OT- Driving and Traffic (split from Red Star, Lone Star)

[General Pain]

I think the sheer scale of America is something that can come as a big shock to UK players and GM's. Here in NI we think its a long way from Belfast to Londonderry, which is about 90 miles. When I was in the states I got an eye opener when I met a guy who commuted from Boston to New York 3 days a week, which is 200 odd miles!

Commuting is hell, I actually have to move allmost 3 kilometers each working day.....and that's just one way....offcourse the way back home is usually longer since there is a lot of pubs/bars that distract me.

[pmulcahy11b]

Commuting is hell, I actually have to move allmost 3 kilometers each working day.....and that's just one way....offcourse the way back home is usually longer since there is a lot of pubs/bars that distract me.

Ahh, you've never seen an American-style rush hour, have you

[jester]

American style rush hour!

I used to drive 1 of the worste commutes in the Nation, you leave at 430 no later to get to travel the 74 miles to Los Angeles and get there just before 0800, all stop go stop go hardly get out of first and second for most of the time bumper to bumper traffic.

And then one time in Japan I was A driver, we were stuck in traffic both the driver and myself dosed off, and when we woke, no traffic hadn't moved.

[Mohoender]

American style rush hour!

I used to drive 1 of the worste commutes in the Nation, you leave at 430 no later to get to travel the 74 miles to Los Angeles and get there just before 0800, all stop go stop go hardly get out of first and second for most of the time bumper to bumper traffic.

And then one time in Japan I was A driver, we were stuck in traffic both the driver and myself dosed off, and when we woke, no traffic hadn't moved.

I never understood how people could do that and that's true for every country.

[pmulcahy11b]

American style rush hour!

I used to drive 1 of the worste commutes in the Nation, you leave at 430 no later to get to travel the 74 miles to Los Angeles and get there just before 0800, all stop go stop go hardly get out of first and second for most of the time bumper to bumper traffic.

And then one time in Japan I was A driver, we were stuck in traffic both the driver and myself dosed off, and when we woke, no traffic hadn't moved.

I think the worst traffic snarls I've ever seen were in Baton Rouge, LA. However, the most insane driving I've ever seen was definitely in Seoul, Korea.

[Targan]

I think the worst traffic snarls I've ever seen were in Baton Rouge, LA. However, the most insane driving I've ever seen was definitely in Seoul, Korea.

You obviously haven't been in a car with my sister driving.

[Mohoender]

You obviously haven't been in a car with my sister driving.

She can't be as bad as my auto insurer (also a friend). That woman is having a car accident (mostly little bumps) something like every two weeks and if I had to get into her car for more than 2 miles, I'll be raising my life insurance.

[TiggerCCW UK]

I have a friend who tries to make up for his lack of driving skills by driving faster - not the best plan in the world. He once drove me the wrong way round a roundabout because it was shorter!

[jester]

I think the worst traffic snarls I've ever seen were in Baton Rouge, LA. However, the most insane driving I've ever seen was definitely in Seoul, Korea.

Paul,

I am not talking a "traffic snarl." I am talking about the regular daily commute conditions. EVERY DAY!

[weswood]

However, the most insane driving I've ever seen was definitely in Seoul, Korea.

Uhhh. That may have been me. I once scraped the mirror of a 15 passenger van down the side of a bus because I didn't have 2" to spare on the other side. Only time I ever heard a pile of Marines scream like little girls. Pretty sure it was Ietawan (not sure of spelling) in '86.

[boogiedowndonovan]

Kato's probably gonna split the traffic posts out from the Red Star/Lone Star posts

Worst commute I ever had was when I lived in Los Angeles. First job I had out of college was at the Los Angeles International Airport and I lived in Santa Monica. By map, the distance is about 10 miles. But driving on the 405 freeway during rush hour, my commute was 45 minutes to an hour. city streets were just as bad since no one wanted to be stuck on the freeway.

worst (or craziest) driving I ever saw was in Taipei, Taiwan. Last time I was there was about 10 years ago, so things may have changed since. Tons of crazy scooter drivers battling with regular traffic on the streets, going against traffic, weaving in and out of lanes, lane splitting, ignoring stop signs and lights. Right of way pretty much was established by who got there first.

[kato13]

Kato's probably gonna split the traffic posts out from the Red Star/Lone Star posts

You read my mind.

[pmulcahy11b]

Here's another place bound to drive you crazy with traffic -- Washington DC. There are so many one-way streets, blocked-off streets (with no warning), traffic circles, traffic that's been re-routed at a moment's notice because some dignitary showed up -- you're constantly yelling something to yourself like "I can see the Lincoln Memorial right there, but I can't get to it!"

But you're instantly rewarded when you've found the Smithsonian and step inside!

[pmulcahy11b]

Uhhh. That may have been me. I once scraped the mirror of a 15 passenger van down the side of a bus because I didn't have 2" to spare on the other side. Only time I ever heard a pile of Marines scream like little girls. Pretty sure it was Ietawan (not sure of spelling) in '86.

If it's what I think you mean (the main shopping area in Seoul), it's Itaewon.

That wasn't long before I showed up in Korea. I got there in August of 88; just in time to be rewarded, since the Division Commander had bought up 2 tickets for every soldier in 2ID for the Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988. I got to see Volleyball between Japan and China (I've never seen so many TALL Asian women in one place in my life!) and Taekwon-do, which was a demonstration sport that year (the American lost the match when his nose got broken -- at least it looked like it). And my first Korean taxi ride. I showed the driver my ticket and-voooom!-from Yongsan to the outskirts of the city inside of 15 minutes! Korean taxi drivers -- they're INSANE!

[JimmyRay73]

I want to thank you guys for reminding me how tame my daily commute is anymore.

For you guys in Europe who are trying to get a handle on the wide open spaces in America, I live in the "Greater Cleveland Metro Area" so it isn't exactly back country but I used to put an average of 150 miles a day on my car just driving to my girlfriend's house, taking her to school, then going to work, back to school, her home, then back to mine.

I used to take 80 to 100 mile drives just to clear my head when I was upset, and nobody thought that was unusual. Driving from Toledo Ohio to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (3.5 to 4 hours each way) just to visit family members for a few hours and pick up a case of beer was a fairly regular practice. Last years gas prices curtailed such activities a bit, but we're still a nation of open spaces that people think nothing of crossing.

As for craziest driving, I spent a week in Boston learning how much I could love public transportation about a decade ago. Drivers in that town are just nuckin' futs if you catch my meaning. I will only drive in that city if the lives of myself and/or loved ones absolutely depends on it. Mind you this is coming from someone who has navigated Washington DC traffic using only two throttle positions (Idle and Wide-Open) in a Delta 88, and accomplished rally-driver maneuvers in a Ford Aerostar (the short-overhang version is remarkably stable in a drift when the rear seat sets are removed, and it is possible to catch air off a hill crest without crashing on landing believe it or not).