In 2020, stuck in quarantine, there was little to do in Bucks County, PA. I was lucky to have access to a car to go on drives with my family, buy groceries, and escape from the bubble of my own home. While I did not realize how important having this access was at the moment, looking back now, I see how crucial it was for my family to have access to our vehicle throughout this time, especially due to the walkability of the area where I live. When searching Zillow, my address had a Walk Score of 1/100. Due to the pandemic, if one lived in my neighborhood and could not afford a vehicle, access to food and necessary supplies was impossible. Thinking back on this time in history, I remember my sister and I went to try to walk to a creamery in our town. It was around two miles away and the only store in walking distance. I remember us discussing on our walk how difficult it would be to walk everywhere in our area. We even had my father come and pick us up because we were too overheated to walk home. While this was just something to distract us from the pandemic, this was reality for so many. However, they were walking to get necessities and much further distances. Now knowing more about mobility justice, I see how problematic this walkability score can be, and how crucial times like the pandemic can bring this issue to life.

Lauren Dienna