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

[TiggerCCW UK]

JimmyRay, I live about 9 miles out of Belfast, a 20-30 minute drive to work depending on traffic and people think I live a long way from work

[Mohoender]

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.

That one doesn't count. I was doing the same not that long ago and it's entirely up to us.

[Mohoender]

Large spaces are a point but sometimes they are not the only one. When my mother was leaving in Portugal, we used to commute about 3 times a week from Porto to her place in the wine region. That was only 60 miles but, until 10 years ago, it represented a 3 hours drive (only one way) because of trucks, bad roads and mountains. Today, the traveling time has been reduced to 1h30. From time to time you wouldn't get there until the next day as the road had fell down the Douro River or down the cliff (that is still happening today). I wouldn't do that anymore.

My wife is working 10 miles from our place and it takes between 20 and 30 minutes to get there (mountain roads).

[chico20854]

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!

There is a reason I take the subway to and from work and only drive downtown after dark on weekends. And Jason doesn't drive at all. Its much easier to get around on foot, and frequently faster. We constantly rate in the worst 2 or 3 traffic areas in the US.

The frustration with the Smithsonian is that there is too much to see!

[Littlearmies]

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

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.

Coming from Europe and having driven in America quite a lot I usually tell my friends that Boston is the most European of cities for driving I found LA and most American cities safe but dull to drive around - all those lanes and directions, nobody cutting in...it was like Stepford Wives driving on the surface streets. I liked the freeways though (I enjoyed the "every man for himself" attitude displayed there) and can't see why Europe doesn't bring in Right Turn On Red.

My commute is a 75 minute tube ride across London - which is an excellent way of working your way through a good book.

[Adm.Lee]

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.

You realize, of course, that Boston is laid out in a pattern to make one insane Where else do *5* streets meet, and they call it a "Square"

As for DC, I haven't been since before I learned to drive, but I fully intend to take the train next time I go, and say the heck with driving or parking!

On a similar note, walking around downtown Sacramento is really nice-- that was last year's vacation.

[jester]

Yeah, you went walking and spend a week trying to find your way back

You realize, of course, that Boston is laid out in a pattern to make one insane Where else do *5* streets meet, and they call it a "Square"

As for DC, I haven't been since before I learned to drive, but I fully intend to take the train next time I go, and say the heck with driving or parking!

On a similar note, walking around downtown Sacramento is really nice-- that was last year's vacation.

[Mohoender]

You realize, of course, that Boston is laid out in a pattern to make one insane Where else do *5* streets meet, and they call it a "Square"

Any city in Europe (almost). That's why you can see so many americans turning around like ghosts when they are coming as tourists. Even GPS don't always find their way around.

[Mohoender]

Yeah, you went walking and spend a week trying to find your way back

Found my way around the first time I went to Boston as if I had always been living there. It was much more difficult in New York.

[Legbreaker]

You realize, of course, that Boston is laid out in a pattern to make one insane Where else do *5* streets meet, and they call it a "Square"

Only 5 There's a place in Newcastle, Australia, with the lovely name "nine ways", and yes, I can confirm it really does have 9 different roads you can take all jammed into one large and messy intersection...

Newcastle, for those who don't know, is probably the largest city in the country that's not actually a state capital. Heavily industrial mainly in steel and coal mining.

[Grimace]

You realize, of course, that Boston is laid out in a pattern to make one insane Where else do *5* streets meet, and they call it a "Square"

As for DC, I haven't been since before I learned to drive, but I fully intend to take the train next time I go, and say the heck with driving or parking!

On a similar note, walking around downtown Sacramento is really nice-- that was last year's vacation.

LOL. Funny you should mention places where 5 streets meet. We've got two such areas in my town. One of them in appropriately names "Malfunction Junction". Guess we don't mince words here. If it's screwed up, we'll call it screwed up.

[Targan]

Guess we don't mince words here. If it's screwed up, we'll call it screwed up.

I'm an Australian. We virtually worship bluntness

[Legbreaker]

I'm an Australian. We virtually worship bluntness

And usually in as few words as possible.
"It's f....d"

[headquarters]

New NPC

Won-Kar-Park
age : 45
civillian occupaton: taxidriver
rank: cpl

Scores : 5 , 4 ,7
3 , 4, 6

Skills : Wheeled vehicle : 7
Observation : 5
Melee : 4
rifle :2
swim : 1
thrown :1
english : 2
etc

Won has driven a taxi in Seoul most of his life,including his boyhood when he used to ride shotgun with his father , and take the wheel when dad feel asleep.
Although a competent driver ,Won is reckless to an extent that most passengers find lifethreathening - all the time. He has yet to loose a bet concerning getting his Hyundai to specific point in Seoul on a narrow time limit.Even if this often entails speeding down lanes with opposing traffic.

"It is all calculated risk" Won says with pride in his voice.

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!

[chico20854]

Won-Kar-Park
age : 45
civillian occupaton: taxidriver
rank: cpl

Scores : 5 , 4 ,7
3 , 4, 6

Skills : Wheeled vehicle : 7
Observation : 5
Melee : 4
rifle :2
swim : 1
thrown :1
english : 2
etc

Won has driven a taxi in Seoul most of his life,including his boyhood when he used to ride shotgun with his father , and take the wheel when dad feel asleep.
Although a competent driver ,Won is reckless to an extent that most passengers find lifethreathening - all the time. He has yet to loose a bet concerning getting his Hyundai to specific point in Seoul on a narrow time limit.Even if this often entails speeding down lanes with opposing traffic.

"It is all calculated risk" Won says with pride in his voice.

Is this General Pain's new PC
I hope so!!!