|
Post by Wolfgang on Sept 28, 2019 17:06:31 GMT -5
You also see street/sidewalk variations in the USA. In Salinas, CA, downtown is mostly preserved from the old days so the roads are narrow and the sidewalks are really really wide.
In Mexico, in some cities and towns, the sidewalk is at a much higher elevation (maybe 6 inches) from the road than in the USA. You have to watch your step, literally, or you'll end up splat on the road.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Sept 28, 2019 17:36:29 GMT -5
In Mexico, in some cities and towns, the sidewalk is at a much higher elevation (maybe 6 inches) from the road than in the USA. You have to watch your step, literally, or you'll end up splat on the road. That's a very old idea. Here is a street in Pompeii: The streets were also the storm drains, so the sidewalks are all quite elevated and blocks are placed to allow people to cross the streets without stepping into them.
|
|
|
Post by ironhammer on Sept 30, 2019 21:58:01 GMT -5
Another thing I noticed when I drove on the other side, the roundabouts, quite common in the UK, Australia and Hong Kong. Not as common in the US. Supposedly it is better than a 4 way intersection with stop signs because it reduces the likelihood and severity of head-on collisions or T-bone. But what do you prefer? Stop sign intersection or roundabout?
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Sept 30, 2019 22:01:40 GMT -5
There are more and more roundabouts in the USA. I've encountered several in the Silicon Valley and also some rural parts of Hawaii (go figure!). I think the hypothesis around their safety-ness is that the roundabout makes drivers more aware and cautious, and hence, less accidents.
|
|
|
Post by ironhammer on Sept 30, 2019 22:06:55 GMT -5
There are more and more roundabouts in the USA. I've encountered several in the Silicon Valley and also some rural parts of Hawaii (go figure!). I think the hypothesis around their safety-ness is that the roundabout makes drivers more aware and cautious, and hence, less accidents. Yes, you are right, roundabouts are increasing in numbers in America, although still less common than abroad I believe. Funny thing I heard from a Brit, he joked that roundabouts won't work in the US because American drivers don't like to yield as that is seen as a "weakness". I wanted to punch him in the face at that moment but I corrected him instead on his mistaken notion.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Sept 30, 2019 22:38:42 GMT -5
Another thing I noticed when I drove on the other side, the roundabouts, quite common in the UK, Australia and Hong Kong. Not as common in the US. Supposedly it is better than a 4 way intersection with stop signs because it reduces the likelihood and severity of head-on collisions or T-bone. But what do you prefer? Stop sign intersection or roundabout? Roundabouts are much better. They are starting to be much more common where I live now. I can go two different ways to get to the nearest Starbucks (only a mile or two), and there is a roundabout on each of them. The main downside is that they take up more space. They are also known to be statistically more dangerous to bicyclists.
|
|
|
Post by ilikecorn on Oct 1, 2019 20:25:09 GMT -5
Here's a question. In large parking lots with many rows and columns and many four-way "intersections" for traffic, how do you determine who has right of way at those "intersections"? Obviously, if you enter a T intersection from the "leg" of the T, you should stop and yield right of way to vehicles on the "shoulder" or through road portion of the T. But if it's a four-way intersection and there's no STOP sign, who has right of way? I guarantee you, vehicles don't stop at those intersections and yield right of way to whoever got to the "intersection" first or, alternatively, if multiple vehicles got there simultaneously, they're not following the "yield to the vehicle on your right" rule. So, some context, I was shopping at a an outdoor mall. I was on the through road portion of a parking lot and approached the entrance to the parking lot. No STOP signs anywhere. As I got to the intersection, I slowed down but did not stop and a lady who was entering the parking lot from that entrance honked at me and gave me the finger. Apparently, she thought she had the right of way to enter the parking lot unhindered. ... The other driver honked and flashed the lights and turned on the high beams and basically did everything possible to indicate displeasure with me.I think it's just that some people feel they MUST NOT EVER BE PASSED, and that anyone who wants to drive faster then they want to drive must be stopped. It's so moronic. I would far, far rather that someone passes me and leaves my life forever than that they sit fuming on my rear bumper. ... But out on the street, some people just freak the f*** out if someone else passes them. Happens to me fairly regularly. Also they slow-ride the left lane like a m@$%#&*^*r on the highway. "I am going 5 over so I don't have to move over..."
|
|
|
Post by ilikecorn on Oct 1, 2019 20:35:53 GMT -5
There are more and more roundabouts in the USA. I've encountered several in the Silicon Valley and also some rural parts of Hawaii (go figure!). I think the hypothesis around their safety-ness is that the roundabout makes drivers more aware and cautious, and hence, less accidents. A road in the city I live in that crosses the highway has 4 roundabouts in a row. So there is first a roundabout off the frontage road, then immediately after about 100 feet another roundabout that has the northbound ramps attached, then you cross the bridge, then a 3rd roundabout with the southbound ramps, then a 4th roundabout to get on the frontage road. So if you just wanted to cross the highway you'd go thru 4 consecutive roundabouts...pretty ridiculous.
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Oct 1, 2019 21:23:11 GMT -5
There are more and more roundabouts in the USA. I've encountered several in the Silicon Valley and also some rural parts of Hawaii (go figure!). I think the hypothesis around their safety-ness is that the roundabout makes drivers more aware and cautious, and hence, less accidents. A road in the city I live in that crosses the highway has 4 roundabouts in a row. So there is first a roundabout off the frontage road, then immediately after about 100 feet another roundabout that has the northbound ramps attached, then you cross the bridge, then a 3rd roundabout with the southbound ramps, then a 4th roundabout to get on the frontage road. So if you just wanted to cross the highway you'd go thru 4 consecutive roundabouts...pretty ridiculous. Or fun...
|
|
|
Post by XAsstCoach on Oct 1, 2019 21:24:14 GMT -5
So I’m sitting at a traffic light when in front of me the rear passenger door of a Tesla Model X opens. It’s the type where the door flips up. So the door opens, and a little boy’s head pops up near the top, and a stream shoots out the right side. Yes, the mother opened the door so her precious little boy can take a pee while waiting at a traffic light.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Oct 2, 2019 3:14:21 GMT -5
So I’m sitting at a traffic light when in front of me the rear passenger door of a Tesla Model X opens. It’s the type where the door flips up. So the door opens, and a little boy’s head pops up near the top, and a stream shoots out the right side. Yes, the mother opened the door so her precious little boy can take a pee while waiting at a traffic light. He could have done it like the truckers do -- pee into a bottle and then throw the bottle out the window.
|
|
|
Post by XAsstCoach on Oct 2, 2019 11:46:22 GMT -5
He could have done it like the truckers do -- pee into a bottle and then throw the bottle out the window. Not truckers here. They just pull over to the side of the road and zip down in everyones plain sight. 🤣 Funny thing is a couple of years ago 3-4 foreigners forced a bus driver to pull over on an elevated road, a highway of sorts, within the city limits so they can take a pee. People were livid, police threatened them with fines once they find them...I’m like what gives? Drive down any highway and you have people peeing on the roadside.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Oct 2, 2019 12:02:27 GMT -5
The point for the truckers is simply that they don't stop driving. Pulling over to the side of the road is what they are trying to avoid in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Oct 2, 2019 12:03:30 GMT -5
I have peed on the side of the road. Have you never?
|
|
|
Post by Wolfgang on Oct 2, 2019 12:27:40 GMT -5
Never on a highway. Got off an exit, parked my car, and walked into the bushes. It was somewhere between Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, off Highway 101.
|
|