Plan B Forum

On Tuesday I did some business over the phone with a bank in San Carlos, which is about 1.5 miles from my house here in Redwood City. I was asked if I'd like to pick up the paperwork and said I'd prefer to have it mailed. (I was told that it couldn't be emailed)

Tuesday evening I received an email saying that the paperwork had been sent to me by Fedex, and this morning I received notice that it will be delivered today. I decided to check the tracking number on FedEx web site.

The letter traveled 6 miles from San Carlos to Menlo Park FedEx hub
Then 26 miles from Menlo Park to Oakland Airport FedEx hub
42 miles from Oakland to Tracy FedEx hub
62 miles from Tracy to South San Francisco FedEx hub
from which it will travel 17 miles from South San Francisco to me.

153 miles total.

That's your carbon footprint blown

What ever happened to old fashioned (!) messenger services that used to exist precisely for deliveries like this? Guy on a bike (or roller blades) would come in, pick up the package, and cycle it to wherever it was going.

Joe Guy wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2026 7:37 pm

On Tuesday I did some business over the phone with a bank in San Carlos, which is about 1.5 miles from my house here in Redwood City. I was asked if I'd like to pick up the paperwork and said I'd prefer to have it mailed. (I was told that it couldn't be emailed)

Huge mistake passing on the opportunity for a pleasant afternoon stroll. Could have stopped for ice cream along the way.

Sue U wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 19, 2026 8:13 pm

Huge mistake passing on the opportunity for a pleasant afternoon stroll. Could have stopped for ice cream along the way.

On another day I might have done that but it has been near 90 degrees here every day this week and all the ice cream in the area has melted.