Vehicles Forbidden. Shall We Hoof It Or Ride?

Do you like to drive? Daily? On road trips? I am grateful for the ability and freedom to drive, though by and large I would rather not. Where we live, Uber isn’t an option. We do not have a subway or an L. While we can walk to the vintage downtown replete with shops, restaurants, and a cheese monger (yum), we do not have a grocery store. One must have a car here and in most of the United States, or at least some other mode of transportation besides our own two feet.

One of the reasons I love traveling in Europe is due to the walkable cities and public transportation. If you are a step counter and have traveled there, you probably reached 20K steps daily without blinking. This is especially helpful for health and the ability to consume delightful regional dishes.

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My husband and I would like to live in a walkable area for a time to give it a try. In case you would as well and are wondering where, Walk Score touts these cities as the top five in the US: San Francisco, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Stats also exist for transit and bike friendly cities.

It is one thing to choose not to drive. It is entirely another not to have the choice. We have relatives who are unable to do so for health reasons. It is a sad transition of losing independence. On the flip side, did you know there are also areas of this country where driving cars is forbidden for everyone? Seriously. It is true. A friend and I visited one such site. You can bet I would like to visit others on this list. Such history to appreciate. Links included in case you would like to virtually explore. While not inclusive, these are a few of the no drive zones:

• Bald Head Island, North Carolina – A long history exists from Native American inhabitants to explorers and pirates. With the first lighthouse of 1789, this island changed names multiple times. Now attainable via ferry, it is a hot spot for outdoor activities and has a conservancy for loggerhead turtles. 
• Daufuskie Island, South Carolina – Rich history abounds, much like Bald Head. Descendants of the Gullah people still live on land belonging to their families since just after the Civil War. Boats are the mode of transportation to this island.
• Fire Island, New York – A whaling center in the 1700 and 1800s, Fire Island dates to 1653. The only way to step on these dry shores is via ferry or seaplane.
• Halibut Cove, Alaska – Scandinavian fisherman ran a Halibut fishery there in the early 1900s. Ferries are also the means to access this location.
• Island of Monhegan, Maine – Europeans first visited in 1603. With a large nature preserve and an attempt to maintain atmosphere, only businesses may use trucks on occasion.
• Mackinac Island, Michigan – Horse drawn carriages and bikes permitted today.
• Supai, Arizona – The Havasupai Indian Reservation longs to preserve and protect the environment. Town is accessible by two feet or four hooves (of the horse persuasion).

If you read my prior posts, you will know the answer to this question. Which location above did we visit?

Or you might have guessed it - Mackinac Island. Next question, what modes of transportation existed on Mackinac in the early years? In a prior post we discussed the fact that the British left Fort Michilimackinac and established a fort on Mackinac island. They dismantled portions of the original and moved the sections via horses. Did the horses swim? Not for that task. Ice at that time of year allowed horses to walk across the expanse pulling portions of buildings from one location to the next. Horses remained on the island through today.

So, did automobiles ever traverse that bit of earth? Yes, indeed they did. The late 1800s rolled in with automobiles used by residents, many purchased from the Michigan Oldsmobile manufacturing plant. Disputes arose over concerns that the horses would be scared by the new contraptions. The horse and carriage, as the original means for transportation, tours, and carrying supplies faced danger. In 1898, a ban prohibited automobiles from that time forward. 

Notice the image at the top of this post and these below replete with bicycles for visitors. Horses are offered to ride for a fee or horse and carriage as an alternative. The only vehicles on the island are reserved for electrical repairs and emergencies. This restriction on vehicles lends nostalgia - akin to stepping back in time. Except for directly behind the horses. I jest but do mind your step on the streets. Small price to pay for the ensuing peace.

To access the island, early residents and visitors traveled by boat and ferry. Captain William H. Shepler realized the business potential in 1945 and his vision continues today via his descendants with Shepler's Ferry as one of the services. Patrons can board at St. Ignace or Mackinaw City. 

Are you interested in visiting a no drive zone? Which would you choose?

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 130 Plans, in 44 languages on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. She is a proud mom of an American soldier and a college senior. If it were up to Rebecca, she would be traveling - right now. First up, trips to see their two grown sons. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, she tackles the craft of fiction while learning from a host of generous writers. 

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