PBH / off topic: do your thing (travelguide, pictures) / post

Car vs. public transport

After work, I usually catch a bus and head off down the gym. But the other day, after a lengthy wait and putting up with the squawks and bellows of odious schoolkids on the ride, I said to myself: 'Sod this, I'm going to drive in future.' So this morning, I set off in the car (forgoing my usual walk in) and began to feel vaguely put out by the rush hour traffic. Not much, but it wasn't the purely neutral experience I'd anticipated

But what really took the sheen off my plan was trying to find somewhere to park when I headed out for the gym several hours later. What a debacle! The miniscule gym car park was, predictably enough, packed to the gills; the surrounding streets were sardined with the vehicles of the locals; any possible parking spaces were ringfenced with signs declaring complex and confusing conditions concerning their use; and everytime I slowed down a tad to do a recce, every f*cker behind me irately tooted the horn. In the end I gave up, drove home and went out for a run.

By kalder on Jun 19, 2008, 11:48 in Off Topic.

kalder says on Jun 19, 2008, 11:49:

Needless to say, I'm going to do myself and the environment a favour tomorrow and leave the car at home.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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Plato says on Jun 19, 2008, 14:24:

Kalder,

I laughed when I read your post, but not because of your predicament. Public transport, although a major pain in the ass, is a better way to commute to work.

I ride the trains everyday in NYC and, quite frankly, I ride with a bunch of animals. Well, mostly animals.

I sincerely believe people are incorrigible and will never learn how to act decent in this world. Not even on the road (I hope your'e not one of those road-rage characters). Actually, I've become a bit claustrophobic from riding the trains.

Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

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kat1 (Moderator) says on Jun 19, 2008, 15:34:

If i were living in London i get a bike, i hate the tube!!! SMELLY

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MaFe says on Jun 19, 2008, 17:32:

Plato, I actually agree with you about public transportation. I am sad to state that I fear people will never learn to be civil... I drive to work. My schedule changes and sometimes there is no public transportation at the hours I leave work, or go to work. I have my own gym at home, and run around my neighborhood. I walk everywhere else, and by next month will be buying a motorcycle and relying on that more...since it's great on gas. Both my vehicles are aweful on gas..oh well....

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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kalder says on Jun 20, 2008, 00:27:

Interesting you mention road rage Plato. I was talking to a friend last night who's lived and driven in the UK, Sweden, Holland, Germany, France and Spain. He said that, by far, the British are the most selfish, aggressive and reckless drivers of the bunch. What's it like in the US? Do some states tend to produce more courteous, considerate drivers than others?

And, no, I'm not a road rage character- there's so many appalling drivers in London, you just have to be Zen about all that.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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kalder says on Jun 20, 2008, 00:28:

Kat- I think the Tube's pretty good. It's the buses that are the uglier environment imo.

MaFe- What mileage per gallon is considered 'good' on gas in the US?

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

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Plato says on Jun 20, 2008, 04:49:

Ma Fe, mi querida linda. Como estas?

Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

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Plato says on Jun 20, 2008, 10:48:

Sorry I missed this Kalder:

"What's it like in the US? Do some states tend to produce more courteous, considerate drivers than others?"

In the large urban cities like NYC, no. People on the road are a bunch of meat heads. In smaller cities like Buffalo, New York and elsewhere, people are much nicer. Folks in Florida drive like they own the road; there's a large retirement community over there.

Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

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podborski says on Jun 20, 2008, 12:52:

I've been to London (drivers are NASTY), Italy, Spain, France etc etc,but by far the most ignorant drivers are right here in BsAs.

As you climb out of a cab they lean on their horns incessantly, as if that somehow makes a difference, like you can somehow exit a cab in less than 2 seconds.

I of course take that as a sign to really take my time.

You will read about me soon being arrested for kicking in the side door of somebody's car.

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MaFe says on Jun 20, 2008, 21:43:

Como estas dear Plato?
Espero que muy bien....and again you are correct about road rage in the states!

"kalder says on Jun 20, 2008, 00:28:
MaFe- What mileage per gallon is considered 'good' on gas in the US?"

Here it's about 30MPG, The msart car finally arrived here...I alwasy wanted on while I lived in Germany, so I am thiking of buying one.

My cars don't get anywhere near 30....=(

Road rage varies in the states...NY has a lot...even Long Island, I was told that it's not that bad upstate. Oddly enough I have family in Tennessee and I have see road rage in the middle of nowhere!?

I never experienced any in Germany, I drove almost all of Europe and have to say that they were very civil. I was at the time driving a Tacoma, and I have no complaints about the countries I visited...I will say that I decided not to drive through Great Britain...I gave in to the rumors about road rage there and chicken out!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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mranderson says on Jun 21, 2008, 11:10:

Try it on a moto. You don't have to wait for the traffic jams and it's easier to find parking or pull over while looking for your directions. Also excellent on gas. I get 100 miles to the gallon on my 150cc moto.

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