A section in Mississippi south of Memphis is already signed/designated I-69 according to several maps. Between I-55 and US 61. Eventually, the new beltway around Memphis might be designated I-69 too in the near future.

That is accurate. In my state of Indiana, the state DOT is preparing to start construction on a 2-mile stretch of new terrain I-69 from I-164 to SR 68. $700 million has been allocated to new terrain I-69 construction (a total waste of money in my opinion because the existing I-69 is in serious need of upgrade).

The US is not build in a way that public transport can resolve traffic problems, or meet transportation demands. Besides that, trucks are the most efficient way to transport nearly all kinds of goods domestically. The US is actually far ahead on Europe with freight rail transport.

That is not true at all. Just about every metro area in the U.S. would benefit greatly from commuter rail and good public transportation.

And trucks are a horrible way of transporting goods, but since so many freight lines have been abandoned and torn up, there really is no other way to transport goods in the U.S. This was a conscious choice by government.

Transportation in the U.S. only works well when fuel is cheap, and the expectation that it would remain so demonstrates the utter lack of foresight by the government at all levels.

That is not true at all. Just about every metro area in the U.S. would benefit greatly from commuter rail and good public transportation.

The problem is that rail & transit only handle 0.6% of the total passenger mileage, while it obviously costs more than 0.6% of the total budget. Public Transportation is more expensive per passenger mile to construct and operate a lightrail or other kinds of PT. Besides that, the problem is that the government can't charge the full price of PT, because nobody would take it then. So the government has to offer all kinds of discounts to get people into public transportation. That money has to come from somewhere. I don't say PT needs to be profitable, but a bag of money would be nice to construct more PT.


And trucks are a horrible way of transporting goods, but since so many freight lines have been abandoned and torn up, there really is no other way to transport goods in the U.S. This was a conscious choice by government.

The problem is that railways are not the way to serve our "just-in-time" modern society. They are only good for large bulk freights, like ore or grain. You have to take into account, that even in Europe, with twice the fuel price in the United States, the most efficient way of transport goods is still the diesel truck.

Transportation in the U.S. only works well when fuel is cheap, and the expectation that it would remain so demonstrates the utter lack of foresight by the government at all levels.

Fuel IS cheap in the U.S. only you don't realize that because you've gone from super-cheap to cheap fuel. The current rising fuel prices are just a bad time before we all change to electric cars, or hydrogen cars and trucks. It's not like that if we run out of affordable oil, our roads will turn into useless dust, as some may suggest.

Very good:
http://www.nufoto.nl/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hands-free-1_e6439bbc3fbdb8afb1b4c1474ffee105dc2cf2a6.jpg

What a nonsense!Why would they built a multilane higway all the way to Churchill(pop:1000 I think).In my point of view it's better to connect Winnipeg and Regina

What a nonsense!Why would they built a multilane higway all the way to Churchill(pop:1000 I think).In my point of view it's better to connect Winnipeg and Regina

Mainly because Churchill is the gateway to Hudson Bay and the Northwest passage. As Global Warming continues to intensify, these waterways will become more and more important. Churchill could become a major port destination because of its location. It is cheaper to unload goods at Churchill than sailing through the Panama Canal and then up to the St. Laurence Seaway. (Just an example.)

Very good:
http://www.nufoto.nl/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hands-free-1_e6439bbc3fbdb8afb1b4c1474ffee105dc2cf2a6.jpg

The same law goes into effect July 1st for Washington too, not just California. :banana:

^^Any other states with this law?

-double post-

Why is the Mexican flag in the middle of the US?

That's something we're not supposed to know about :D :lol:

Any other states with this law?
As of today, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Utah, California and Washington (the latter two enacted this today).

From my experience, I am wondering how Californians adjust to that :lol: Also, this new law is a good news for cellular companies driving their bluetooth accessories sales up.

Hopefully all states will eventually enact this law, it's much safer.

Well, sending text messages is still allowed in California, and that's arguably even more dangerous. But, at least it's a step forward.

Does anyone know what type of laws their are in Germany regarding cellphone usage, putting on makeup, eating, etc.?

It's now into effect in Canada, as of today.

Been already using my Bluetooth headset for a while anyway so no big change for me.

The problem is that railways are not the way to serve our "just-in-time" modern society. They are only good for large bulk freights, like ore or grain. You have to take into account, that even in Europe, with twice the fuel price in the United States, the most efficient way of transport goods is still the diesel truck.



Fuel IS cheap in the U.S. only you don't realize that because you've gone from super-cheap to cheap fuel. The current rising fuel prices are just a bad time before we all change to electric cars, or hydrogen cars and trucks. It's not like that if we run out of affordable oil, our roads will turn into useless dust, as some may suggest.


Railroads can easily serve just about every city in the U.S, and much more cheaply too. Trucks can serve as short distance haulers of goods. It is conscious government policy that has made America dependent on trucks to deliver and transport almost all goods.

We will have to see if the auto industry develops cars that use something other than hydrocarbons as fuel. They have been dragging their feet for decades. And I doubt they would do anything to undermine the financial success of the oil industry.

And there are so many other benefits of having development patterns centered around mass transit: less sprawl and environmental destruction, less congested roads, etc.

It is conscious government policy that has made America dependent on trucks to deliver and transport almost all goods

Taking that into consideration it is interesting to note than in 2007 the United States transported more freight (billions of tonne-kilometers) than any other nation by rail.

I was setting up the bluetooth connection for my dad yesterday in our car. We did everything right, except the instructions didn't say that "accurate and proper English must be spoken for the computer to recognize your voice commands." I guess I'll need to sign him up for an English course haha :nuts:

Does anyone know what type of laws their are in Germany regarding cellphone usage, putting on makeup, eating, etc.?

As far as I know, using a cell phone is prohibited, but other stuff like controlling the radio, eating, drinking, smoking etc. is allowed. Those things are hardly enforcable, but arguably dangerous too. The fine for handheld calling in the Netherlands is 205 dollars. The fines in California are laughable, with 20 dollars for the first offense, and 50 dollars for subsequent offenses. Well, it gives the highway patrol some work to do while patrolling.

Most prices for traffic offenses in US are laughable, comparing to many EU countries.

Does anyone know what type of laws their are in Germany regarding cellphone usage, putting on makeup, eating, etc.?Holding a cellphone or a car phone in your hand and using it while the motor is on is forbiden.
The rest is not regulated.

^^That's the same as it is in NL. It costs, as Chris already mentioned, approximately 140 euros (I'm not sure) if you get caught.

An American insurance company has conducted a study of which cities are the safest (traffic accidents). This is their top ten:

Top 10 safest cities
1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2. Fort Collins, Colorado
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Sterling Heights, Michigan
5. Warren, Michigan
6. Knoxville, Tennessee
7. Grand Rapids, Michigan
8. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9. Lexington, Kentucky
10. Detroit, Michigan

Last is Washington D.C.

The cell phone law is totally unenforceable...people here don't care about it.

@Chris: is there a site where you can see the whole list?

^^ I don't have the entire list, it was presented on CNN this way.

[QUOTE=Chriszwolle;22188614]An American insurance company has conducted a study of which cities are the safest (traffic accidents). This is their top ten:

Top 10 safest cities
1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2. Fort Collins, Colorado
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Sterling Heights, Michigan
5. Warren, Michigan
6. Knoxville, Tennessee
7. Grand Rapids, Michigan
8. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9. Lexington, Kentucky
10. Detroit, Michigan

Chris I am surprised Washington DC is dead last. I would have given that doubtful honour to Boston drivers. Driving in that city puts years on your life !! Scary boston drivers

The fines in California are laughable, with 20 dollars for the first offense, and 50 dollars for subsequent offenses. Well, it gives the highway patrol some work to do while patrolling.

Really? And they were telling us in the local news recently, that fines for the first offense were going to be $90. Additionally, I think I heard also, that for the first month or so, cities can give people warnings rather than a citation. That is, if they want to. Otherwise citation it is.

^^ I got it from the caltrans site.

I think in Washington, cellphone use is a second-offense. You can't be pulled over for talking on a cellphone. But if you were caught breaking another law (speeding, driving in the left lane, DUI) AND talking on the cellphone, you will be charged for both offenses.

Please...no...

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and possibly ease fuel prices.

Sen. John Warner has asked the Energy Department at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient.

Sen. John Warner, R-Virginia, asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.

Congress in 1974 set a national 55 mph speed limit because of energy shortages caused by the Arab oil embargo. The speed limit was repealed in 1995 when crude oil dipped to $17 a barrel and gasoline cost $1.10 a gallon.

As motorists headed on trips for this Fourth of July weekend, gasoline averaged $4.10 a gallon nationwide, with oil hovering around $145 a barrel.

Warner cited studies that showed the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption, while avoiding up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year.

"Given the significant increase in the number of vehicles on America's highway system from 1974 to 2008, one could assume that the amount of fuel that could be conserved today is far greater," Warner wrote Bodman.

Warner asked the department to determine at what speeds vehicles would be most fuel efficient, how much fuel savings would be achieved, and whether it would be reasonable to assume there would be a reduction in prices at the pump if the speed limit were lowered.

Energy Department spokeswoman Angela Hill said the department will review Warner's letter but added, "If Congress is serious about addressing gasoline prices, they must take action on expanding domestic oil and natural gas production."

The department's Web site says that fuel efficiency decreases rapidly when traveling faster than 60 mph. Every additional 5 mph over that threshold is estimated to cost motorists "essentially an additional 30 cents per gallon in fuel costs," Warner said in his letter, citing the DOE data.

I guess that Senator didn't learned that the 55 mph limit was a big failure back than and will be a big failure now. They did it just for revenue.

I'd get a high blood pressure driving so slowly on freeways.

what they need to do is STRONGLY enforce the speed limit

An American insurance company has conducted a study of which cities are the safest (traffic accidents). This is their top ten:

Top 10 safest cities
1. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
2. Fort Collins, Colorado
3. Chattanooga, Tennessee
4. Sterling Heights, Michigan
5. Warren, Michigan
6. Knoxville, Tennessee
7. Grand Rapids, Michigan
8. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9. Lexington, Kentucky
10. Detroit, Michigan

Last is Washington D.C.

i would believe it, those damn maryland drivers ruin everything!

but seriously, people driving here really do suck

How are the drivers in Washington State?

Hmmm I made some longdistance journeys the past half year, and 70-75 mph was still the most fuel efficient. I also did a lot of 60/65 mph, but that used slightly more gasoline. Your gasoline consumption stands or falls with the flow of traffic, not the speed driven in the first time. You can better do 80 mph on a freeflowing freeway than 30 mph inside cities with traffic jams and traffic lights.

It makes much more sense to buy a European MPV instead of a Chevy Suburban or a big Ford something like that. Saves you way more gasoline than driving grandpa-style on the freeway.

How are the drivers in Washington State?

Well that's a hard question. Speed limits generally are not followed, and 10-over is pretty common. There are some quirks like not keeping right except to pass (although it's getting better), and blocking intersections when they're in a line. But other than that, I'd say Washington drivers are about as polite as drivers can be. If they followed the rules a bit more, it would be perfect.

But still, grandmas in the passing lane is definitely the most annoying thing.

P.S. About the 10-over thing: We were doing 80 in rural central Washington where the speed limit was 70. We passed a highway patrol and he didn't seem to care.

^^Thanks! And can you tell my something about the US-395?

^^Thanks! And can you tell my something about the US-395?

To be honest with you, I've never been on that road. Once I get my drivers license later this year, I'll still have about oh another 5 years before my parents will let me travel long distance :] In the mean time, I'll just tell you it runs close to some farms, and if you're driving in August, there are tons of very good white peaches that you can pick (and pay for by the pound of course) :].

^^ I have driven US-395 in Washington (2 days ago) and in California. Mostly, it is a 2x2 divided highway but with at-grade intersections. The speed limit in Washington is 112 km/h and in California 105 km/h. I would say it is enforced in both states just like other rural motorways.

As for driving 80 mph in 70 zone in Central Washington, I would not try it. In California, it would probably be OK all the time, but in Washington it is up to a particular policeman's discretion. Also, on non-motorways in Central Washington most people do follow the speed limit and police really enforce the limits vigorously. Unlike California, in Washington all police agencies (i.e. state police, sheriff, city and even university police) can be seen enforcing the speed limits in the same place! Having 6.5 years of California driving experience, I received 3 citations in Washington before I started following the limits exactly. Observing other people, I'd say they too had their share of tickets in Washington.

They opened the bridge in the I-264 freeway in Norfolk, Virginia.

http://i26.tinypic.com/ravy8n.jpg

in Washington it is up to a particular policeman's discretion.

You're right, and especially in urban areas, it's VERY heavily enforced. Washington police tend to hide beneath overpasses where you can't see them until it's too late.

But he was still doing 80 so we followed him haha. :nuts:

Pretty funny article regarding speeding tickets.

Excuses, excuses: Kitsap Co. speeders have plenty

Story Updated: Jul 6, 2008 at 10:03 AM PDT

By Kitsap Sun

KITSAP COUNTY - Deputies have heard plenty of excuses from speeding motorists since the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office made traffic enforcement and catching speeders a top priority.

In 2007, Kitsap County deputies wrote 13,510 traffic tickets — for speeding, seatbelt violations and the like — to almost double the number issued in 2004. That is second only to the Washington State Patrol's 16,538 tickets issued in Kitsap County.

Here's the craziest excuses Kitsap County cops have actually received (that's worth repeating — these are real) when they ask the motorist: "Why were you speeding?"

- "I didn't know I was, because my lights are off."

- "I'm taking my friend to the hospital. He has alcohol poisoning." (The driver was drunk, too).

- After crashing: "I put supreme gas in the car, which caused me to lose control." (He, too, was found to be drunk.)

- "Don't I get a couple over when I am taking my grandkids to the airport?"

- "I get 10 extra in the fast lane."

- "My speedometer is broken."

- "Gas pedal got stuck."

- "I'm trying to catch that UFO. Can you try to catch it for me?"

- "I had a bee in the car."

- "I am late for church and don't want to go to hell."

- "I have been drinking and want to get off the road quickly."

- "I'm going to a divorce proceeding and if you met her, sir, you would understand why I am hurrying."

- "I am wearing really heavy shoes today and they make the gas pedal go down more."

- "I just got my license back from it being suspended and I am not used to driving."

- "My doctor gave me the wrong meds."

HAWC1506, it seems to me that Washington law enforcement agencies have way too much free time on their hands, so they can spend time enforcing +5 km/h speed limit violations (yes, 5 km/h over got my friend a ticket in Pullman). In California, they write much less tickets and only for +25 km/h or more. Now, I am visiting my family in Sacramento, so I can relax a little bit.

Sounds like Washington is becoming like Virginia when comes to speed enforcement.

HAWC1506, it seems to me that Washington law enforcement agencies have way too much free time on their hands, so they can spend time enforcing +5 km/h speed limit violations (yes, 5 km/h over got my friend a ticket in Pullman). In California, they write much less tickets and only for +25 km/h or more. Now, I am visiting my family in Sacramento, so I can relax a little bit.

I wish they would enforce something other than just speed. If they enforced the keep right except to pass law, they would probably make just as much money as from speeding tickets and double their revenue.

That I-264 bridge is crazy! wtf

That I-264 bridge is crazy! wtf
I forget what the comprehensive list of these is, but there are several active drawspans on USA interstates and other freeways. These include:

-I-95/495 (Capitol Beltway) Potomac River crossing
-I-278 in NYC
-(non-interstate) Congress Extension of the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago
-The above I-294 in Norfolk, VA
Along with several others.

One was recently eliminated - the I-280 Maumee River Bridge drawspan in Toledo, OH was replaced within the past couple of years with a higher level fixed cable-stayed span.

Mike

Here's the State Route 520 floating bridge opened:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/12C12BA6-923B-460C-8F6E-2C7843F990B8/18148/IMG_1686_514.jpg

The SR 520 floating bridge is a prime example of how outdated our transportation system is.

SR 520 bridge during February 2006 storm.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/12C12BA6-923B-460C-8F6E-2C7843F990B8/18150/IMG_1661_511.jpg


SR 520 bridge drawspan open during February 2006 storm. The three holes seen underneath the center roadway once had three large drawspan hooks -- which were torn off during the storm.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/12C12BA6-923B-460C-8F6E-2C7843F990B8/18148/IMG_1686_514.jpg

SR 520 bridge drawspan alignment hook torn off during February 2006 storm.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/12C12BA6-923B-460C-8F6E-2C7843F990B8/18149/IMG_1690_512.jpg

Bridge crew routinely make repairs to cracks inside the floating pontoons. Here is a repaired crack. Four rows of orange pipe house post-tensioning cable.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/12C12BA6-923B-460C-8F6E-2C7843F990B8/35590/cracksinsidepontoon510.jpg

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/E236233F-C5F6-4F2F-A848-F3348C7BE7FF/0/repairedcrack2.jpg

SR 520 bridge closed for storm repairs during February 2006 storm.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/12C12BA6-923B-460C-8F6E-2C7843F990B8/18146/IMG_1679_515.jpg

The inside of a hollow bridge support column that was damaged by a barge in 1999.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/5CD4573C-2B56-40E4-9E58-8A6AE975CF4C/0/520_hollowcolumn_enlarged.jpg

WSDOT crews repair a damaged support column after a barge crash in July 1999.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D26925EA-0263-4C37-AF29-CD20586B2671/0/520_crashrepair_enlarged.jpg

A torn cable joint found during a routine inspection. The cables connect the floating bridge pontoons with their underwater lakebed anchors.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0CDA608F-617D-416F-962D-522896D2C482/0/520_torncable_enlarged.jpg

All images are from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

Do they have a lot of these in the United States?
http://altijdeenmening.web-log.nl/mijn_weblog/images/flitspaal00120klein.jpg

Interesting stats I found about the condition of Interstate Highways throughout the United States.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2mxllk.png

http://i29.tinypic.com/2hi1rfd.png

More stats:

Strange that there's no definition of congestion in the United States. In the Netherlands, traffic congestion occurs when the speed is under 30 mph for at least 1.5 mile straight.

http://i32.tinypic.com/jra9v4.png

Yesterday I was driving from the Boston Intl. Airport westwards, and those roads are in quite a bad condition. Btw, I made some pics, I'll post them when I get home.

^^ I-90?

No, I-93 I believe :)

That's north or southbound :D

^^But you eventually turn westwards, you know, Logan airport is a bit on the north side of the city (though I'm not sure about that) :D

Logan Airport is at the eastside of Boston, and the I-93 runs from the southside of Boston to Saint Johnsbury in Vermont. However, it has a few west/eastbound miles along the southern side of Boston.

^^That'll be the part I've been making pictures of then. I've had a look at them and it clearly says I-93.

Not shocked about where Alabama is on the urban interstate conditions table. I would give ALDOT an F when it comes to maintance, and expansion when needed in urban areas. I am surpised about this states rank on the rural conditions table though.


The bottom line is politics has a huge role in terms of where transportation money goes here.

Interesting that CT is on the top 10 states when it comes to congestion.

Then again, it's not surprising. I heard that I-84 in Downtown Hartford gets almost 180,000 cars/day. The government says that it's now actually more congested than I-95 in the Southwest part of the state. That highway is a nightmare during the day.

That I-264 bridge is crazy! wtf

It's actually an old, pre-Interstate drawbridge with a newer one alongside. I think the river below gets very little overheight traffic, so the drawbridge opens infrequently.

Going south/west from the bridge(s), I-264 dives rapidly into a tunnel, passing through a very compact interchange with I-464. The tunnel is also a new one, c. the early '80's, paired with an older one:
http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Central_Norf_Ports.jpg

The Tidewater area has a very unusual and :cool: road system.

Yesterday I watched on TV driving from Houston to Phoenix on I-10. Semi-arid to arid landscape most of the time. And road surface was mostly quite good!

Does anyone know the annual transportation expenses of the U.S. and Europe?

Yesterday I watched on TV driving from Houston to Phoenix on I-10. Semi-arid to arid landscape most of the time. And road surface was mostly quite good!

That's interesting. I'll be driving from Phoenix to Austin during the middle of this month. I can't wait. Plus I'm taking my favorite airline American Airlines out to Phoenix so it will be a fun travel trip. :)

Does anyone know the annual transportation expenses of the U.S. and Europe?

I know it's about € 2.5 billion in the Netherlands for roads, and about € 3 billion for public transit (these expenses are totally out of line with the actual transportationprestation), and a few billions for waterworks (including dikes).

I know it's about € 2.5 billion in the Netherlands for roads, and about € 3 billion for public transit (these expenses are totally out of line with the actual transportationprestation), and a few billions for waterworks (including dikes).

Do you know how that figure compares to the U.S. in terms of expense per mile?

Do they have a lot of these in the United States?
http://altijdeenmening.web-log.nl/mijn_weblog/images/flitspaal00120klein.jpg
Very few states allow photo enforcement of speed laws. It just strikes Americans as being un-American (relating to a Constitutional tenet of being able to face one's accuser in court), also with overtures of local corruption and the stereotypical 'Deputy Dawg' small-town speed trap. I do know that Washington, DC has some, but although I have heard of them being tried elsewhere (ie, some corrupt towns in Ohio), I don't have any other current specific examples other than in construction zones.

Nearly ALL regular photo-enforcement in the USA is at stop and go lights (what we Wisconsinites call signalized intersections) and railroad crossings.

Mike

Very few states allow photo enforcement of speed laws. It just strikes Americans as being un-American (relating to a Constitutional tenet of being able to face one's accuser in court), also with overtures of local corruption and the stereotypical 'Deputy Dawg' small-town speed trap. I do know that Washington, DC has some, but although I have heard of them being tried elsewhere (ie, some corrupt towns in Ohio), I don't have any other current specific examples other than in construction zones.

Nearly ALL regular photo-enforcement in the USA is at stop and go lights (what we Wisconsinites call signalized intersections) and railroad crossings.

Mike

The only cameras I've ever seen in Washington State are red-light cameras. There were some issues with cities shortening the yellow light to catch more red-light runners.

^ That's bad, someone can crash in you from behind.

In Minnesota the state supreme court ruled that those cameras violated the state constitution because it couldn't be proved who was actually driving the vehicle.

^^ So? Send the fine to the owner, and let him deal with it. Dutch cars are always fined from behind.

^^ So? Send the fine to the owner, and let him deal with it. Dutch cars are always fined from behind.

What if the owner's not driving? If your son is speeding do YOU want the ticket?
I saw a story from Atlanta about a guy who got a ticket because a repairman who was working on his vehicle while he was out of town took it for a drive and ran a red light.

^^ So? Send the fine to the owner, and let him deal with it. Dutch cars are always fined from behind.

In Czech, the driver must be unambiguously recognizable on the picture that is attached to the fine... otherwise the owner of the car may refuse to tell who actualy drove (if the driver was a family member).

What if the owner's not driving? If your son is speeding do YOU want the ticket?
I saw a story from Atlanta about a guy who got a ticket because a repairman who was working on his vehicle while he was out of town took it for a drive and ran a red light.

It's the vehicle of the owner, thus his responsibility what happens to it. Unless you can prove your car was stolen or something like that.

^^That is indeed the easiest way, and it saves a lot of trouble when you might have to prove who was driving, etc.

It's the vehicle of the owner, thus his responsibility what happens to it. Unless you can prove your car was stolen or something like that.

Don't most insurance companies in the U.S. follow that policy? It's like if a gun is stolen from your house and you don't report it to the police as theft, then you will be responsible for it if a crime was committed with the gun.

Insurance companies might go by that method, but it wouldn't hold up in court (at least I hope it wouldn't).

There are some speed trap cameras on the 10 in Arizona.

Very few states allow photo enforcement of speed laws. It just strikes Americans as being un-American (relating to a Constitutional tenet of being able to face one's accuser in court), also with overtures of local corruption and the stereotypical 'Deputy Dawg' small-town speed trap. I do know that Washington, DC has some, but although I have heard of them being tried elsewhere (ie, some corrupt towns in Ohio), I don't have any other current specific examples other than in construction zones.

Nearly ALL regular photo-enforcement in the USA is at stop and go lights (what we Wisconsinites call signalized intersections) and railroad crossings.

Mike

Atleast 20 States use red light cameras. There was also a recent study that showed accidents increase at these locations because more people are slamming on their brakes and causing rear end collisions. Yet another article I read recently stated that some cities are reducing the cameras because people are actually obeying the lights and less revenue is collected in relation to the cost of the cameras!

It's the vehicle of the owner, thus his responsibility what happens to it. Unless you can prove your car was stolen or something like that.

No. It's the responsibility of the person DRIVING the car. He or she must obey the traffic laws. If a cop pulls them over he's not going to write a speeding ticket to the vehicle's owner.

That is indeed the easiest way, and it saves a lot of trouble when you might have to prove who was driving, et

I sure hope they'll have to prove who was driving. Isn't that the point of justice? You can't just go around making assumptions when a law is broken; someone should have to PROVE that you did whatever you've been charged with. I don't want to get in trouble for something I haven't done just to "save a lot of trouble" for the authorities.

Don't most insurance companies in the U.S. follow that policy? It's like if a gun is stolen from your house and you don't report it to the police as theft, then you will be responsible for it if a crime was committed with the gun.

Oh, this isn't how it should be. One thing is getting a simple fine b/c of someone else speeding with your car (though you can't be happy with it), other thing is when someone runs over a pedestrian with your car.

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/6349/backgroundhv1.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=backgroundhv1.jpg)

Went to the park today, and running over that park is an I-90 bridge. I snapped a few not-so-good photos off of my phone. Sorry for the quality, that was about as good as it can get with the bright sun.

This I-90 bridge carries traffic on four lanes in each direction (3 general purpose + 1 HOV) and also a two-lane center reversible HOV system.. This section of the bridge is also where the center reversible 2-lane HOV begins/ends. Carrying a total of 10 lanes of traffic, the bridge also has shoulders on both sides of traffic (each direction) and a separate bicycle path on the side. I believe the bridge is relatively new compared to surrounding structures. Possibly not more than 20 years old.

First an aerial view from Google Maps.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/Map.jpg

Looking east
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_004.jpg

Looking west. Notice the person near the bridge support. It's actually a bigger bridge than it seems on the picture.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_003.jpg

Looking west again.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_006.jpg

Looking north at the houses.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_005.jpg

Looking northeast about 500 feet away from the bridge.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_007.jpg

Looking northwest.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_009.jpg

Looking northwest again with the picknick area.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/IMAGE_011.jpg

Also, the stretch of I-90 on the island just west of that bridge earned an award for design.

Here's the Google Map location for you to explore a bit. Just follow I-90 throughout that whole island and I must say, it's quite impressive. The satellite pictures are very new, so you can see the construction activity that's going on there. The project is adding an additional HOV lane to the outer roadways, adding on to the reversibles that already exist.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=i-90+mercer+island&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=13&iwloc=addr

Don't most insurance companies in the U.S. follow that policy? It's like if a gun is stolen from your house and you don't report it to the police as theft, then you will be responsible for it if a crime was committed with the gun.

no, gun laws are very different from driving laws. Theres a reason there isnt a waiting period to buy a car. My uncle totaled my moms car last year and got charged with reckless driving, not my mom.

no, gun laws are very different from driving laws. Theres a reason there isnt a waiting period to buy a car. My uncle totaled my moms car last year and got charged with reckless driving, not my mom.

I guess that's more reasonable for the owner of the car. But then your mom's insurance rate would go up still right?

That's interesting. I'll be driving from Phoenix to Austin during the middle of this month. I can't wait. Plus I'm taking my favorite airline American Airlines out to Phoenix so it will be a fun travel trip. :)

I did I-10 from Florida to LA in 2001.
Anyway I hope you'll take some pictures. ;)
When I was there they were doing some resurfacing east from El Paso. I wonder how the route looks now.

Do they have a lot of these in the United States?
http://altijdeenmening.web-log.nl/mijn_weblog/images/flitspaal00120klein.jpg

Well, they love the red light cameras here in San Diego, 'cause they put them in all over the county. They've also reconfigured many of them to snap pictures from the rear of the car rather than from the front, because a lot of drivers drive around without a front license plate (which is illegal in CA) and they couldn't give some people a ticket if they didn't have a front plate. With the new cameras, now they're guaranteed to have a visible license plate.

Do they have a lot of these in the United States?
http://altijdeenmening.web-log.nl/mijn_weblog/images/flitspaal00120klein.jpg

u see them everywhere in cali.

Interesting stats I found about the condition of Interstate Highways throughout the United States.

http://i32.tinypic.com/2mxllk.png

http://i29.tinypic.com/2hi1rfd.png

wow, california is like at the bottom of every list. how embarrassing :ohno:

In Czech, the driver must be unambiguously recognizable on the picture that is attached to the fine... otherwise the owner of the car may refuse to tell who actualy drove (if the driver was a family member).

Cool!

So you need a fake moustache and a sunglasses and you are untouchable... :lol:

About this list of Interstate conditions: it is really bad in MA, I wonder what they call good and what they call poor.

About this list of Interstate conditions: it is really bad in MA, I wonder what they call good and what they call poor.

Yeah same here, the only reply I ever hear when I ask that question is that "the condition is bad." I think that says something though haha.

The road ahead is empty.
It's paved with miles of the unknown.
http://www.panoramio.com/photos/original/3647301.jpg

This song suits really well. (City to City - The Road Ahead)
35wEzoXgyqY

^^You, sir, just made my day.

That's not an Interstate, though.

No, it's US 93 between Las Vegas and Reno.

I did I-10 from Florida to LA in 2001.
Anyway I hope you'll take some pictures. ;)
When I was there they were doing some resurfacing east from El Paso. I wonder how the route looks now.

Wow that sounds like a great trip. I'll definitely take some pictures.

What do you guys think about Philadelphia? How's traffic there? Traffic.com doesn't report that many traffic jams, though I see on Google Earth there aren't so many expressways, and the ones that exist aren't wide (Schuylkill is only 4 lanes). They have some massive boulevards though, the Roosevelt Boulevard is 12 lanes wide.

However, Philly's suburbs are not very dense, spread out, and the agglomeration sprawls out over a gigantic area, also in New Jersey. Philadelphia city proper, however, looks very old, especially the residential area's.

I really love the name "Philadelphia". I think it's one of the most beautiful names for any major US city.

I thought it worth mentioning that there will be a formal groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, July 14th for construction on the first segment of new terrain I-69 in Indiana. The segment is 1.77 miles long and will run from the I-64/I-164 interchange to SR 68. The price tag is $25.3 million.


Furthermore, the state plans to have work either finished or substantially completed on the first three segments of I-69 by 2015. This would mean a limited access freeway would exist from I-64 to U.S. 231 just NW of Crane Naval Warfare Center, a distance of nearly 70 miles.

What do you guys think about Philadelphia? How's traffic there? Traffic.com doesn't report that many traffic jams, though I see on Google Earth there aren't so many expressways, and the ones that exist aren't wide (Schuylkill is only 4 lanes). They have some massive boulevards though, the Roosevelt Boulevard is 12 lanes wide.

However, Philly's suburbs are not very dense, spread out, and the agglomeration sprawls out over a gigantic area, also in New Jersey. Philadelphia city proper, however, looks very old, especially the residential area's.

I really love the name "Philadelphia". I think it's one of the most beautiful names for any major US city.


Philadelphia is a very old city by American standards, having been founded by Quakers in the 1680s.

The city had an extensive freeway system planned but many routes were cancelled as they would have carved thorugh dense and long-established neighborhoods. Coincidentally, there were also plans for a far more extensive subway system in the city than exists today.

Currently, I think the Philadelphia metro area has an adequate freeway system in terms of coverage and length but their location and especially condition leave much to be desired. The poor condition of the roads is due to their old age. As with most urban freeway systems, Philly's requires extensive upgrading and lane addition in certain parts.

Wow that sounds like a great trip. I'll definitely take some pictures.

We drove from Orlando through New Orleans, El Paso, Phoenix, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco to LA and then all the way back to Florida, to Miami actually.
It was around 6500 miles in 15 days :nuts:
Unfortunately it was before I bought my camera so I don't really have pictures from that trip:(
But I didn't make this mistake again and next time I went to US I had my camera ready ;)

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, not far east from Breezewood, PA.

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2236970.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2236969.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/Rays_Hill_2006.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Abandoned_Turnpike.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4563977.jpg

This section included 3 tunnels, which had, at that time, only one tube. It was considered less expensive to construct a whole new section of the Turnpike than to add a second tube.

The Delaware Bridge between Delaware and New Jersey. It currently carries Interstate 295, however I think they'd better reroute I-95 across this bridge and the New Jersey Turnpike, giving a more direct route between New York and Baltimore.
http://i36.tinypic.com/eqcu1d.jpg

Interstate 70 in the Glenwood Canyon, Colorado:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/CZglenwood.jpg

Highway number overlap of two different states:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/End_Missouri_43.jpg/800px-End_Missouri_43.jpg

Underground Coal Fire in Centralia, PA destroying a State Route:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Pdr_1647.jpg/800px-Pdr_1647.jpg

Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike, not far east from Breezewood, PA.

[snip]

This section included 3 tunnels, which had, at that time, only one tube. It was considered less expensive to construct a whole new section of the Turnpike than to add a second tube.
This section of abandoned highway, including the two tunnels, is being converted into a bicycle/recreation trail.

I have always thought that it would me a great location for shooting post-apocalyptic movies, too.

Mike

The Delaware Bridge between Delaware and New Jersey. It currently carries Interstate 295, however I think they'd better reroute I-95 across this bridge and the New Jersey Turnpike, giving a more direct route between New York and Baltimore.


Well, changing the number of the turnpike really doesn't make any difference. The reason the southern part of the NJ turnpike is not numbered I-95 is because the Federal Highway administration wanted I-95 to run through Philadelphia. Originally, I-95 was meant to continue north from Ternton, NJ and merge with the NJ Turnpike in SW Metro New York City near New Brunswick, but residents along the corridor revolted and it was never built.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_Freeway


Currently, Pennsylvania is constructing an interchange between I-276 and I-95, afterwards the easternmost leg of I-276 will be designated as I-95 which ends at the NJ Turnpike SE of Trenton. Then I-95 and the NJ Turnpike will run together through the rest of the state.

What do you guys think about Philadelphia? How's traffic there? Traffic.com doesn't report that many traffic jams, though I see on Google Earth there aren't so many expressways, and the ones that exist aren't wide (Schuylkill is only 4 lanes). They have some massive boulevards though, the Roosevelt Boulevard is 12 lanes wide.

However, Philly's suburbs are not very dense, spread out, and the agglomeration sprawls out over a gigantic area, also in New Jersey. Philadelphia city proper, however, looks very old, especially the residential area's.

I really love the name "Philadelphia". I think it's one of the most beautiful names for any major US city.

The Schuylkill Expressway is terrible. It is 30 years outdated, but they can't widen it because it's along the river. It jams up all of the time.

Well, changing the number of the turnpike really doesn't make any difference. The reason the southern part of the NJ turnpike is not numbered I-95 is because the Federal Highway administration wanted I-95 to run through Philadelphia. Originally, I-95 was meant to continue north from Ternton, NJ and merge with the NJ Turnpike in SW Metro New York City near New Brunswick, but residents along the corridor revolted and it was never built.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_Freeway


Currently, Pennsylvania is constructing an interchange between I-276 and I-95, afterwards the easternmost leg of I-276 will be designated as I-95 which ends at the NJ Turnpike SE of Trenton. Then I-95 and the NJ Turnpike will run together through the rest of the state.

Additionally, the Federal government was lucky to be able to sign any part of the Turnpike as I-95. new Jersey built the Turnpike and other expressways before the Interstates, and I beliebe that they originally told the government to build a completely new I-95 all the way into New York.

I think it's fine the way that it is, with I-295 carrying traffic to the New Jersey Turnpike. Traffic can get bad here in Delaware as you apporach the split, since out-of-state traffic is weaving all over the place to get into a lane for their destination, but the state puts up signs that are miles ahead telling people what side of I-95 they need to get on, depending on if they're going to Philadelphia or New York. I think the first sign telling people about the split is right when you cross in from Maryland.

I am going to be meeting two WSDOT engineers for a job shadow in a few days. If you guys would like me to ask them any questions, please tell me, and I will try to take some notes.

Yesterday I made some pics of the I-95 north, and of the I-93 north. Boston centre-Peabody. I'll post them when I get home (takes another month), because I've left my camera cable at home.

Cool!

So you need a fake moustache and a sunglasses and you are untouchable... :lol:
you haven't seen the latest episode of Top Gear then have you? :P

I am going to be meeting two WSDOT engineers for a job shadow in a few days. If you guys would like me to ask them any questions, please tell me, and I will try to take some notes.
Yeah, why the hell the WA DOT switched back to outdated US customary system? :bash:

I also made some pics of the state road 2 in MA. Quite a good road actually (also for speeding, on sunday morning :D)

I also made some pics of the state road 2 in MA. Quite a good road actually (also for speeding, on sunday morning :D)
Kewl, can you post them in the Non-interstate thread? I'd like to see them.

:cheers1:

Mike

^^I will, as soon as I get home. Now I just have to take care that I don't accidently delete all my pics.

Okay guys, here's a batch of pictures. There are I-90, I-405 and I-5 in Washington State. I took them on my trip to Mt. Rainier. Sorry about the quality though, I was stuck in the third row of a Toyota Sienna.

I-90. This one's a little confusing. The Eastbound direction is cut off on the right. So what you are seeing is westbound and an on-ramp.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01314.jpg

Right before the I-90 and I-405 interchange. I had to take this out the back window.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01315.jpg

Again
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01316.jpg

On a I-405 ramp overpass
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01318.jpg

I-405 pics
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01319.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01320.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01321.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01322.jpg

Now here are I-5s coming back from the trip.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01327.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01328.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01329.jpg

Then a few more I-405s
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01330.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01331.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01332.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01333.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01336.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01339.jpg

I-405 coming onto I-90
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01342.jpg

A little past the I-405 and I-90 interchange. The left ramp is a direct access HOV ramp. Notice the salmon by the junction.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01343.jpg

Enjoy!

Beautiful and smooth. Thanks for sharing.

Great pics :cheers:
Yesterday I made a few pics (5 or sth) of the I-85 southbound in GA.

Beautiful and smooth. Thanks for sharing.

I-90 is pretty nice. I-405 is also pretty nice (for the most part). They're both mainly asphalt, but due to studded tire use, the pavement is actually very rough. Ruts begin to develop after a while. The concrete ones are the really bad ones though. I-5 through Seattle has not been touched since its construction in the 1960s. I'll see if I can get some pictures of those later.

Even the best highways here still lag behind most European countries though.

Damn, California is always on the bottom :ohno:

Also, many exit signs still don't have the exit numbers (California was one of the last states to implement exit numbering).

As always, Caltrans doesn't have enough money, so they only add the exit numbers if they have to maintain or replace a sign. It could take well over a decade before all signs have exit numbers. From what I've seen from pictures, some signs seems to be over 4 - 5 decades old.

A month ago, I drove from Pullman, WA to Sacramento, CA (~1300 km). Since my wife is not keen on highway photography, no pictures from me :( However, I could observe some interesting differences between three states that we passed - namely, California, Oregon and Washington.

The best drivers are Oregonians, hands down. The worst cops are in Washington. The most lenient cops were of California Highway Patrol. The worst drivers are Californians, hands down. What bothered me in California was the absence of green mile-markers. In California, they put white markers that have very small font and show the county name and the number of miles since the beginning in this particular county. Looks like they are installed for DOT/CHP and are not very helpful for ordinary drivers. Also, many exit signs still don't have the exit numbers (California was one of the last states to implement exit numbering).

The worst cops are in Washington.

Care to define "worst"?:lol:

A month ago, I drove from Pullman, WA to Sacramento, CA (~1300 km). Since my wife is not keen on highway photography, no pictures from me :( However, I could observe some interesting differences between three states that we passed - namely, California, Oregon and Washington.

The best drivers are Oregonians, hands down. The worst cops are in Washington. The most lenient cops were of California Highway Patrol. The worst drivers are Californians, hands down. What bothered me in California was the absence of green mile-markers. In California, they put white markers that have very small font and show the county name and the number of miles since the beginning in this particular county. Looks like they are installed for DOT/CHP and are not very helpful for ordinary drivers. Also, many exit signs still don't have the exit numbers (California was one of the last states to implement exit numbering).

Been to the Baltimore/DC metro area? Drivers are very stupid here. And aren't Oregon drivers stupid in the Portland area?

Alex, have you ever been to the East Coast? I think you would HATE the drivers here. :lol:

Drivers in the Northwest, from what I have heard, tend to be the best in the nation.

Best in what? I personally think US drivers are stupid compared to European drivers(with some exceptions of course).

^^ I've seen lots of driving video's from Illnesinthesand on youtube (http://nl.youtube.com/user/llnesinthesand), and what would bother me the most as a European drivers is that everybody just sticks in a lane he likes, both cars and trucks. I hate that, you have to switch lanes all the time to overtake someone.
Besides that, traffic seems to be kind of disciplined, everybody takes their time. In Europe, there are non-stop guys on the left lane driving as fast as possible. You feel hunted if you overtake someone at the speed limit (=75 - 80 mph).

People here do overtake at speeds higher that the speed limit. I personally don't take care if people is overtaking everybody at 80+mph speeds as long as they know what they dong.

^^ I've seen lots of driving video's from Illnesinthesand on youtube (http://nl.youtube.com/user/llnesinthesand), and what would bother me the most as a European drivers is that everybody just sticks in a lane he likes, both cars and trucks. I hate that, you have to switch lanes all the time to overtake someone.
Besides that, traffic seems to be kind of disciplined, everybody takes their time. In Europe, there are non-stop guys on the left lane driving as fast as possible. You feel hunted if you overtake someone at the speed limit (=75 - 80 mph).

Unfortunately, it's an American legacy. Even in drivers ed, you will see driving instructors overtake on the right. It will take lots and lots of time and effort to correct this habit (if they even bother correcting it at all).

My experience of US drivers is that they are more dangerous in especially overtaking. Because on Interstates there are a lot of 'exit only' lanes and you drive on one before you know. People are thus more eager to take the middle lane, causing faster drivers to overtake on the right.

Instead of those "exit only" signs, they should make a different road marking for exit lanes. We do it this way in the Netherlands:
http://www.gratisrijbewijsonline.nl/definitieswet/afbeeldingennl/wegwetnl30.JPG

http://www.gratisrijbewijsonline.nl/definitieswet/afbeeldingennl/wegwetnl75.GIF

here's the Delaware Memorial Bridge which carries I-295...:)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g27/malejana/CIMG1209.jpg

A couple from around my metro, I-4, I-275, I-375

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/P7040721.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/P7090721.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/P7090722.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/P7090723.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/Redbull%20Flutag%202008%20Tampa/P7190449.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/Redbull%20Flutag%202008%20Tampa/P7190452.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/Redbull%20Flutag%202008%20Tampa/P7190454.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MK727%20Ablum%202/Redbull%20Flutag%202008%20Tampa/P7190455.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MKs%20Chrysler%20Concorde2/Concorde%20July%202008/P7260521.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MKs%20Chrysler%20Concorde2/Concorde%20July%202008/P7260522.jpg

http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u1/MK727/MKs%20Chrysler%20Concorde2/Concorde%20July%202008/P7260525.jpg

There doesn't seem to be damage to the Los Angeles freeways after the 5.8 earthquake that hit around noon local time.

There seem to be some problems on the 91 freeway according to sigalert:

Per 86-95 North 241 to East 91, Separation on the Bridge, Its a Pretty Good Size, There is a Separation Gap, Advise Caltrans to Look at

Perm 86-91 K, the Transition West 91 to South 241, at the Bridges Crosses Over the North Transition Separated Out, Obvious Signs of Separation, Need Caltrans to Check

Will Lanes Need to Be Closed? Thanx Transportation Management Center

Not on the Lanes Being Shut Down, the Bridges Need to Be Checked Out

Per 86-S3, Have the 405 /55 Units Check the Bridge Overpasses and Transition Roads at 55 and 405

edit:

On Scene in the Area, Both Flyover, Car Pool Lanes, to the 405 /5 Area and the Truck Bypass, All the Expansions Joints Are Larger Than Normal, Request Caltrans

Best in what? I personally think US drivers are stupid compared to European drivers(with some exceptions of course).

According to this link:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/05/26/dumb_driver_states/index.html

Oregon and Washington were found to have the best results from a state drivers test (don't ask me which one), and not surprising, Rhode Island and Massachusetts ranked among the lowest. Not surprising to me...drivers here are the worst. No signaling when changing lanes and hogging the left lane is the majority here. :lol:

My state, Connecticut, was 44 out of 51 (DC was counted).

As for comparing us to European drivers, maybe so.

From what i read, left hoggers are common in Seattle and Portland areas. Americans drivers are so selfish.

Instead of those "exit only" signs, they should make a different road marking for exit lanes. We do it this way in the Netherlands:


This is the best way to handle it. I hardly see people overtaking on the right in NL.

From what i read, left hoggers are common in Seattle and Portland areas. Americans drivers are so selfish.

Left lane hogging is an epidemic in Seattle, it drives me nuts, omgahh :bash:

Instead of those "exit only" signs, they should make a different road marking for exit lanes. We do it this way in the Netherlands:
http://www.gratisrijbewijsonline.nl/definitieswet/afbeeldingennl/wegwetnl30.JPG

http://www.gratisrijbewijsonline.nl/definitieswet/afbeeldingennl/wegwetnl75.GIF

The U.S. does too, at least in Washington.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/DSC01343.jpg

Is someone hired to mow the grass on Dutch highways? That looks better than my lawn.

^^ They do that from time to time. However, sometimes American landscaping looks even better. In the Netherlands, it's just grass, in other countries they also put some nice palm trees, flowers, etc.

And in the Netherlands the grass stays greener because we don't have the big droughts like in the US. In Georgia some people paint their grass green because they're not allowed to water it.

Here, they make small-time offenders and laborers mow the lawns in the median.

Always seeing big yellow signs with the word "MOWING" frequently.

I feel sorry for them at times, especially when it's hot like it is now.

Left lane hogging is an epidemic in Seattle, it drives me nuts, omgahh :bash:

Yes, and what is even more frustrating is many do it on purpose because they don't want people driving over the speed limit. Seattle is filled with elitist drivers who would be run off the road in places like Boston or D.C.

^^ They do that from time to time. However, sometimes American landscaping looks even better. In the Netherlands, it's just grass, in other countries they also put some nice palm trees, flowers, etc.

Most of the time though, the median is just a concrete barrier and it is really an eye sore. Concrete becomes dark and cracks after a while and it gives a sort of old, run-down feeling to the highway.

Here, they make small-time offenders and laborers mow the lawns in the median.

Always seeing big yellow signs with the word "MOWING" frequently.

I feel sorry for them at times, especially when it's hot like it is now.

I sometimes see Washington State troopers supervise traffic violators picking up trash off to the side of the road.

Now, here's my vision of an ideal U.S. highway.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/Highway.jpg

Yes, and what is even more frustrating is many do it on purpose because they don't want people driving over the speed limit. Seattle is filled with elitist drivers who would be run off the road in places like Boston or D.C.

Baltimore has those drivers too.

Baltimore has those drivers too.

I'd love it if a law was passed that would suspend licenses for a year for passing on the right and hogging the left lane. Half the drivers in the U.S. will disappear. :D

Yet some European forumers think US drivers are disciplined.

Yet some European forumers think US drivers are disciplined.

oh good god...well I guess there's a difference between polite and disciplined. Polite, yes I think American drivers are much more polite than European drivers.

It depends on the metro.

Connecticut drivers are relatively polite (they suck, but it's more of a passive style), but drivers in Boston and New York are not in any word polite. Road rage is common there.

This question may have already been asked, but are there certain areas in the US where Interstates are paved specifically with asphalt, and others concrete?

This question may have already been asked, but are there certain areas in the US where Interstates are paved specifically with asphalt, and others concrete?

Generally, areas with high volume traffic are paved with Portland Concrete Cement. Outside of city cores though, the pavement becomes Hot-Mixed Dense-Graded Asphalt. Then once you get into mountains where there are colder, harsher weather patterns, again the road surface will become concrete. The reasoning behind that is because concrete is less prone to rutting from studded tires.

Sometimes though for resurfacing projects in city cores, another type of pavement is used. It's called polyester concrete. Regular PCC pavement takes weeks to dry and fully settle and obviously, it is impossible to close down an entire highway in the middle of downtown for a month. The polyester concrete is then used because it dries in two to three hours. In Seattle once, it rained during resurfacing so crews bought an old jet engine that was turned into a giant blow dryer to help the polyester concrete dry. During that project, 2 to 3 lanes of northbound I-5 closed around the clock Aug. 10-25, 2007 for 1.13 miles.

Now there are several pilot projects that are beginning to use Open-Graded Friction-Course asphalt, which is porous and as a result, much quieter. Those are generally in the suburbs where residential units are close to the highway. Currently, two types of quieter asphalt are being tested. There is a polymer-modified asphalt and there is also a rubberized asphalt and both are porous. They are currently being tested for durability.

Then there is also quieter concrete, but that is just PCC with different texturing techniques. Here's the Washington DOT Description:

Quieter concrete – made quieter by using different texturing techniques.

* Longitudinal tining – creates shallow channels in the concrete using a rake. Longitudinal tining is different than traditional transverse tining because the channels are made in the direction of traffic flow.
* Diamond and whisper grinding – used on existing concrete. Crews use diamond saw blades to remove a thin layer of hardened concrete creating a texture pattern similar to corduroy.
* Dragging – includes carpet, burlap and Astroturf™ dragging. Crews drag an inverted section of artificial turf or other material behind the paving machine.

Just for fun, here's the blow dryer:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F00911C2-CEAA-4EAE-9695-E49FE0A4F0F4/0/PavementDryer2WEB.jpg

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/B837385B-11ED-425D-A46D-0BC4866CE012/0/PavementDryer1WEB.jpg

About the noise issue;

PAC is the quietest, but also needs to be repaved the most often. Hence, where you need it the most (urban area's), you can't because you would have to repave roads around the clock. I noticed PAC already has track formation in 2 - 3 years after being paved.

PAC is doing very well in rain (no splashing up), but it does particularly bad in ice storms, since all the vents will fill up with ice, so you can practically ice skate on it. Therefore, PAC is not suited for area's which are prone to ice and snowstorms.

^^

Could you tell me what PAC stands for? I don't think I have ever heard that term before. By the way, I think it was in the German Autobahn thread when we were talking about pavements, you mentioned Dense-graded Asphalt Cement used on the Autobahn. That turns out to be similar to what most northern states in the U.S. use. Dense-graded Asphalt Cement is similar to the dense-graded hot-mixed asphalt. I am not sure what the slight differences are, the engineer that I asked only said that "HMA and asphalt concrete are similar."

I noticed PAC already has track formation in 2 - 3 years after being paved.

Wow that's not a very durable pavement. Do you know where they are used? I doubt that will ever pass in the United States since we tend to build a road and leave it for 15-20 years before touching it again...

PAC = Porous Asphalt Concrete.

PAC = Porous Asphalt Concrete.

Ohhh yeah Washington tested a type of porous asphalt and ruts developed within four years.

Here's a picture.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D7B17F3E-1B65-4E2E-88CF-5B2ADE9E8085/0/PreviousOGFC_450.jpg

Now here's the data for quieter pavement.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C840EFEF-C4E2-44A8-AF5C-9858EE265BE2/0/June08NoiseResults.GIF

I'm guessing that the drop in April was due to the steep rise in gas prices, resulting in less noise on the highway.

^ that pic looks like the road was opened to traffic when the asphalt was to warm

^ that pic looks like the road was opened to traffic when the asphalt was to warm

Nope, that was the quieter porous asphalt rutting after four years of studded tire damage. It was taken back in the mid-1990s.

Best in what? I personally think US drivers are stupid compared to European drivers(with some exceptions of course).

There are bad drives everywhere on the planet. Drive defensively! Plenty of stupid European drivers as well.

That pic looks extremely bad, I've never seen it like that in the Netherlands.

That pic looks extremely bad, I've never seen it like that in the Netherlands.
Nederlands doesn't allow tires with tungsten carbide studs implanted in them like many USA states do, either. They are used in many northern and western USA states for better traction on ice. Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin all outlawed them (Wisconsin in about 1975 after 10 years or so of legality) because of the severe damage that they do to roads - they literally grind the surfaces away leaving dangerous and expensive to repair/replace ruts.

When I was in the Denver, CO area in the mid-1990s, the tire stud damage was so heavy that driving on the metro's freeways was like driving on cobblestones and the paving on one freeway (I-270) was worn so deep that it was even breaking through in places. This wear was even evident on the newly paved parts of I-25 in the downtown and near north area - one could follow the progress of construction related traffic lane shifts by the stud rut patterns.

:ohno:

Mike

Nederlands doesn't allow tires with tungsten carbide studs implanted in them like many USA states do, either. They are used in many northern and western USA states for better traction on ice. Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin all outlawed them (Wisconsin in about 1975 after 10 years or so of legality) because of the severe damage that they do to roads - they literally grind the surfaces away leaving dangerous and expensive to repair/replace ruts.

When I was in the Denver, CO area in the mid-1990s, the tire stud damage was so heavy that driving on the metro's freeways was like driving on cobblestones and the paving on one freeway (I-270) was worn so deep that it was even breaking through in places. This wear was even evident on the newly paved parts of I-25 in the downtown and near north area - one could follow the progress of construction related traffic lane shifts by the stud rut patterns.

:ohno:

Mike

The Netherlands have pretty cold temperatures don't they? How do they drive on ice then?

No, we don't have much real cold. A bit of freezing during the winter. Spikes are not allowed in NL. However, they usually need to patch up some freeways after wintery conditions.

Instead of those "exit only" signs, they should make a different road marking for exit lanes. We do it this way in the Netherlands:
http://www.gratisrijbewijsonline.nl/definitieswet/afbeeldingennl/wegwetnl30.JPG

http://www.gratisrijbewijsonline.nl/definitieswet/afbeeldingennl/wegwetnl75.GIF


Wisconsin and Illinois (and I assume the rest of the country) do the exact same lines. The "EXIT ONLY" signs are in addition to the lines, and inform you that you need to be in that lane for that specific exit.

When I questioned WSDOT about exit-only lanes, they told me that as a general rule (in the U.S. at least), they take away lanes from the right. So if they want to drop a motorway from four lanes to three lanes, they will turn the very right lane into an exit only lane. Somehow to me, that seems a bit weird since travel lanes are to your right. You should be taking away a passing lane instead of a travel lane...

What do they do in Europe?

^^ They do both in Europe. However, it makes more sense at the right, because you expect at a narrowing that traffic volumes drop substantial at or before that exit to justify this narrowing.

There's no general rule. If the number of lanes reduces at an exit, they often make it the same here, but if not, then mostly the overtaking lane is taken away.

^^ They do both in Europe. However, it makes more sense at the right, because you expect at a narrowing that traffic volumes drop substantial at or before that exit to justify this narrowing.

Yeah you're right, and the particular intersection I questioned them on was actually a ramp from State Route, so that particular ramp receives and brings in a lot of traffic. One more thing to add though is that while a lane is being taken away, the carpool lane ends to become a general purpose lane on the left. But the U.S. has so many exit only lanes it bugs me. Not only are they on the right side, they're on the left too, and that's even worse.

It's starting to be corrected though, on sections of I-5 they are starting to replace left exits with flyover ramps. The parts that have exits on the left are usually more than 40 years old. Then, they are also constructing direct access carpool ramps on the left, which I think is great though.

Check out this project:

Major I-405 closures in South Bellevue begin Friday, August 8

Date: Friday, August 01, 2008

Contact: Steve Peer, WSDOT Communications, (425) 301-2023 (Bellevue)
Stacy Trussler, I-405 Deputy Project Director, (425) 401-4126 (Bellevue)

Plan ahead to avoid congestion on all major Seattle and Bellevue highways and arterials

BELLEVUE – Major I-405 closures in South Bellevue are on track to begin Friday, Aug. 8. WSDOT traffic engineers predict major traffic congestion.

During the weekend of August 8 through 11 crews will:

* close all southbound lanes of I-405 between SE 8th Street and I-90 Friday, Aug. 8 at 11 p.m. The lanes will reopen Monday, Aug. 11 at 5 a.m.
* close multiple ramps leading to I-405 in south Bellevue.
* close the ramp from eastbound SR 520 to southbound I-405.

During the 54-hour closure, crews will dump sand to protect the roadway and begin demolishing the Wilburton Tunnel just north of I-90 in South Bellevue. Removing the tunnel will allow contractor crews to begin widening this section of I-405 to 6 lanes. This is part of a $124 million dollar project to eliminate one of the biggest traffic chokepoints in the state.

“To avoid major back-ups throughout the region, we recommend people travel close to home,” said Stacy Trussler, I-405 Deputy Project Director. Trussler added that, “No changes in driving behavior could lead to 13-mile backups on southbound I-405.” Northbound I-405 should not be affected.

During the closure, drivers should:

* avoid the closure area
* use alternate routes in to and out of Bellevue
* check the WSDOT traffic cameras before they use I-5, I-405, SR 520 and SR 522 this weekend at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/seattle/
* vanpool, carpool or take the bus

WSDOT is fully prepared for the closure. We have:

* suspended all construction on parallel or alternate routes
* coordinated extensively with the city of Bellevue to manage increased traffic on city streets into and out of the downtown retail core
* changed the express lanes schedule on both I-5 and I-90. The I-5 express lanes will run southbound throughout the weekend and the I-90 express lanes will run eastbound to carry traffic back over to the eastside.

Contractors estimate it will take three long weekends to bring the tunnel down.

The closures will also take place

* 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15 to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 18
* 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22 to 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 25

During construction weekends, drivers will see increased traffic on all regional freeways between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. In addition to I-405, I-90, SR 520, the I-405 closures will likely affect I-5 and SR 99 southbound traffic, which is typically already heavy on weekends.

“We recommend that people take a ‘staycation’,” Trussler said. “If you need to travel, do it early or late in the day, and leave plenty of time.” Trussler added that Bellevue is open for business during construction. Drivers heading to Bellevue should avoid the freeways and take local arterials.

Many say they don’t even know where the Wilburton Tunnel is located. When headed southbound on I-405, drivers go under the tunnel as they approach the I-90/I-405 interchange. The tunnel spans 360 feet from entrance to exit. Once the highway is widened, WSDOT expects smoother and safer traffic flow for drivers approaching the I-90/I-405 interchange.

WSDOT has developed a Web resource to help drivers plan their trips and avoid backups during closures. The transportation department encourages drivers to visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/i405/112thAvetoSE8th/wilburton.htm. On the Web page, drivers will find links to up-to-the-minute traffic conditions, recommended detours and transportation tips.

I-405 is renowned in Washington for having the most congested freeway section in the state between Tukwila and Bellevue. With downtown Bellevue employment expected to grow by about 40 percent, from 33,000 to 48,000, between 2006 and 2010, improvements such as the South Bellevue Widening Project are critical to relieve I 405 congestion now and into the future.

WSDOT worked with cities and counties in the region to craft a long-term I-405 master plan to address traffic congestion along the corridor. The Wilburton Tunnel removal is part of the I-405 South Bellevue Widening Project, which is a component of the master plan. Also known as the I 405/112th Ave SE to SE 8th St Widening Project, the project is one of three I-405 "Nickel Projects" funded in part by the 2003 nickel funds as well as the 2005 Transportation Partnership Account.

Tunnel Demolition brochure:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/BF70D8A3-0306-432D-9CDB-EB0F0E516366/0/405_tip_rackcard_071008.pdf

I-405 and I-90 Interchange Now:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/13AC602D-6164-4A5A-80D1-03A44868BF6E/0/Existing_rendering.jpg

After the widening project:

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/EFF239DD-827B-4A98-A0A1-4EA9B74BC43A/0/Funded_rendering.jpg

The Master Plan (unfunded)

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/F646C431-B54E-413E-87F0-C97AF4798B02/0/MasterPlanI90_I405_web.jpg

US extends Mexico truck program despite objections

WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The Bush administration on Monday extended a test program allowing long-haul trucks from Mexico full access to U.S. highways for up to two years, despite pending legislation in Congress to shut it down.

"We intend this extension to reassure trucking companies that they will have sufficient time to realize a return on their investment, and we anticipate additional participation with this extra time," said John Hill, the Transportation Department's top trucking safety regulator.

Participation has been limited, regulators said, because of political wrangling about the program's future.

Organized labor, highway safety and consumer groups have fiercely opposed the initiative, which was permitted under NAFTA -- the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Trucks from Mexico have historically been confined to U.S. border areas where they offload goods to be trucked by American companies.

Last year, regulators approved a one-year pilot program to allow a limited number of Mexican trucks full access to U.S. roads over congressional objections. American trucks were also allowed to operate in Mexico.

Ten U.S. carriers with 55 trucks and 27 Mexican carriers with 107 trucks have participated in the program as of July without incident, U.S. and Mexican officials said.

They also said vehicles participating in the program meet safety requirements. But officials from U.S.-based unions say disputed safety issues remain unresolved.

Last week, the House of Representatives Transportation Committee voted to end the pilot as scheduled next month. The bill also requires congressional authority to restart the initiative.

The panel's chairman, Rep. James Oberstar, was furious at the move by transportation regulators, which occurred as Congress began a month-long recess.

"I intend to move our bill as quickly as possible and make certain that the voice of Congress is heard loud and clear at the Department of Transportation and that this program is finally shut down," the Minnesota Democrat said in a statement.

this is unacceptable, they should keep their third world trucks across the border.

wow this thread just...died...did I offend anyone? :ohno:

this is unacceptable, they should keep their third world trucks across the border.

Third World trucks. :lol::lol::lol:
This is a protectionism issue more than anything else.
US and Mexico has the same trucks, cars, etc. If you were more informed, you would know that almost the majority of trucks and cars that exist in the US were assembled in Mexico, and for your surprise Mexican trucks and Cars looks the same as US trucks and cars.
Come on Mexico is not Cuba :lol::lol:

Third World trucks. :lol::lol::lol:
This is a protectionism issue more than anything else.
US and Mexico has the same trucks, cars, etc. If you were more informed, you would know that almost the majority of trucks and cars that exist in the US were assembled in Mexico, and for your surprise Mexican trucks and Cars looks the same as US trucks and cars.
Come on Mexico is not Cuba :lol::lol:
It's the emissions issue and driving standards too. You look at the environmental record of the cars allowed to drive in Mexico's 30 states vs. our 50 states(and Canada's 10 provinces) and you'll see why we're able to find such easy ways to hide behind our protectionism. And ironically, it's the American Unions that are hating because apparently according to them, the Mexican Unions haven't tried to rise up and demand the same quality pay and training that American Unions have for their employees.

I think the current legislation is very outdated. C'mon, let the Mexicans also profit from the American economy. Protectionism is outdated in this time and age of global (free) trade.

When i was in Germany, I saw many Russian trucks, most of them were more modern than the average German truck. It's just a matter of time.

I think the current legislation is very outdated. C'mon, let the Mexicans also profit from the American economy. Protectionism is outdated in this time and age of global (free) trade.

When i was in Germany, I saw many Russian trucks, most of them were more modern than the average German truck. It's just a matter of time.
Ah, so the Unions of the Central European nations are being protectionist because they feel that the Unions of the Eastern European nations are weaker and therefore will not fight to pay their truckers as much as the going rate in Germany/NL/etc?

^^ Nope. I'll try and keep it alive.

I was not aware of that I-90/I-405 redo on Seattle's eastside. You say it isn't funded and that is even tougher now with lower gas tax revenue coming in. But it looks like a good project. I also heard plans for a similar highrise interchange at I-405 and SR167 in Renton. That's probably on hold too.

The US has lived with too low fuel taxes for too long a time, and now, when all the mass constructed infrastructure from the 50's and 60's has to be replaced, there's no money. Mark my words, it's getting worse.

The US has lived with too low fuel taxes for too long a time, and now, when all the mass constructed infrastructure from the 50's and 60's has to be replaced, there's no money. Mark my words, it's getting worse.

I agree. And nobody is going to vote for higher gas taxes with the price we are paying at the pump. The US may have to go more toward toll roads, but even that is unpopular.

The American public need to realize their gas is still cheap-ass compared to other developed nations. In Europe, we still pay over twice your fuel price. But everybody is constantly speaking of high fuel prices, I saw it numerous times on CNN and the LA Times, it's almost like creating an hype.

The American public need to realize their gas is still cheap-ass compared to other developed nations. In Europe, we still pay over twice your fuel price. But everybody is constantly speaking of high fuel prices, I saw it numerous times on CNN and the LA Times, it's almost like creating an hype.

I think the American public understands this. But you have to factor in the lifestyle that has been built on low gas prices. Because of that, Americans bought big gas guzzlers, and created distant suburbs. I'm not saying it is right or wrong, it's just the reality. Plus isn't it true that European gas taxes are somewhat responsible for the high price there?

^^ Yes ofcourse, European taxes are mostly there to fund non-road projects. And they keep to increase. I think the right tax value is somewhere between the US and European prices.

However, I believe the US public can better adjust to higher gas prices, like the European public did with buying fuel-efficient cars (which certainly do not need to be very small). European and Asian car-manufacturers make fuel efficient cars for a long time, while because the fuel was very cheap in the US, the American muscle car never found the need to do this. An average European car consumes almost half of the American car.

I never understood the need of placing a 5 liter engine in an estate or sedan. 1.8 or 2.0 will do the job just fine.

The American public need to realize their gas is still cheap-ass compared to other developed nations. In Europe, we still pay over twice your fuel price. But everybody is constantly speaking of high fuel prices, I saw it numerous times on CNN and the LA Times, it's almost like creating an hype.

A big difference between Europe and the US is that as a result of low fuel taxes US cities have been developed entirely based on the assumption of cheap fuel. Higher fuel prices will severely impact the economies of households that are totally car dependant. Unlike Europe where high fuel taxes and strict urban boundaries have kept urban areas compact and car dependance lower. The typical European household only has 1 car for instance and much shopping is done either on foot or bicycle. Low income households often don't have a car as do many central city housholds(about 20% of Dutch households don't have a car and only about 15% of housholds have more than 1). Americans are more vulnerable to higher fuel bills than probably any other country. I think the US lower and middle class are really going to start to hurt.

There is all the talk about ending dependency on foreign oil.
The best what Americans can do to help them self and country is to switch to more economic vehicles.
Whats wrong with Ford Focus? Or Opel Astra?
Do you really need Ford F-500 to get from home to office?
Even American car makers know how to do great economic cars. Just in Europe.
Ford Europe and Opel (General Motors) are good examples.
Also a lot of delivery trucks in US have far worse efficiency than Ford Transit (probably the most popular van in Europe).
I think Ford is just starting introducing European models (Focus, Fiesta and Transit) in US

Ford is retooling their plants to produce less trucks and more of the cars that they sell in Europe. A little too late if you ask me, but even with the poor auto sales in general, the small ones are by far the best ones and there are literally waiting lists for some models. So, it's a no-brainer. The SUV isn't popular anymore in the US.

Can't say that I'm very interested in the Fiesta though. If I was to get that kind of car, I'd get a Honda Fit. :)

The best that the US (and the states) can do is gradually raise the fuel taxes to help finance the revitalization of our aging infrastructure (or we could just get out of Iraq. ;)), and at the same time, officially make getting more fuel-efficient cars in vogue. The days of cheap gas and Hummers are over and good riddance. The US economy needs to become more efficient and not rely on cheap gas (imported or domestic) as much.

I prefer the get the heck out of Iraq and stay out and put a ton of dough to building mass rapid transit infrastructure. I think gasoline powered vehicles will become a thing of the past in a manner of years and we need to be ready for it.

Well, we are getting the Fiesta in 2010, and we already have the Honda Fit. I currently reside in Virginia, a former crown colony, where we have some of the worst traffic in the nation. I love the American Automobile industry, but there needs to be a change in the Americans live. Americans were used to cheap fuel in the 1990's, which increased suburban sprawl and convinced people that buying large Sport Utility Vehicles and owning a large house in a distant suburb of a city was the way to go. That was considered the "American way." There has been a subtle change in the marketing of automobiles. Ford is bringing six of its European models to the United States soon. But Americans need to hange their philosophy. I admire London for its subway system. I believe it's the largest in the world. It causes transit-oriented development. But America needs more diesel cars. With diesel becoming cleaner and more efficient that petrol, it's time we start introducing more diesel-burning automobiles to the American market. Commuter cars only need to be 1.0 to 2.0 litres. Offshore Oil Drilling, in combination with alternative fuels fuel-efficient cars, will reduce our dependency on foreign oil. That's why Obama needs to become president. America also needs more nuclear, solar, and wind power. But America is leading the way in household alternative power. We are just behind Germany in the Amount of solar power we generate. We are building more wind turbines. I also agree that we should raise our taxes by a small amount. Otherwise, we would be socialist (like Europe), and not have a powerful, free-market economy. Raising taxes would support health care, infrastructure, military, and other needs. We already are the world's strongest country with the strongest military, and I believe if we raise taxes, our military might will be even greater.

Ahaha it's a live!!! Well you have to understand though, the main reason that the Big Three is losing so much money right now is because they don't have fuel-efficient alternatives readily available. The Fiesta isn't going to reach our shores until next year, the Opel Astra (Saturn Astra in the U.S.) is practically sold out.

But then if you look at the VW Golf, (Rabbit here), is only available with a 2.5L petrol engine. There are no smaller engine choices available, so fuel efficiency can only be moderate. Also, diesel cars aren't popular in the U.S....yet. I really wish the U.S. would start taxing and maintain fuel prices at around 6 dollars to a gallon. That would change a lot of habits. Maybe 7 dollars petrol, 6 diesel.

Ahaha it's a live!!! Well you have to understand though, the main reason that the Big Three is losing so much money right now is because they don't have fuel-efficient alternatives readily available. The Fiesta isn't going to reach our shores until next year, the Opel Astra (Saturn Astra in the U.S.) is practically sold out.

But then if you look at the VW Golf, (Rabbit here), is only available with a 2.5L petrol engine. There are no smaller engine choices available, so fuel efficiency can only be moderate. Also, diesel cars aren't popular in the U.S....yet. I really wish the U.S. would start taxing and maintain fuel prices at around 6 dollars to a gallon. That would change a lot of habits. Maybe 7 dollars petrol, 6 diesel.

I beat you to it... :banana:

But then if you look at the VW Golf, (Rabbit here), is only available with a 2.5L petrol engine. There are no smaller engine choices available, so fuel efficiency can only be moderate. Also, diesel cars aren't popular in the U.S....yet. I really wish the U.S. would start taxing and maintain fuel prices at around 6 dollars to a gallon. That would change a lot of habits. Maybe 7 dollars petrol, 6 diesel.

A few companies are bringing diesel models here. I think that Volkswagen and maybe some others (can't remember). Using diesel as a fuel-efficient way is somewhat hard since diesel is hovering $5 here. However, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for it, since diesel cars have the same efficiency as hybrids. The public is oblivious to that.

As for $7 gas, that will be a tough sell. Best case scenario, the US and state governments gradually raise the tax and sell the reasons to the public WHY they are doing this. I think if examples like the Minneapolis bridge disaster are brought up and more education about the slow death of our infrastructure, Americans will have to eventually have to deal with the tough medicine. We really have no other alternative.

Forget making the US more fuel-efficient for a second...we need to increase more money for our highways, bridges and roads or we will be seeing more Minneapolis bridge disasters...I heard a large % of bridges nationwide aren't good. We need to fix them with more revenue.

A few companies are bringing diesel models here. I think that Volkswagen and maybe some others (can't remember). Using diesel as a fuel-efficient way is somewhat hard since diesel is hovering $5 here. However, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for it, since diesel cars have the same efficiency as hybrids. The public is oblivious to that.

As for $7 gas, that will be a tough sell. Best case scenario, the US and state governments gradually raise the tax and sell the reasons to the public WHY they are doing this. I think if examples like the Minneapolis bridge disaster are brought up and more education about the slow death of our infrastructure, Americans will have to eventually have to deal with the tough medicine. We really have no other alternative.

Forget making the US more fuel-efficient for a second...we need to increase more money for our highways, bridges and roads or we will be seeing more Minneapolis bridge disasters...I heard a large % of bridges nationwide aren't good. We need to fix them with more revenue.

There are already diesel models in the U.S. Mercedes has the E-320 Bluetec, a very clean and fuel-efficient diesel, Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD, Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, Mercedes-Benz ML320 CDI, 2008 Mercedes-Benz R320 CDI, Volkswagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel, and the 2008 Volkswagen Touareg 2 V10 TDI Twinturbo.

Oh really...that's something that I didn't know. I need to read up on that, sorry. :lol:

I wish that there was more education about diesel though. People think it's only for trucks.

Right... diesel is superior to petrol in two ways. It produces more torque, thereby increasing a truck's towing capacity and diesel can actually burn more efficient than petrol.

My Diesel car gets 45 miles per gallon :)

^^ Seriously...if Americans knew about the efficiency of diesel, it could actually be worth the higher cost. At least it's more useful spending extra on that instead of say, premium gas.

We should be looking this in the face. :gaah:

BTW: my car gets 30 on the highway. Don't know how much in the city.

I beat you to it... :banana:

Aw man you are so on next time :cheers:

haha there's a Volkswagen Lupos diesel that does 80-something miles to a gallon (imperial I believe), so that drops it down to 60-70 U.S. gallons. Then there's the problem of it being small. The Ford Ka and VW Lupos do not have the ability to withstand an impact from a full-sized SUV like the Tahoe. The Smart barely got away. As for diesel, the EPA estimates are a disadvantage to diesel because the way they test it put diesel fuel economy ratings as much as 18 to 25% less than its actual real-world economy.

As for highways, it would be nice to see a 4-laned highway, the right lane for trucks and trailors capped at 55 miles an hour, the next lane for slower traffic and non-performance-oriented SUVs and minivans (like the Tahoe, Yukon, Sequoia, 4-runner, Pilot, Sienna, Odyssey etc.) capped at 65 mph.

Then the next lane for passing/general traffic capped at 80, and the last for passing that allows you to go 10 over the speed limit for passing.

That's the Lupo 3 L (3 liters per 100km), which gets 70 miles per gallon. However, those are cookie cans without any options. You'll get a much larger diesel car that gets 45 miles per gallon, which is a nice fuel economy. Better than those US 15 - 25 mpg cars.

What is the current speed limit for trucks? In Europe, it's usually 50 - 55 mph. Higher is unsafe in my opinion, they are vulnerable to bad pavement, winds and other traffic makes the possibility to jackknife or turn-over much bigger.

I believe a 70 - 80 mph speed limit is just fine for rural highways. 60/65 feels like crowling. SUV sales should be disencouraged by higher taxes, possibly based on pollution (this is measurable). A chevy Tahoe pollutes nearly 400 grammes CO2 per kilometer, which is just nuts.

HAWC1506, the stock Peugeot 308 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_308) does 75MPG-US / 90MPG-UK. And it's not that small.

Some pictures of the beast :
http://www.netcarshow.com/peugeot/2008-308/

http://img2.netcarshow.com/Peugeot-308_2008_800x600_wallpaper_0c.jpg

http://img2.netcarshow.com/Peugeot-308_2008_800x600_wallpaper_22.jpg


edit : There's also a coupé, with the same fuel economy : http://www.netcarshow.com/peugeot/2009-308_cc/
I wonder how good this would sell in the US...

http://www.leblogauto.com/gallery2/d/111680-2/308cc_0807ps044.jpghttp://www.leblogauto.com/gallery2/d/111580-2/308cc_0807ps015.jpg

That's the Lupo 3 L (3 liters per 100km), which gets 70 miles per gallon. However, those are cookie cans without any options. You'll get a much larger diesel car that gets 45 miles per gallon, which is a nice fuel economy. Better than those US 15 - 25 mpg cars.

What is the current speed limit for trucks? In Europe, it's usually 50 - 55 mph. Higher is unsafe in my opinion, they are vulnerable to bad pavement, winds and other traffic makes the possibility to jackknife or turn-over much bigger.

I believe a 70 - 80 mph speed limit is just fine for rural highways. 60/65 feels like crowling. SUV sales should be disencouraged by higher taxes, possibly based on pollution (this is measurable). A chevy Tahoe pollutes nearly 400 grammes CO2 per kilometer, which is just nuts.

Yeah that is nuts, but there are worse.

Chevy Tahoe petrol: 14 city/20 highway
Toyota Sequoia petrol: 14 city/17 highway
Audi Q7 petrol: 14 city/19 highway

As far as I know, speed limits for trucks are generally 10 miles under the posted speed. Sometimes on rural sections, you can see "Speed Limit 70" and below that "Truck Speed Limit 60." On rural stretches of U.S. highways though, there can be miles without any traffic. With two lanes and a very straight road, I don't think I will have a problem with trucks doing 65. Cars generally do 75 on those stretches and even that feels like crawling.

The argument though is that there are a lot of working-class people who need SUVs, but I don't see how difficult it is to implement an ordnance where people can be relieved of gas-guzzler taxes if they meet working-class requirements.

Then you have performance oriented SUVs like the Audi Q7 or Mercedes M-class. Those get worse mileage than Tahoes. However, I've heard that in Europe, those SUVs are generally sold as diesels. (Is that true?). If so, those get mileages in the mid to high 20s compared to the 15 miles to a gallon in a petrol engine.

It's going to take a long time to change American habits. Why don't we go back to being a British colony :lol:

HAWC1506, the stock Peugeot 308 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peugeot_308) does 75MPG-US / 90MPG-UK. And it's not that small.


I am so disappointed Peugeot isn't sold in the U.S....Americans need to get off the hybrid train. Hybrids may work for Japan where limits are sometimes as low as 80 km/h, but certainly not in the U.S., let alone Europe. It's great to know that the 308 exists! I'll try to do some research and post an article on my blog.

That's the Lupo 3 L (3 liters per 100km), which gets 70 miles per gallon. However, those are cookie cans without any options. You'll get a much larger diesel car that gets 45 miles per gallon, which is a nice fuel economy. Better than those US 15 - 25 mpg cars.

What is the current speed limit for trucks? In Europe, it's usually 50 - 55 mph. Higher is unsafe in my opinion, they are vulnerable to bad pavement, winds and other traffic makes the possibility to jackknife or turn-over much bigger.

I believe a 70 - 80 mph speed limit is just fine for rural highways. 60/65 feels like crowling. SUV sales should be disencouraged by higher taxes, possibly based on pollution (this is measurable). A chevy Tahoe pollutes nearly 400 grammes CO2 per kilometer, which is just nuts.

For not being an American, you have great insight into our highway system. For Rural Interstate highways, the speed limit is mostly 65, with the exception of some states and spans. Our speed limit does need to be raised. In Urban areas, the speed limit for interstates is 55... very slow. To answer your first question, there is no speed limit for trucks in America... they flow along with commuters and interstate travelers going about their daily business. However, some roads say "thru trucks prohibited," meaning trucks cannot use that road. Or it tells trucks to keep right. But I usually travel at around 70-75 on the interstate... I would like to go 80-85, but laws do not allow for this. I think it would be a splendid idea for the US to tax based on emissions... and give tax rebates to those who drive more fuel-efficient cars (it is already doing this to a lesser degree). Gas taxes should also increase. The Tahoe, Yukon, Excursion, and Suburban indeed do not get very good mileage... and minivans are a much more efficient alternative to large SUV's... but the American image of a middle-age man driving a minivan is not so good.

For not being an American, you have great insight into our highway system. For Rural Interstate highways, the speed limit is mostly 65, with the exception of some states and spans. Our speed limit does need to be raised. In Urban areas, the speed limit for interstates is 55... very slow. To answer your first question, there is no speed limit for trucks in America... they flow along with commuters and interstate travelers going about their daily business. However, some roads say "thru trucks prohibited," meaning trucks cannot use that road. Or it tells trucks to keep right. But I usually travel at around 70-75 on the interstate... I would like to go 80-85, but laws do not allow for this. I think it would be a splendid idea for the US to tax based on emissions... and give tax rebates to those who drive more fuel-efficient cars (it is already doing this to a lesser degree). Gas taxes should also increase. The Tahoe, Yukon, Excursion, and Suburban indeed do not get very good mileage... and minivans are a much more efficient alternative to large SUV's... but the American image of a middle-age man driving a minivan is not so good.

It might be that way in virginia, but every state has different laws I guess.

For not being an American, you have great insight into our highway system. For Rural Interstate highways, the speed limit is mostly 65, with the exception of some states and spans. Our speed limit does need to be raised. In Urban areas, the speed limit for interstates is 55... very slow. To answer your first question, there is no speed limit for trucks in America... they flow along with commuters and interstate travelers going about their daily business. However, some roads say "thru trucks prohibited," meaning trucks cannot use that road. Or it tells trucks to keep right. But I usually travel at around 70-75 on the interstate... I would like to go 80-85, but laws do not allow for this. I think it would be a splendid idea for the US to tax based on emissions... and give tax rebates to those who drive more fuel-efficient cars (it is already doing this to a lesser degree). Gas taxes should also increase. The Tahoe, Yukon, Excursion, and Suburban indeed do not get very good mileage... and minivans are a much more efficient alternative to large SUV's... but the American image of a middle-age man driving a minivan is not so good.

To be honest, i dont think the speed limit really needs to be changed up from 55 in an urban area. When you think about it, how often do you even get to go way over 55 on I66- maybe more likely on the beltway. As bad as Virginias traffic seems to be whats the point of going so fast? Its 55 for a reason, a lot of it is a safety issue. If it was I81 then thats obviously a different story as theres less traffic. I dunno just my 2 cents.

55 is okay in Urban area's I guess, but I've seen many video's in the US of driving through cities where you don't see a single home from the freeway. However, 55 is a bit slow, in Europe, most urban area's have a speed limit of 60 mph. Only if the road is very curvy or if there are many exits the speed limit should be slower.

But it also has to do with noise pollutions, the lower the speed limit, the lower the emissions of noise. This is especially an issue where there's still that old concrete, or the freeway is surrounded by concrete walls (=reflections of noise).

Americans are afraid of competition;)

In Europe, it's usually 50 - 55 mph.

In the UK it's 60mph, and to be honest there is -safetywise- nothing wrong with that on usual motorways. I got over 60 mph in holland too (at steep tunnel slopes).

I wonder if american trucks are even confined. Eg, in the Netherlands they have to be confined to somewhere between 80 - 90 km/h (depending on weight).

55 is okay in Urban area's I guess, but I've seen many video's in the US of driving through cities where you don't see a single home from the freeway. However, 55 is a bit slow, in Europe, most urban area's have a speed limit of 60 mph. Only if the road is very curvy or if there are many exits the speed limit should be slower.

But it also has to do with noise pollutions, the lower the speed limit, the lower the emissions of noise. This is especially an issue where there's still that old concrete, or the freeway is surrounded by concrete walls (=reflections of noise).

That is right on the spot(!) for most cities. In the city I see though (Seattle), the speed limit is 60 on I-5, and that highway receives a lot of traffic AND has exits on both the left and right. The highway also runs under a convention center (yes below a building, not a tunnel, but like a hole through the building, which is odd). The concrete surface is about 40 years old and rutted so the noise pollution is oh so great :) That entire stretch of I-5 is going to be reconstructed in a few years. :banana:

Hopefully soon, that area is a huge chokepoint when the express lanes are turned around. Say HAWC, do you think it would be effective for the express lanes to become express toll lanes and perhaps add a lane from north to south on the mainline?

Some states do have speed limits in Michigan trucks are limited to 60 compared to 70 for cars. But it's not strictly enforced, pretty much like most of the speed laws in this state.

Hopefully soon, that area is a huge chokepoint when the express lanes are turned around. Say HAWC, do you think it would be effective for the express lanes to become express toll lanes and perhaps add a lane from north to south on the mainline?

That corridor is near impossible to expand. The terrain requires that a lot of the highway be built on bridges, and at the part where the freeway runs under the convention center, that's a definite nono for expansion. I believe lanes are already narrow enough at 12-feet wide and I don't think there's a shoulder under there either.

What I believe would be much better is that if they convert the right shoulder (when there is one) so that it can be used for transit and maybe even carpool during rush hours. I think WSDOT is thinking about doing that with new technology called Active Traffic Management (which is nothing new to the Europeans and hasn't been for the past decade or so). That technology though, is still at least five years away.

As for the reversible lanes, I'm not a traffic engineer so I don't know anything about traffic patterns, but from my experience, a big cause of congestion is when people come onto the freeway and have to merge 4 lanes of traffic to get into the HOV. If you convert the reversible lanes into express toll lanes, there's going to be even more people cutting across traffic to get in there. The problem with that corridor is that there's no room. There's very little space to add lanes and very little space to add direct acces HOV ramps. If there were direct access HOV ramps like on I-405 or I-90, I'd say that would probably be a great idea, but not in I-5.

Just my thoughts, but I'm not a professional, so don't quote me on anything haha Do you travel around there much?

The three highways I think that have the most "upgrade potentials" are I-90, I-405, and SR520. I am especially fond of SR520 because being a state route, it doesn't have to deal with federal interstate restrictions so that highway can be built more European-like, as in more compact without the need for humongous medians and shoulders. My wish is for WSDOT to introduce a new generation of highway by rebuilding SR520 to European standards and labeling it A1. I don't think that will happen anytime soon though...

Okay i've got 347 highway pictures I took on a trip to central Washington. Anyone want to see?

If yes, should I upload them all on here?

If no, should I upload them all on here?

My camera ran out of batteries (and memory...I should get more than 128 mb...) halfway down I-90 so the majority of the pictures were taken from my cellphone.

A few companies are bringing diesel models here. I think that Volkswagen and maybe some others (can't remember). Using diesel as a fuel-efficient way is somewhat hard since diesel is hovering $5 here. However, I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for it, since diesel cars have the same efficiency as hybrids. The public is oblivious to that.

As for $7 gas, that will be a tough sell. Best case scenario, the US and state governments gradually raise the tax and sell the reasons to the public WHY they are doing this. I think if examples like the Minneapolis bridge disaster are brought up and more education about the slow death of our infrastructure, Americans will have to eventually have to deal with the tough medicine. We really have no other alternative.

Forget making the US more fuel-efficient for a second...we need to increase more money for our highways, bridges and roads or we will be seeing more Minneapolis bridge disasters...I heard a large % of bridges nationwide aren't good. We need to fix them with more revenue.

$7/gallon gas would kill the economy, if things are bad enough at $4 its a loss $3 higher. Fact is in the US its spread out in most places, I need a car for everything basically, my suburb is somewhat dense too. For one I love how you bring up infrastructure, because one thing that really kills fuel economy is stop and go traffic from poorly timed lights. My car gets 17-19mpg in those conditions, but if I'm constantly moving it can get up to 32mpg at 47mph on flat surface. Either way my average mpg is lower because of poorly timed lights and poor planning, traffic, etc. We need more efficient infrastructure, fact is you get very bad mpg idling at traffic lights.

Whats sad is our mpg hasn't improved really since WWII, I can find a 1980's Honda Shitter(Civic) that gets better mpg's than the current model. Car companies need to step up and stop being cheap, that would improve mpg's big time, for example if my transmission was a 5 or 6 speed my mpg's would be atleast 2+mpg better. Another thing is that for the longest time car companies didn't make nice fuel efficient cars, they were crap for the most part or cheapo.

$7/gallon gas would kill the economy, if things are bad enough at $4 its a loss $3 higher.

Well high gas prices also came at a bad time. We've got the mortgage problem and credit crunch at the same time. People adapted to gas prices when it went up from $1.40 to $3.00. It just can't happen all at once.

Although, I do think I'll be able to take "credit crunch" much more seriously if it didn't sound like a breakfast cereal...

Okay, here are some previews:

I-90
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01350.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01352.jpg

I-90 and I-405 intechange
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01354.jpg

I-405
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01358.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01363.jpg

This is what carpool lanes are for:
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01365.jpg

Carpool lanes aren't supposed to clog up though...
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01368.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01371.jpg

I-405 PCC pavement damaged by studded tire use.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01369.jpg

I-405 Project
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01380.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01379.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01384.jpg

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01393.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01394.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01399.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01400.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01401.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01402.jpg

I-90
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01408.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01409.jpg

Direct access HOV ramp decorated with salmon.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01410.jpg

I-90
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01411.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01412.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01413.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01414.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01415.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01416.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01417.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01418.jpg

The nicest stretch of I-90 I've been on.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01419.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01420.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01421.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01422.jpg

Offramp
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01423.jpg

Going into the rural sections of I-90
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01429.jpg

My favorite sign in the U.S.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01431.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01438.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01439.jpg

I-90 guardrail
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01443.jpg

Traveling I-90 Eastbound looking at the Westbound bridge
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01445.jpg

I-90 signs
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01446.jpg

I-90 Variable Speed Limit
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01447.jpg

I-90 Cracks
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_060.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_062.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_063.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_066.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_069.jpg

I-90 Past the Cascade Mountain Range

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_088.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_101.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_106.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_119.jpg

I-90 and I-82 Interchange

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_127.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_129.jpg

I-82

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_131.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_135.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_146.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_148.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_163.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_164.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_175.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_176.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_177.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_184.jpg

Very nice I-82 Pavement
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_191.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_192.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_193.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_194.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_198.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_202.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_204.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_206.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_210.jpg

All mighty god has shed a load of poo on our desert.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_216.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_222.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_223.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_225.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_227.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_231.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_232.jpg

Coming back on I-90 again

More cracks
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_250.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_251.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_252.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_254.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_255.jpg

Here is the mother of all cracks. Same one for the next couple pictures.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_258.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_259.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_260.jpg

Snow shelter
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_263.jpg

Variable Speed Limit again
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_270.jpg

And another one a couple hundred feet down
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_275.jpg

And yet another one a few more feet down
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_277.jpg

Here's continuing on westbound.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_313.jpg

And back into more populated areas. Again, here's my favorite stretch of I-90. Police on the right.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_324.jpg

Yes that sign on the left of the roadway says "Keep Right Except to Pass"
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_325.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_327.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_329.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_330.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/IMAGE_332.jpg

And just for fun, gas prices are going down...which is not a very good thing.
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01425.jpg

There ya go. I've selected a few for ya. Notice that people keep right except to pass in the rural areas? :] Makes me want to live on a farm in Eastern Washington. I actually saw a humongous sign probably 6 feet tall by 8 feet wide that said in capital letters "STATE LAW KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS." Looks something like this:

http://www.upstatenyroads.com/signshop/keepright.png

Sorry about the quality on most of them. My camera ran out of battery and memory, so I had to use my cell phone. Then there was bad weather for a lot of the time. But hey, at least I timed it so the windshield wiper wouldn't get in the way :P

Carpool lanes aren't supposed to clog up though...

Well, what I've seen from the Californian Sigalert site on the speed displays is that HOV-lanes are regularly even slower than the regular lanes.

Well high gas prices also came at a bad time. We've got the mortgage problem and credit crunch at the same time. People adapted to gas prices when it went up from $1.40 to $3.00. It just can't happen all at once.

Although, I do think I'll be able to take "credit crunch" much more seriously if it didn't sound like a breakfast cereal...
The thing is people didn't adapt because gas never stayed at $3.00 very long back then. I think $2-$2.50/gallon is a fair gas price, we unfortunately won't see that again. Gas prices will fall again until next summer when it will pass $5/gallon. The oil companies are loving it, even better is when idiot americans will favor offshore drilling in which we will see little to no decrease in gas prices, but oil companies will have easier ways to obtain oil!

We even had higher gas prices than that 15 years ago:
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h122/HAWC1506/WA%20Highway%20Pictures/DSC01425.jpg

The thing is people didn't adapt because gas never stayed at $3.00 very long back then. I think $2-$2.50/gallon is a fair gas price, we unfortunately won't see that again. Gas prices will fall again until next summer when it will pass $5/gallon. The oil companies are loving it, even better is when idiot americans will favor offshore drilling in which we will see little to no decrease in gas prices, but oil companies will have easier ways to obtain oil!

People could have adapted, but pressure from oil companies and car manufacturers has been tremendous. There is a lot of money to be made selling unefficient vehicles and technology.
Still, at least you guys had some good will with the EV1. A car that would have worked with some clean, affordable energy, 10 years ago
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=bsdUfAEIEos
Had this been pushed a little more (better batteries, range extender, public charging stations..) imagine where the technology would be now.

In the US, I've noticed that cars can be incredibly unefficient, with some cars hardly doing better than 15MPG. Even now, this could bring tears to my eyes : http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/09/2009-cadillac-escalade-hybrid-goes-on-sale-for-71685/

"This vehicle will get a remarkable 20 mpg hwy/21 mpg city using the 2-mode hybrid drivetrain."

In Europe, we pushed diesel cars instead, but I would rather favor electric technologies.

20 mpg :lol:

That's nothing. I don't understand that most commuters drive on petrol. Diesel may be a bit more expensive, though, with the right car you have half the consumption you have with petrol, so that higher price is easily cheaper in the end.

There's also no point driving an oversized vehicle with a ridiculously big displacement (>2L petrol) for your daily commute. Especially given the incredible inefficiency of petrol engines in the US.
When I was living there, I was driving a 3L V6 producing a mere 145HP (Ford Taurus GL). In Europe, a 1.6L engine would be enough for this power.
Even in the sport range, the 2L Megane coupé is more powerful (225hp/35MPG) than the 4L Mustang (210hp/15-26MPG), and a 2L is already overkill here.

Something that used to drive me nut is the casual "smaller cars are unsafe, I would easily CRUSH one with my F350 truck", "at least, with my Tahoe, whatever I hit, I win", "small cars look/are gay". It seemed pretty unfair and aggressive to me..

I had a light of hope when GM disclosed its Beat prototype for the US, but discarded it soon after...just like it did for the EV1.
Sometimes, the US feel pretty backward, they have the same technology level than Europe and Japan (or I assume they do), yet keep some very outdated technology mainstream.

Why ?

There's also no point driving an oversized vehicle with a ridiculously big displacement (>2L petrol) for your daily commute. Especially given the incredible inefficiency of petrol engines in the US.
When I was living there, I was driving a 3L V6 producing a mere 145HP (Ford Taurus GL). In Europe, a 1.6L engine would be enough for this power.
Even in the sport range, the 2L Megane coupé is more powerful (225hp/35MPG) than the 4L Mustang (210hp/15-26MPG), and a 2L is already overkill here.

Something that used to drive me nut is the casual "smaller cars are unsafe, I would easily CRUSH one with my F350 truck", "at least, with my Tahoe, whatever I hit, I win", "small cars look/are gay". It seemed pretty unfair and aggressive to me..

I had a light of hope when GM disclosed its Beat prototype for the US, but discarded it soon after...just like it did for the EV1.
Sometimes, the US feel pretty backward, they have the same technology level than Europe and Japan (or I assume they do), yet keep some very outdated technology mainstream.

Why ?

Well Americans are generally very conservative people and they only see what's around them. Even in highway building, some technologies used in Europe for the past decade isn't going to be available here in the U.S. for at least another five years. The current American perspective of cars and displacements stems from the 1960s "Muscle Cars." Regular cars back then were built to be powerful and it wasn't hard to find a car with a a V8 that had a 6L displacement. Of course, as technology advanced, today you could build a 3L engine with the same power, maybe even a 2L.

However the perspective is still there and the American perspective is just as outdated as those engines themselves. Greater displacement=greater power. VW and BMW understands that. VW doesn't offer an engine smaller than a 2L in the U.S. and BMW doesn't offer anything smaller than a 3L, not even on the 1-series.

GM though has dropped plans for a V8 engine and is instead pursuing a direct injection V6 that gets just as much power and much better fuel economy. The Cadillac CTS for example, I don't think that will be available with a V8. Hopefully, that's a sign of change.

Government enforcing rule that Mexican truckers speak English

Oh Really?

:uh:

So the American truckers must speak spanish if they wanna go to Mexican Territory...

Protectionism....:ohno: :bash:

Thank goodness they widened 518 heading out of the airport, during the heavy construction, there was only one lane heading out to SR 518 causing a nightmare to get out of the airport. Sure looks like I-90 will need some fillings before the winter driving season.

Oh Really?

:uh:

So the American truckers must speak spanish if they wanna go to Mexican Territory...

Protectionism....:ohno: :bash:
They should, but the UNION would probably be against it.

$7/gallon gas would kill the economy, if things are bad enough at $4 its a loss $3 higher. Fact is in the US its spread out in most places, I need a car for everything basically, my suburb is somewhat dense too. For one I love how you bring up infrastructure, because one thing that really kills fuel economy is stop and go traffic from poorly timed lights. My car gets 17-19mpg in those conditions, but if I'm constantly moving it can get up to 32mpg at 47mph on flat surface. Either way my average mpg is lower because of poorly timed lights and poor planning, traffic, etc. We need more efficient infrastructure, fact is you get very bad mpg idling at traffic lights.


$7 would kill the economy. That's true. But that's because our economy is so inefficient and addicted to cheap gas for living. And things are spread out, yes, but that's just another example of bad planning and inefficiency from the thought that oil would be cheap forever. With all the problems with oil, even if it goes down like it has, we can't guarantee that anymore. We need to find a way to eventually wean off oil, foreign or domestic. At least if gas prices were that high (the only good thing), people will figure out how fragile our way of life really is and how we need to find a way out of it.

As for the efficiency in infrastructure, that's another story entirely. The only way to finance the fixing of our roads to a decent and more manageable level (forget an excellent one) is going to cost a lot of money. Money that the government does not have. There are only two ways that can be used to finance it: Toll the hell out of the highways, or raise the fuel taxes. Tough medicine either way, but something needs to be done and the country will be better in the long run than continuing our current path.
Our infrastructure is going down the shitter.

To be honest, I'm kind of disappointed that this is not a major election issue.
Guess fixing highways isn't "sexy" enough.

Thank goodness they widened 518 heading out of the airport, during the heavy construction, there was only one lane heading out to SR 518 causing a nightmare to get out of the airport. Sure looks like I-90 will need some fillings before the winter driving season.

Temporary fillings aren't gonna be worth it. Remember we got such a harsh winter season last year and our roads really took a beating. Once you fill those cracks, others are going to appear. It'll probably be better to replace the whole thing. Does anyone know which type of pavement withstands harsh weathers better?

You don't see this everyday, do you?
http://www.aaroads.com/mid-atlantic/maryland250/md-295_sb_exit_025_03.jpg

You don't see this everyday, do you?
http://www.aaroads.com/mid-atlantic/maryland250/md-295_sb_exit_025_03.jpg

NSA as in National Security Agency? haha

In the US, I've noticed that cars can be incredibly unefficient, with some cars hardly doing better than 15MPG. Even now, this could bring tears to my eyes : http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/09/2009-c...ale-for-71685/

"This vehicle will get a remarkable 20 mpg hwy/21 mpg city using the 2-mode hybrid drivetrain."

Twenty mpg is quite good for vehicle that weighs almost three tons, is seventeen feet long, and has a V8. It gets better gas mileage than the comparable European or Japanese vehicles. Think of it as a bigger Prius. There is really nothing inefficient about it.

One has to look at the climate in which vehicles from the United States and Europe developed. In Europe gas is more expensive and things are generally closer together. In the United States, Canada, and Australia gas is less expensive and things are farther apart. Bigger vehicles are a growth of local conditions.

Twenty mpg is quite good for vehicle that weighs almost three tons, is seventeen feet long, and has a V8. It gets better gas mileage than the comparable European or Japanese vehicles. Think of it as a bigger Prius. There is really nothing inefficient about it.

One has to look at the climate in which vehicles from the United States and Europe developed. In Europe gas is more expensive and things are generally closer together. In the United States, Canada, and Australia gas is less expensive and things are farther apart. Bigger vehicles are a growth of local conditions.

That's a great point, America was built around cheap gas and vehicular transportation. Europe was built around convenience where there is everything you need within walking distance.

A big problem in most of America is the population density. The population is so spread out that it becomes near impossible to implement public transportation. In Japan, if you build a bus or rail stop, chances are, many many people will be using it because population density is so high. In the U.S., you'd be lucky to see one person at a bus stop in suburban areas. That puts a strain on the highway and that's the cause of the massive concrete rivers running through our cities.

Okay, here are some previews:
I-90


What is a "Cell phone lot"?

People could have adapted, but pressure from oil companies and car manufacturers has been tremendous. There is a lot of money to be made selling unefficient vehicles and technology.
Still, at least you guys had some good will with the EV1. A car that would have worked with some clean, affordable energy, 10 years ago
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=bsdUfAEIEos
Had this been pushed a little more (better batteries, range extender, public charging stations..) imagine where the technology would be now.

EV1 was everything, except "affordable". Market price would be pretty high.

There's also no point driving an oversized vehicle with a ridiculously big displacement (>2L petrol) for your daily commute. Especially given the incredible inefficiency of petrol engines in the US.
When I was living there, I was driving a 3L V6 producing a mere 145HP (Ford Taurus GL). In Europe, a 1.6L engine would be enough for this power.
Even in the sport range, the 2L Megane coupé is more powerful (225hp/35MPG) than the 4L Mustang (210hp/15-26MPG), and a 2L is already overkill here.

There must be something wrong with US cars... my 2.2L petrol gives 36 mpg, my father's 1L Corsa gives 45 mpg, my friend's diesel Clio astonishing 52 mpg average!

Twenty mpg is quite good for vehicle that weighs almost three tons, is seventeen feet long, and has a V8. It gets better gas mileage than the comparable European or Japanese vehicles. Think of it as a bigger Prius. There is really nothing inefficient about it.

One has to look at the climate in which vehicles from the United States and Europe developed. In Europe gas is more expensive and things are generally closer together. In the United States, Canada, and Australia gas is less expensive and things are farther apart. Bigger vehicles are a growth of local conditions.

Calculate the price per mile and you'll see that 20 mpg is terrible low. BTW What do you need such a heavy car for...?

Twenty mpg is quite good for vehicle that weighs almost three tons, is seventeen feet long, and has a V8. It gets better gas mileage than the comparable European or Japanese vehicles. Think of it as a bigger Prius. There is really nothing inefficient about it.


They are only twice as fuel efficient as fullsize European trucks of 40 tons. Why the hell need a commuter car to be 3 tonnes?

Europe was built around convenience where there is everything you need within walking distance.

Let's not exaggerate, In Europe, the car is also the most efficient mode of transport for nearly all trips. Only city-center to city-center is usually faster with the train. 90% of all trips in the Netherlands also does not include public transport, which is the same number as in the United States. Yes, more things are in walking distance, but nobody is gonna do groceries for three days walking. Private transport is just much more efficient, which is also why we take our bicycle so much.

X236K : I was talking about affordable energy, not affordable cars. First series are always expensive before they get mainstream. Think of hybrid cars.


Twenty mpg is quite good for vehicle that weighs almost three tons, is seventeen feet long, and has a V8. It gets better gas mileage than the comparable European or Japanese vehicles. Think of it as a bigger Prius. There is really nothing inefficient about it.

A typical European truck like the Renault Magnum (http://www.renault-trucks.co.uk/renault-magnum-showroom_2000762_1.html?lang=en) 440hp does 8.25MPG hauling 40t at 100km/h.

The Escalade does 12MPG at empty load, and the hybrid Escalade does 20MPG. Worse, it has a V8 engine.

It is only efficient by American standards.

America was built around cheap gas and vehicular transportation.

Do you mean this kind of urbanism ?

http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/data/500/Houston_near_CBD.jpg

http://www.islandia.is/lhm/images/parking-houston.jpg

Well, space was never an issue in the United States, and especially not in Texas. In Europe, there probably would be the same amount of parking spaces, but underground or in parking garages. Why build an expensive parking garage if space is nothing to worry about? Well, Houston is not really an example that is the same as the rest in the US, since Houston is the only major city without zoning, and has been build very inefficient, in other words, the metropolitan area is almost twice as large as it needs to be. There are even farmland-style houses within Houston city proper with denser suburbs around that.

That last pic seems photoshopped by the way, Google Earth shows way more highrises and far less parking blocks.

I think it was rather taken 15-20 years ago, but whether it was or not, the density problem remains the same for this area.

Are you absolutely sure we have that much parking space in Europe?
I live in Lyon where the zoning laws are very conservative regarding the available parking space (a lot less space than necessary). Last year they demolished all the parking lots on the banks of the Rhone river to create a park along the river, and the parking lots were not replaced.
This is purposely done to discourage people from driving downtown, just like the car free streets. They built 4 subway lines, 5 tram lines, and put 4000 public bikes on the streets instead.

^^ Maybe not in downtown, but the average office/business park along a major highway or freeway. We also have very strict parking space figures, usually too low, resulting in sidewalks and grass full of parked cars...

Only the western half of the 14th Street bridge has been completely removed, and it's been like that for a few weeks now. Why can't they just remove the entire span at once?

I think Houston has the most inefficient land usage of any large city within the United States. They create unnecessary large commuting distances, leaving the central city with extreme traffic volumes, thus huge roads. I think Houstons freeways are also the ugliest in the United States with those huge parking lots, commercial zones and frontage roads alongside them, all in concrete.

The extreme parts of the urban area are 50 miles apart. That's extremely large for a city with a population of 5.6 million inhabitants. The traffic volumes are among the highest in the US, comparable with Los Angeles, while that metropolitan area is 3 times larger than Houston.

If you look at the area between I-45, I-610, US 90 and the SH-8, there are huge undeveloped areas around it, with suburbs even further away. Why not construct those suburbs closer to the city? Saves you easily a 100.000 people who have to commute 8 miles instead of 20. If you look at commercial/industrial area's alongside I-45 heading for Galveston, you also see a fairly inefficient usage of space, having a lot of empty lots/area's within the industrial zones.

A typical European truck like the Renault Magnum 440hp does 8.25MPG hauling 40t at 100km/h.

The Escalade does 12MPG at empty load, and the hybrid Escalade does 20MPG. Worse, it has a V8 engine.

It is only efficient by American standards.

I said comparable vehicles, the Renault is a semi and a small one at that. Both the Japanese and Europeans make large luxury SUVs that achieve far less mpg. One example is the Mazda CX-9. It is smaller, lighter, and has a significantly smaller engine than the Escalade but only achieves 14-17 mpg.

As for size, some people enjoy an amount of space in their vehicles. If you have a family a little space is especially nice. That is why the U.S. has gone from large station wagons, to large vans, to large SUVs. All primary used by families and all larger than their European or Japanese counterparts (in Japan and Europe). In addition the U.S. family has to drive a greater distance each year than their European or Japanese counterpart. When driving more space is nice.

And then their is the cost issue. Making a vehicle achieve 40mpg is not really necessary if gasoline is cheap. What's the point? Had Europe developed around the automobile, had gas been cheaper in Europe, and had population density been similar to that of the United States I am sure that European car development would have been similar to the development of the automobile in the United States.

Why the hell need a commuter car to be 3 tonnes?

Keep in mind that the Escalade is an expensive luxury SUV. It is not a commuter car and it doesn't sell in high numbers.

I think Houston has the most inefficient land usage of any large city within the United States. They create unnecessary large commuting distances, leaving the central city with extreme traffic volumes, thus huge roads. I think Houstons freeways are also the ugliest in the United States with those huge parking lots, commercial zones and frontage roads alongside them, all in concrete.

The extreme parts of the urban area are 50 miles apart. That's extremely large for a city with a population of 5.6 million inhabitants. The traffic volumes are among the highest in the US, comparable with Los Angeles, while that metropolitan area is 3 times larger than Houston.

If you look at the area between I-45, I-610, US 90 and the SH-8, there are huge undeveloped areas around it, with suburbs even further away. Why not construct those suburbs closer to the city? Saves you easily a 100.000 people who have to commute 8 miles instead of 20. If you look at commercial/industrial area's alongside I-45 heading for Galveston, you also see a fairly inefficient usage of space, having a lot of empty lots/area's within the industrial zones.

Simple answer: Because it is Texas.

Real answer: The areas that are vacant are not the most desirable areas to live. People want to be near nice stores, restaurants, and other nice homes. So why not in-fill some of these areas with large, new developments? A lot of these areas are near industrial areas, railroad tracks, and what not. And, again, it's Texas. Different mindset there.

Those photos were more like 30 years ago, btw. Notice the lack of skyscrapers

They are only twice as fuel efficient as fullsize European trucks of 40 tons. Why the hell need a commuter car to be 3 tonnes?



Let's not exaggerate, In Europe, the car is also the most efficient mode of transport for nearly all trips. Only city-center to city-center is usually faster with the train. 90% of all trips in the Netherlands also does not include public transport, which is the same number as in the United States. Yes, more things are in walking distance, but nobody is gonna do groceries for three days walking. Private transport is just much more efficient, which is also why we take our bicycle so much.

Do you have figures for other European countries? It seems you always think of Europe as same as the Netherlands in terms of PT use.

I think Houston has the most inefficient land usage of any large city within the United States. They create unnecessary large commuting distances, leaving the central city with extreme traffic volumes, thus huge roads. I think Houstons freeways are also the ugliest in the United States with those huge parking lots, commercial zones and frontage roads alongside them, all in concrete.

The extreme parts of the urban area are 50 miles apart. That's extremely large for a city with a population of 5.6 million inhabitants. The traffic volumes are among the highest in the US, comparable with Los Angeles, while that metropolitan area is 3 times larger than Houston.

If you look at the area between I-45, I-610, US 90 and the SH-8, there are huge undeveloped areas around it, with suburbs even further away. Why not construct those suburbs closer to the city? Saves you easily a 100.000 people who have to commute 8 miles instead of 20. If you look at commercial/industrial area's alongside I-45 heading for Galveston, you also see a fairly inefficient usage of space, having a lot of empty lots/area's within the industrial zones.

Houston's like our Beijing. Beijing has what, 6 Ring Roads? Houston still has 2 to go in order to catch up.

What is a "Cell phone lot"?

That's where you can park to wait for people to call and tell you that they've arrived at the airport.

Do you mean this kind of urbanism ?

http://www.cyburbia.org/gallery/data/500/Houston_near_CBD.jpg

http://www.islandia.is/lhm/images/parking-houston.jpg

Well, not as bad...but somewhere along those lines yeah.

They are only twice as fuel efficient as fullsize European trucks of 40 tons. Why the hell need a commuter car to be 3 tonnes?

Americans do a lot of traveling and an above post is correct, more space is more comfort. But you have to keep in mind that Americans also do a lot of towing and hauling. You see a lot of Tahoes and Escalades, but you will also see a lot of boats or horse trailers being towed behind those cars. They are heavy because they are built on a truck platform, and only truck platforms are strong enough to tow 10,000 pounds.

Americans also look at initial price too. If you need a car to carry people and a truck to tow large trailers, you don't have to buy a Honda Accord and a Ford F-150. You could buy a Chevy Tahoe or Ford Explorer that does both jobs at the same time.

But, it's time for change. I'm just waiting for a diesel-powered Volkswagen Tiguan to show up on our shores...or Ford Mondeo, whichever one comes first.

We tried the Mondeo in the 90s. It was called the Contour and it failed because it was too big for the Ford Escort drivers and too small for the Ford Taurus drivers.

Today, the Mondeo would be too big for the Ford Focus drivers and too small for the Ford Fusion and Taurus drivers.

We tried the Mondeo in the 90s. It was called the Contour and it failed because it was too big for the Ford Escort drivers and too small for the Ford Taurus drivers.

Today, the Mondeo would be too big for the Ford Focus drivers and too small for the Ford Fusion and Taurus drivers.

Ford Mondeo is the same size as the Fusion. I think it would make for a great car since the Fusion is selling quite well. In a few years, the Fusion will be the odd one of the bunch as the Fiesta, Euro Focus, and new European-styled Taurus arrives. The U.S. lineup is going to mirror the European lineup within a couple years. The only difference is that we will have a sedan that slots above the Mondeo and also a few trucks.