Its really really hard when car infrastructure directly undermines it.
There's a really big, new, expensive bridge near me, only for bikes and pedestrians, but nobody uses it. Its because its a fucking pain in the ass to get to with a bike or on foot. Every piece of bike and pedestrian infrastructure has a car shaped obstacle in front of it.
I'd love to walk or bike but I hate stopping at intersections every couple fucking minutes and each one is 3-5 minutes of waiting since I live near a busy road. One time I had to wait 15 fucking minutes. I began timing it with my phone since I was getting so frustrated and that one instance made me stop walking and biking to places. I know its best to walk etc, but where I live, its a huge waste of time
I work only a mile away, I myself can walk a mile in 15 minutes easily. Walking to work in practice takes 30-40 minutes because I'm stuck fucking waiting for most of it. Driving to work takes less than 5 minutes.
I also have a weird softspot for the SKS. Almost instantly outdated, and considered a "junk gun" but cute and has its charm. Very soviet aesthetic. Its weird but works well, and is reliable.
Old Chinese made norinco SKS are plentiful in the us, and are still kicken. Could nab one of those.
I dont know why but nothing beats the M14. Its arguably worse than the FAL, and America's worst service rifle, but its made incredibly well, extremely accurate, excellent sights and packs some heat with 7.62 NATO. Early production was furnished in walnut and were such stylish rifles, without being overbearing. If Vietnam was a fashion contest, we woulda won.
FAL is cool and all but it's so cold war generic. Very similar silhouette with the G3, AK, M16, etc. Yucky practical slop 🤮.
Pinto under the heating pad! (A blanket, that I warmed)