Trafficology
I have searched and searched the Internet for the name of the person who studies traffic and traffic patterns. The one person who is a specialist in how traffic works or doesn't work. Who are these people that design the big picture highways and byways across the world? Here is the title I have found: Nothing.
The trafficologist is fictitious. There isn't anyone that is termed a trafficologist. Well...that explains a lot.
I have had the fortunate and unfortunate luck of travelling in and through 49 States and many Canadian Provinces. In all of my travels, Washington DC still ranks at the top of the most boggling traffic systems.
Washington DC drivers are the most unique. Unlike Chicago drivers who if you cut them off will lay on their horn and yell at you, Washington DC drivers will wave their hand in the air and thank you for not slamming into them because they didn't LOOK before pulling out. Washington DC drivers often use the shoulder to drive... not to get to an exit, just to drive.
To top all of this, the roads and giant circles. The Washington beltway being the most prominent. There are main arteries that feed Washington DC such as Interstates 66, 395, Gerogetown Pike, US 50, and other smaller stop and go through lights roads. So to help make traffic flow smoother, during rush hours, they take some of the lanes on the major roads and ALL of Interstate 66 and turn them into HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. These lanes are for use with 2 or 3 people in the car and/or and environmentally conscious vehicle such as a hybrid.
Hmm...just so you all are on the same page, they close down lanes so that the environmentally savvy and carpooling bunch can fly into work, while the solo drivers and pollutant producers sit still in traffic because there aren't enough lanes to use thereby creating a higher amount of pollutants. Did I miss something?
The other thing that kills me here is this...traffic stops...for absolutely no reason. Coming back from Illinois last Sunday I had to stop in traffic two miles before the two lane road turned into a three lane road. It was stop and go all the way until the three lanes when it broke loose. After that, smooth sailing. Can a trafficologist explain to me why the flow of traffic is disrupted just before the additional lane?
Washington DC is not the only areas in need of a trafficologist. Let me run down a few others.
Massachusetts. Never mind the "big dig" in Boston, I have never been on a highway system that has no merge lanes. Basically, you come down the ramp and pray someone isn't coming up the road. Once on the road, the smell of feces enters the vehicle as you try to dodge the other cars trying to accomplish the same thing.
New Jersey. The Garden State is full of jughandles. There really isn't any such thing as a left turn. To turn left on nearly every highway, you turn right after the road you want to turn on, loop around to the road you want to be on and wait for the light to turn. I am not saying this is a bad system...but you have to wonder what the tread patterns are on the tires that only turn right.
California (Southern specifically). Driving in California is not half bad as long as you have a jet engine strapped to the back of your rented Hyundai Accent so you don't get run over by the speed-demons and SUVs. San Francisco on the other hand is the land of rolling stops. There was once a saying that if the stop sign has a white line around it, it was optional. They take that to heart. It could be because all of the vehicles have to have brake replacements every 6 months.
Illinois. Illinois has it's own language much like New York. It consists of honks and toots from the imports and domestics alike. Illini honk for good and bad. If the cab wants you to go ahead and walk across (which is rare) he will give you a short toot. If the cab is upset because you aren't moving fast enough, he will provide a modest honk. If you start a conversation in the middle of the cross-walk with you long lost friend Captain Happy, you will receive the not so courteous lay. Either way, you know exactly where you stand in traffic.
This brings me to my point (as I almost always have one). As much as traffic is a part of society, why aren't they providing graduate degrees in trafficology. For that matter, why don't they make trafficology a word?
Did you know...
The Big Dig is the most expensive highway project in America.[1] Although the project was estimated at $2.5 billion in 1985, over $14.6 billion had been spent in federal and state tax dollars as of 2006.
The trafficologist is fictitious. There isn't anyone that is termed a trafficologist. Well...that explains a lot.
I have had the fortunate and unfortunate luck of travelling in and through 49 States and many Canadian Provinces. In all of my travels, Washington DC still ranks at the top of the most boggling traffic systems.Washington DC drivers are the most unique. Unlike Chicago drivers who if you cut them off will lay on their horn and yell at you, Washington DC drivers will wave their hand in the air and thank you for not slamming into them because they didn't LOOK before pulling out. Washington DC drivers often use the shoulder to drive... not to get to an exit, just to drive.
To top all of this, the roads and giant circles. The Washington beltway being the most prominent. There are main arteries that feed Washington DC such as Interstates 66, 395, Gerogetown Pike, US 50, and other smaller stop and go through lights roads. So to help make traffic flow smoother, during rush hours, they take some of the lanes on the major roads and ALL of Interstate 66 and turn them into HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. These lanes are for use with 2 or 3 people in the car and/or and environmentally conscious vehicle such as a hybrid.
Hmm...just so you all are on the same page, they close down lanes so that the environmentally savvy and carpooling bunch can fly into work, while the solo drivers and pollutant producers sit still in traffic because there aren't enough lanes to use thereby creating a higher amount of pollutants. Did I miss something?
The other thing that kills me here is this...traffic stops...for absolutely no reason. Coming back from Illinois last Sunday I had to stop in traffic two miles before the two lane road turned into a three lane road. It was stop and go all the way until the three lanes when it broke loose. After that, smooth sailing. Can a trafficologist explain to me why the flow of traffic is disrupted just before the additional lane?
Washington DC is not the only areas in need of a trafficologist. Let me run down a few others.
Massachusetts. Never mind the "big dig" in Boston, I have never been on a highway system that has no merge lanes. Basically, you come down the ramp and pray someone isn't coming up the road. Once on the road, the smell of feces enters the vehicle as you try to dodge the other cars trying to accomplish the same thing.
New Jersey. The Garden State is full of jughandles. There really isn't any such thing as a left turn. To turn left on nearly every highway, you turn right after the road you want to turn on, loop around to the road you want to be on and wait for the light to turn. I am not saying this is a bad system...but you have to wonder what the tread patterns are on the tires that only turn right.
California (Southern specifically). Driving in California is not half bad as long as you have a jet engine strapped to the back of your rented Hyundai Accent so you don't get run over by the speed-demons and SUVs. San Francisco on the other hand is the land of rolling stops. There was once a saying that if the stop sign has a white line around it, it was optional. They take that to heart. It could be because all of the vehicles have to have brake replacements every 6 months.
Illinois. Illinois has it's own language much like New York. It consists of honks and toots from the imports and domestics alike. Illini honk for good and bad. If the cab wants you to go ahead and walk across (which is rare) he will give you a short toot. If the cab is upset because you aren't moving fast enough, he will provide a modest honk. If you start a conversation in the middle of the cross-walk with you long lost friend Captain Happy, you will receive the not so courteous lay. Either way, you know exactly where you stand in traffic.
This brings me to my point (as I almost always have one). As much as traffic is a part of society, why aren't they providing graduate degrees in trafficology. For that matter, why don't they make trafficology a word?
Did you know...
The Big Dig is the most expensive highway project in America.[1] Although the project was estimated at $2.5 billion in 1985, over $14.6 billion had been spent in federal and state tax dollars as of 2006.
Comments
And I used to live in boston. now, that's a mess. one of my friends told me that the best way to merge in boston is to not make eye contact. because if you pretend to not see the car, they may slow down enough that you can squeeze in (only out of fear of getting hit). but once you make eye contact and they know you see them, there is NO WAY you are EVER merging in. NO WAY. even if you are inches away from smashing into them.
and the parking situation in Boston is ghastly. A parking space just sold there for $250,000--the highest price ever paid for a parking spot. I saw this on the news yesterday.