You know those nightmare Labor Day traffic quagmires? They're the understandable consequence of half the country loading up the Land Barge with children and coolers to head on down to Lake Fingerbang for a few days.
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The highway system can only handle so much capacity, after all.
Don't worry, though: in as little as ten years depending on where you live, you can experience the boredom and frustration of standstill Labor Day traffic every single day! Yes, the highway corridors between a number of major cities will see a constant level of overcrowding similar to what we experience now only on major travel holidays, according to the US Travel Association.
But relax. We can still fly! Except that we'll long since maxed out the capacity of most major metropolitan airports since air traffic is predicted to double by 2030.
We can't build any trains, though.
Because, like, one time there was a train crash and people died. We'll stick with uncrashable forms of transit like cars and planes.
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J. Dryden says:
News like this, and the accompanying realization that neither government nor industry will allow for anything to avoid, alleviate, or even change this slide into collective misery, really REALLY explains the appeal of dictators. Ah, the thought that suddenly one individual could swipe the board clean and make things happen, regardless of the hemming of the collective and the hawing of their corrupt representatives.
Don't do it, though, America. Remember: a dictator is like a meal that starts off with the world's greatest appetizer, but dessert is a kick in the balls followed by a bullet to the head.
Coises says:
Another ten years like this, and they think ordinary people are going to be able to afford to drive a car?
The Mad Dreamer says:
J. Dryden – If we could get an enlightened despot, a true one though, maybe it would be okay. One who truly followed the principle of "Todo para el pueblo, pero sin el pueblo" (Everything for the people, without the people).
We just need to find such a unicorn.
middle seaman says:
Big cities have been traffic nightmares for decades. Public transportation such as trains and subways is minimal and in terrible shape. Even in the 80s driving through downtown LA was a frightening experience.
The money available is needed to support our needy rich. They, of course, don't need public transportation or better roads.
Jimcat says:
Those year numbers just make me laugh. They are based on the assumptions that current trends will continue, and none of the many factors affecting traffic will change, between now and the 2030's or even 2040's(!).
c u n d gulag says:
While there's a never-ending supply of 'circuses' in DC, they seem to be forgetting the 'bread' part.
(Not-so) Dear Conservatives,
You need to remember that it wasn't "circuses" alone – there was also some "BREAD" with them, that got the Roman people through their decline, before the barbarians finally entered the gates of Rome.
OUR barbarians, however, are already INSIDE the gates – the Republican Party.
And they control 1/2 of Congress, and prevent the other half from accomplishing things "We the people" need to have done.
On this Labor Day, I'd like to give my thanks to all of the union members throughout our history who fought and died for the rights of American workers.
Without them, we wouldn't have things like minimum wages, paid holidays, breaks, 40-hour work weeks (at one job, without overtime – and if you're not "management"), overtime (ditto), etc.
And today, on LABOR Day, I'm more than certain that at least one of our moronic douchebag Republican Congress-members, and/or Governors, and/or members of state legislatures, will shout-out a special "thanks" to their beloved "Job Creators."
Something like this, if they were to be honest about it – instead of the sycophantic and imbecilic weasels that they are:
"All kneel… Let us pray for our Job Creators, as they prey upon us… Let us thank them for any crumbs that we might receive today, and in the future, from their bountiful tables… Let us pray for continued low taxes for them, for without the low taxes, they might leave, and we would have no jobs at all… Amen… All rise."
Amen?
FUCK THEM!
I wouldn't mind at all if in the near future there was a lot of traffic getting to and from the guillotining/hanging/drawing-and-quartering of the rich and powerful in this rapidly declining empire.
Maybe I'll open up a stand near where they're happening, and sell commemorative lollipop's with the candy formed in the shapes of the heads of those executed – so that people won't want to take the heads and pikes home as souvenirs, and instead, leave them where they are as a reminder for the rich and powerful people in the future, what happens when greed runs amuck.
Sarah says:
Building trains for passenger transit is a socialist (or communist, or authoritarian, or something) plot. Thank God(dess) that Florida's illustrious governor turned down $2 billion we didn't need so we wouldn't build trains no one would ride. Because everybody loves sitting in traffic on Florida highways. USA! USA!
Well, mostly says:
I call them dead zones – times and places where anything normal is nearly impossible, or comes at an enormous soul killing price. The little lady and I took our road trip on Sunday, early. Up the coast to a beautiful beach town. We headed back when most of the crowd was headed out (after church?). We drove by 17 miles of bumper to bumper traffic filling up three lanes headed out of town, at a crawl because a big tire fell offsomething and landed in the fast lane. Jeez.
It's like musical chairs when they take away a chair, speed up the music and put more people in the game. Not pretty.
This traffic thing seems like a revenge on modern suburban life. Folks in the city have had to contend with this for decades: it aint easy shopping, visiting friends or hitting a museum. Screw the SUV big house in the burbs types who think life should be easy.
And, of course, aint nobody in the big leagues gonna do anything about it. The Calvary is not on the way. We resent the others on the highway next to us when in fact they are just like us trying for the same thing. We could be natural allies, not forced into some weird alienating sense of opposition. The big guns love that animosity amongst the little folk. Helps keep it all in place.
xynzee says:
I went 18yrs w/o a car. The beauty of living within the city boundary – pity it's so freaking expensive to buy in.
Government has this weird relationship with cars. They need to operate a mass transit system, yet are compelled to provide infrastructure for cars. Something about the freedom/democracy that a car provides.
So we get this wonderful Catch-22 happening. People want public transport, but don't use it because it's under resourced and doesn't offer timely service, so they use a car that takes money away from the mass transit system.
Of course the majority of people view themselves as precious snowflakes that shouldn't have to use public transit, let the plebs be the ones whilst I use my own private chariot.
Not to mention that car manufacturing provides jobs. You're not against jobs are you?
Now that I'm living in the bush, there's not much option. Then again the car is what killed off the train services and dozens of communities in the process.
Yup, self-fulfilling prophecy at its best.
BTW Ed – the last link goes to a 404 error.
greennotGreen says:
I had never ridden on a train except subways until four years ago when a friend and I flew into Seatac and took a train from there to Vancouver B.C. because it was cheaper than flying directly into Vancouver. It was wonderful! Big, comfortable seats and aisles, easy access to your luggage, and an ocean view going up and coming back down. We've been looking for a chance to take a train somewhere again, but alas, there's no Amtrak service from our city. But now I'm a big supporter of more trains.
BTW, last link works for me – maybe he fixed it?
Nan says:
Mass transit? Heaven forfend. If we invest in public transportation, poor people might use it.
xynzee says:
Never mind on that comment. It works on the laptop, not the iPhone.
Now that I've had a chance to read that, it reminds me of an article I once read years ago in Sydney's Daily Telegraph – surprise surprise – a Murdoch owned rag.
It was after a train derailment in London that was caused by "head shear", where micro-cracks form in the rail where two rails are joined. They're caused either by poor casting, use, weather, just the nature of iron and its crystalline structure, a combination of everything. Historically, these micro-cracks are virtually undetectable, so the only way to prevent it from happening was to just replace rails on an ongoing basis even if there was plenty of life still in the rail. An expensive proposition.
At great expense the State government purchased a piece of equipment that would blast the rail with high doses of X-rays, use electric pulse tests and sound tests, and had some kid named Derrick with a divining rod test the rails for these micro-cracks.
Stupidly, they let someone without media savvy speak to the Shitrag's mis-informer. So a story that should have gone something like:
We now have a piece of equipment that allows for making more informed decisions about rail replacement schedules thus improving safety AND saving money…
Went: SHOCK!!! RAIL NETWORK CRUMBLING, BECAUSE OF GOV'T BUMBLING!!!
New equipment has shown that 65% of rail network at risk of head shear…
or something like that.
Yup, good ol' Rupe and the Rubes.
xynzee says:
@green: I once did a loop of the country on AmTrak. I had a positive experience too. Got to see bald eagles on the Missouri River. Won't get that view from a plane, and a car is about getting from A-to-B NOW! There's something about it, that seemed to select out the real freak show types that one hears about on buses.
jon says:
In the coming decades, we're going to have a shit-ton of old people. More than ever before. And will they drive? That's why we need public transportation.
Some say the self-driving cars will be the salvation of both cars and our future demographic issues. I don't have so much faith in them, since they have two big problems for which I don't see solutions. One, they follow the laws. Most drivers don't. We speed. We don't drive efficiently. We suck at such things. So will they be on the same roads with the rest of us who are still considering speed limits to be a minimum rather than a maximum? Will they be able to be safe when people who don't use turn signals cut them off? How will they drive? I know damn well they will be TOO safe, and probably cause a lot of accidents in the process. And I don't think Google (or GoogleFordGMCinc, ltd.) will be successfully sued, leading to all sorts of problems with people tweaking the software. That's when things will be dangerous and GoogleEtc will do what? The second problem is that automated cars will still be cars and need parking spaces and room on the road and an energy source and batteries and tires and all sorts of things Americans can afford better than most of the world, but even then it's a hugely wasteful way of living. Will the energy needed pay for the "freedom"? Will the math change? The number of drivers of young ages is declining, and I don't see that changing with another generation. Car companies should be panicking to some degree, but I'm sure they'll adjust to making buses and trams soon enough.
In the meantime, I'm excited that Electra now makes an electric bicycle. Call me crazy, but it will probably meet most of my needs. I'd just have to figure out how to keep a $2200 bike from getting stolen. In a college town.
The Roofer says:
I'm hoping that in 10 years time my driverless car will allow me to at least chill out in the passenger seat and catch up on some sleep as I sit in a traffic jam.
c u n d gulag says:
Ed,
This website, great as it is, loads slower than frozen molasses.
Can you check – maybe one of the hamsters on the wheel died, or is hurt or sick?
Are you feeding them enough? Giving them enough water?
Or maybe it's finally time to upgrade that Commodore 64. ;-)
NonyNony says:
I know damn well they will be TOO safe, and probably cause a lot of accidents in the process.
You do realize that if two cars get into an accident and one of them was following the law and the other one was not, the fault lies with the driver who was NOT FOLLOWING THE GODDAMN TRAFFIC LAWS right?
If self-driving cars end up half as good as Google Market Droids suggest, then the solution to the "problem" you give above will not be to sue Google to force them to make cars that violate the law, but rather to start mandating that drivers who repeatedly show that they can't follow the law have their licenses revoked and force them to become passengers for a self-driving car that follows the law. This will force people to become better drivers and to stop doing unsafe things like cutting people off without using turn signals – which causes accidents AMONG HUMAN DRIVERS. And self-driving cars are going to have better reaction time than a human driver, and don't suffer from boredom or distractions while driving, so will probably actually be able to avoid an accident that a driver like that is attempting to cause.
I think self-driving cars are kind of a ridiculous throwback idea from 1950s science fiction (like personal jetpacks and flying cars) – a poor solution to a problem when a GOOD solution already exists (supertrains for travel between cities, mass public transit for travel within cities, and personal cars that don't need to be self-driving for drives out to smaller towns that are unconnected by rail to the larger ones – i.e. what would be non-"interstate highway" driving today). But the idea that somehow a self-driving car will be so constrained that they're going to be a danger on the road because of idiot human drivers is a laughable objection. Google knew that human idiocy (which right now causes nearly all of the accidents on the road) was the single biggest thing they had to teach their cars how to deal with. If you read up on their results from their road tests, you can see that their cars deal with erratic human behavior better than most human drivers do. Especially when most human drivers seem to spend too much time dealing with their ipods/cell phones/food/radio dials/kids in the backseat/gps systems/maps/whatever the hell that guy next to me was doing when I was passing him and he was weaving back and forth in traffic.
Comradde PhysioProffe says:
The highway traffic prediction is not credible. Go to the Calculated Risk blogge and check out the graphs of total annual driving miles. It peaked before the economy collapsed, declined a lot, and then has been totally flat for a number of years. The entity predicting traffic armageddon is an interested lobby shop.
Major Kong says:
By 2030 the 1% will just use their personal jet packs or flying cars to fly over all the proles stuck in traffic.
c u n d gulag says:
Major Kong,
Or, maybe not.
Sabotage may be be too easy.
There's no guarantee that someone will die when there brake lines are cut – but, if they call a hundred or so feet… well, the prospects for death get much better.
ESPECIALLY, if you put a few holes in any parachutes they may be depending on. ;-)
Comradde PhysioProffe says:
Here's the graph:
http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2013/07/dot-vehicle-miles-driven-increased-09.html
jon says:
NonyNony,
Of course you are right about laws and laws and such, but when people are involved and people want an excuse… it will be the driverless car that caused the problem until proven otherwise. Show me a trusted technology that doesn't get blamed for stupid humans? Computers are not on that list, no matter how much logic and law and reality may be involved. People will hate this technology. They'll want it when they want it, but then blame the computer for not avoiding the accident they'll JUST ABSOLUTELY KNOW they could have swerved to avoid if only THEIR PRECIOUS SNOWFLAKE SELF was at the controls.
I'm looking forward to driverless cars. I want people to look at speed limits as maximums rather than minimums. I want people to slow down and pay attention. Having those things on the road will create more good drivers, and not just the ones in the automated cars.
But they'll be hated by the Red Barchetta Repulican Freedom Faction. How many legislatures do those idiots control?
Doctor Rock says:
There's a mega church (seriously, size of a mall and has a huge parking lot. I don't call it a cathedral because it's not and it's ugly as sin) that spills out traffic worthy of a post-foot game rush. Really backs up the four lane road I take to do my grocery shopping on Sunday. It's just amazing how one big thing can fuck up traffic and obliterate an hour of my day.
Monty says:
I bet trains would be more popular if there was a car set aside for the poors…where the gold- and silver-ticket passengers could go to poke their lessers with sticks when things got dull. Or shoot buses.
guttedleafsfan says:
I just returned from a 22-hour train trip from Moncton to Toronto, walked over to the subway line and was home in 25 minutes at the cost of $2.
Nice scenery all the way.
When the trains stop running and the libraries go private I will man the barricades. Shoot if they must this old grey head.
Thinker says:
@Doctor Rock: there's one of those monstrous mega-churches recently built just down the road from me, except the roads are all one-lane each way, so for most of Sunday, the people who have lived along the road for decades can't get in or out of their own neighborhoods. The mega-church has the right-of-way and police officers to direct traffic. It can take 90 minutes to get all the cars in, and 90 minutes to get them out again.
jon says:
Speak of the Devil's good ideas: http://slate.me/14TBLaq
"…the European Union is looking to introduce a new law requiring cars to come fitted with technology that would keep drivers from going over the speed limit."
Doctor Rock says:
@ Thinker exactly the same, with police officers and whatnot. Completely ridiculous. Way too big a church for the neighborhood. Should have been built smaller or elsewhere.
@ guttedleafsfan Very impressive. I'll be going up to Moncton some time next year. Fun fact: for years in college the Jersey kids all considered me one of their own and would talk to me about the shore and other shit. Took me two years to realize that there was a town in Jersey called New Brunswick- I always assumed people knew I meant Canada.
Speaking of which, I should work on acquiring that Canadian citizenship. Have some extended family there and…well…I suppose I can acquire skills. My grandfather immigrated to Nova Scotia from Scotland but then became a US citizen…I'll have to figure this all out sometime.
Comradde PhysioProffe says:
Has anybody received their Buzzfeed Dadaism print? I paid for mine nearly a month ago, and still have not received it.
guttedleafsfan says:
@Doctor Rock, another fun fact. I am the resident socialist troll on a Randian site and when I first talked about the Bay of Fundy, they thought I was making fun of them.
Work on that citizenship bro. I was home for two weeks and not allowed to pay for one meal. Lotta relatives. Stan Rogers rules!
Dick Nixon says:
We gave up on zeppelin technology way too soon. My mind is still abuzz with the possibilities.
Major Kong says:
@Dick Nixon
Actually there is talk of bringing zeppelins back for hauling freight. They would be very efficient since they wouldn't have to expend fuel to generate lift.
Comradde PhysioProffe says:
Buzzfeed dada poster just arrived!
jon says:
@Major Kong,
A huge problem is that the amount of helium on Earth is finite. Maybe there's some atomic process that can make it, but scientists are worried.
http://www.ctvnews.ca/helium-shortage-could-spell-disaster-1.786232
Bitter Scribe says:
I take the train to my job, which is the only thing that makes the commute bearable. Sure, there are occasional glitches ("switching problems," plus my second day the system was overrun by Blackhawks fans heading for the victory parade), but driving downtown every weekday would wreck my car, my nerves and my bank account.
Robert says:
I commuted by public transit for years, even when it took ninety minutes door to door. Of course, I never got a license to drive a car, so that limited my options. Now that I'm retired, and still not driving, I'm doing a lot of walking. That said, I'm probably in much better condition than I would be if I drove everywhere.
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