Bryant Park on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, a nice but somewhat damp autumn day.
The bike and I went around Bryant Park in Albany Saturday afternoon. I wasn’t thinking of this being the last day of daylight saving time of 2023. Here’s what came to mind instead:
This was a little after 4 p.m. and as you can see there was plenty of daytime left, more than an hour of good light. But starting Sunday that happy circumstance is over for this year.
For the next few months, it will be starting to get dark around 5 or so. No more late afternoon rides on the bike. And people with regular daytime jobs will once again be driving home in the dark.
The reason we still have to do this this crazy switching back and forth from standard time is that Congress has failed to act.
Congress has failed to approve the request by Oregon, California and Washington to end this ridiculous system and let the West Coast stay on daylight time all year round.
But as I said, I wasn’t thinking of our feckless government on Saturday. I was glad I could ride around town, including Albany’s nicest park, on a fine Saturday afternoon. Especially when the sun came out. (hh)
Yes, we like the afternoon light this time of year but maybe one other thing to consider; what about the kids standing out in the dark waiting for the bus? Doesn’t seem like the safest alternative for them. Here’s a crazy thought; maybe start work an hour earlier and retain Standard Time all year?
I agree…please let us be on standard time permanently.
I fear if we stay on daylight time permanently, there will be an increase in accidents, especially around schools as people are driving around half asleep in the dark at 8 am.
At least when they’re driving around during pm hours in the dark, people have been awake all day and are a bit more alert. I also think straying too far away from natural sunrise/sunset is not good for health either.
With permanent daylight savings time, people will be waking and starting their days more often in darkness. For instance, keeping PDT year round would cause us to lose more than two months of having sunlight in the morning before 8 a.m. and 98 days of having sunlight in the morning before 7 a.m., compared to if we were to adopt PST.
Keeping daylight saving time was tried nationwide back in 1974 during the energy crisis. It was supposed to run for 2 years. There were so many repercussions that the program was discontinued after 10 months.
There is plenty of data available to support making the decision that is the most healthful. However, as usual, it doesn’t seem to be the most popular.
Staying on standard time would be fine by me. It’s the back and forth that should stop.
Well said, I completely agree. At the very least just pick either PDT or PST and stop this switching back and forth! I vote for PST.
This is my second fall here in Albany (relocated here from Tigard, OR) and so far I have noticed many more vibrant autumn colors than previous year. I may contemplate getting a bike of my own for next spring/summer/fall season! I know there are many places locally I could ride one. And though there are dangers anywhere re: cycling, I feel a little safer here in this area than Portland metro! That said, I am not a personal fan of the time change policy but that’s another story for another blog. :-)
Welcome to Albany Gregory, it is a great place to live! Perhaps we will see you pedaling around our beautiful city when the weather permits!
Thanks, Hasso, for the video of Bryant Park. It is lovely and is, as you say, the best park in Albany, and will still be when “Monteith’s upgrade” is finished. And, yes, regarding the time change, our Congress is feckless, to put it mildly. The Republicans vowed, long before they had Trump, not to pass anything, and they have made that happen.