical step I have. My last driver’s license expired in 1999. I moved from Bangladesh to Santa Fe in early 2024 and have lived here carfree ever since. It helps that I work from home and love to walk. I realize I’m fortunate that I can afford to take longer to run my errands and can arrange my schedule around the Railrunner. I accept rides from people to attend various meetings, though mostly I get by on foot, by train, and more recently by bicycle.
For short trips, there’s often no need to use a car. One of my Indivisible colleagues recently realized (thanks in part to the shock of buying gas these days) that she can cycle to work. After planning to do so a couple times a week, she now does it daily. It’s fairly fast, it’s fun, and it’s free. And perhaps best of all, it’s a way of rebelling against the auto and oil industries, as well as our fossil fuel-obsessed leader.
The benefits of active transport extend well beyond protesting the oil companies and oil-obsessed. As the price of gas continues to climb and the situation in the Middle East remains unstable, it’s good to know that we can save money by driving less. We know we need to exercise to stay healthy; walking and cycling as transport are great ways to get in our daily physical activity. We make the city healthier for others by not polluting the air. No matter how clean our fuel, using cars contributes to congestion; we can avoid both experiencing and contributing to it (including the parking problem at Indivisible meetings!) by hitching a ride with a neighbor and leaving the car at home. The more we are out and about on foot and bicycle, and the more we share rides, the more social and resilient our communities become. We’re fortunate to live in a city with a great climate; unlike in much of the United States, active travel is an attractive option all year.
The bicycle infrastructure in Santa Fe could be vastly improved, but it is possible to ride pretty safely if you stick to trails and back routes. Being a woman with gray hair helps to slow drivers down; I’ve even occasionally had them stop to allow me to cross St. Michael’s. The more people who ride their bicycles, the more drivers are aware of them and the safer it becomes.
While walking and cycling are the best in terms of low-impact transport, there are other options for longer trips or when you can’t reach your destination without fuel.
Santa Fe is pretty awful in terms of public transport, but there are a few options you might not know about. The bus system, frankly, isn’t great, though the #2 bus on Cerillos does come by about every 15 minutes; a day pass costs $2 and even less if you’re 60 years old or more. The Railrunner is a great way to go to Albuquerque without the misery of highway driving, and is very affordable: a monthly pass for seniors is only $18.50. Visitors to Santa Fe often use the pick-up (a free shuttle service) to connect from the train depot to Canyon Road and the Plaza. The Blue Bus (NCRTD) offers free service to El Dorado, Tesuque, Taos, and many other locations. Santa Fe Ride offers low-cost, door-to-door service to people aged 60+ and those with disabilities.
Another great option for reducing trips by car is carpooling. Sure, it’s slightly inconvenient to plan trips to Indivisible meetings, the grocery store, work, or school with others, but it’s also more social…and again, it’s the equivalent of a middle finger at this current regime and some of its more avid supporters.
And when you are driving, please be gracious to those on foot and bicycle. Even the speed demon cyclists are at least having fun without burning fuel. Our city would be a helluva lot nicer if more young men rode bicycles instead of racing their cars.
Save money, live more healthfully, avoid congestion, reduce pollution, and show the giant corporations profiting off the regime that you can reduce your reliance on them. Much as we value time and convenience, it’s a pretty amazing trade off to be able to flip off the regime and experience more health, savings, and joy.
