Driving in America

[warlord 73]

Ugh. I have heard some Detroit horror stories. Thankfully, I have never been lost there. Was lost in Boston once, though! That counts for something.

Going to college at the UofW in Windsor, I was always over in Destroit. Hell I used to just wander the streets on Sat just for the hell of it (used to get my excersicse there). Driving though I had a friend in Sarnia, so I used to drive I-94 up all the time and I just remember the pot holes galore.

Now I get to go there maybe once a year from the airport through Destroit to the bridge over to Canada. I've totally lost all my bearings there so I actually have to use the stupid maps I get at the car rental places. Don't have any desire anymore to wander the streets there either.

City driving, the one city I don't like to drive in is Philthydelphia. The reason being I used to visit my one friend there and the streets were so narrow it was insane. I couldn't figure out how people could drive on those narrow streets in that city. It took me forever to try and park too. I seem to recall Boston was similar as well, but it's been forever since I've driven there...

Edited June 2, 2009 by warlord

[Sprailenes 47]

Its the one way streets in Philly that frustrate me.

But I have learned all the best and major parking areas so I usually just park for the day and walk or take septa around. Much easier.

[thetreble 19]

The reason being I used to visit my one friend there and the streets were so narrow it was insane. I couldn't figure out how people could drive on those narrow streets in that city.

Ever been to Europe?

[Krikit 1,165]

City driving, the one city I don't like to drive in is Philthydelphia. The reason being I used to visit my one friend there and the streets were so narrow it was insane. I couldn't figure out how people could drive on those narrow streets in that city. It took me forever to try and park too. I seem to recall Boston was similar as well, but it's been forever since I've driven there...

That's how I feel about the roads in Europe. They are absolutely terrifying with the narrow lanes and -- depending upon which country you're in -- the solid stone walls or the sheer dropoffs a foot away from where you're driving and someone's walking and not to mention that you're suddenly driving on the other side of the road with the stickshift in your left hand instead of your right. And the locals who are used to careening all over the place and have no time or patience for someone who is unfamiliar with the roads and the area, and so they think that terrorizing you and yelling and honking is going to magically fix all that and you will suddenly start driving like you've lived there forever and.... ugh. Can you tell I hate driving in Europe? LOL

The reason being I used to visit my one friend there and the streets were so narrow it was insane. I couldn't figure out how people could drive on those narrow streets in that city.

Ever been to Europe?

Snap!

[thetreble 19]

Driving in England is the death of me, mate. I had just learned to drive in Canada when I was able to drive in the UK and literally, I got nauseous.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Driving in England is the death of me, mate. I had just learned to drive in Canada when I was able to drive in the UK and literally, I got nauseous.

England and Ireland were quite pleasant driving for me. Now, Valencia, Amsterdam, and Rome....... they scared me to death.

[thetreble 19]

For narrow streets, though? Have you ever driven in Manchester or London?

[The_Dude 1,142]

For narrow streets, though? Have you ever driven in Manchester or London?

I have driven in London, but not Manchester. The streets were narrow, but I found the ones in Valencia and most of southern Spain even worse.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I can't drive in the UK.....I have driven there and recreated the scene in National Lampoon's European Vacation on the 5 ways roundabout in Birmingham. I needed a stiff drink after that. Driving in London is also frustrating (especially in North London) due to one-way streets that often go in the direction you don't want to go.

I used to drive regularly on the 401 between Detroit and Toronto/Buffalo. One thing I will hand to my Canadian friends: passing lane discipline. People actually use the passing lane to pass in, not to set cruise control and stop the flow of traffic like they do all over America (except Colorado, which I have found to be Canadian-like in the their use of the passing lane).

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Lost in Detroit...add me to that list, hehe.

The FIRST time I went to visit my (now)fiance I got lost. I was supposed to take the I-94 WEST. But, after I crossed the bridge, there was construction & detours(and STILL IS!!!) so I ended up driving through the streets. And of course, my cell wouldn't let me call him & I didn't want to pull over to look at the map.....

so I texted him "CALL ME", and got on the I-75 SOUTH just to be on a highway, where I though was safer.

At the time I was driving an '86 Chevy Caprice, which was probably attractive to the Detroitians.

Anyways, my cell allowed & he called me & got me back on route. I was SOO happy to see him(on more than 1 note!)

[Krikit 1,165]

I used to drive regularly on the 401 between Detroit and Toronto/Buffalo. One thing I will hand to my Canadian friends: passing lane discipline. People actually use the passing lane to pass in, not to set cruise control and stop the flow of traffic like they do all over America (except Colorado, which I have found to be Canadian-like in the their use of the passing lane).

That's exactly what I thought! SO much like Canada.

[Krikit 1,165]

Lost in Detroit...add me to that list, hehe.

The FIRST time I went to visit my (now)fiance I got lost. I was supposed to take the I-94 WEST. But, after I crossed the bridge, there was construction & detours(and STILL IS!!!) so I ended up driving through the streets. And of course, my cell wouldn't let me call him & I didn't want to pull over to look at the map.....

so I texted him "CALL ME", and got on the I-75 SOUTH just to be on a highway, where I though was safer.

At the time I was driving an '86 Chevy Caprice, which was probably attractive to the Detroitians.

Anyways, my cell allowed & he called me & got me back on route. I was SOO happy to see him(on more than 1 note!)

I remember driving up to Canada and coming upon an accident in South Carolina and the road had closed. So I took the "detour" off the highway but I had no idea where I was or which way to go! I had to pull over to the side of the road and call my husband to google my location to look for a way out. He wasn't having much success because I was having a difficult time telling him what road I was on and which way I was facing of the serious lack of signage so I ended up just following my instincts and going that route. Sheesh. I only think about purchasing a GPS when I'm in dire need of one.

[warlord 73]

Lost in Detroit...add me to that list, hehe.

The FIRST time I went to visit my (now)fiance I got lost. I was supposed to take the I-94 WEST. But, after I crossed the bridge, there was construction & detours(and STILL IS!!!) so I ended up driving through the streets. And of course, my cell wouldn't let me call him & I didn't want to pull over to look at the map.....

so I texted him "CALL ME", and got on the I-75 SOUTH just to be on a highway, where I though was safer.

At the time I was driving an '86 Chevy Caprice, which was probably attractive to the Detroitians.

Anyways, my cell allowed & he called me & got me back on route. I was SOO happy to see him(on more than 1 note!)

I remember driving up to Canada and coming upon an accident in South Carolina and the road had closed. So I took the "detour" off the highway but I had no idea where I was or which way to go! I had to pull over to the side of the road and call my husband to google my location to look for a way out. He wasn't having much success because I was having a difficult time telling him what road I was on and which way I was facing of the serious lack of signage so I ended up just following my instincts and going that route. Sheesh. I only think about purchasing a GPS when I'm in dire need of one.

As for narrow streets I have never driven in Europe because I was always driven around. London I just would take a tube everywhere and wander the streets. So never really paid attention to what it's like to drive there. Though I've been to some places where not only the roads are bad, but driving is insane. Cairo and Mumbai are two I remember being the most insane I've ever seen.

That Detroit Detour I think is what got me lost the last time I was there. I can't believe I used to know that city so well and last time I did get lost by it. I'll be doing it again in about a month so I'm sure I'll screw it up again.

Detours in general usually are ok, but yeah I've seen some where the sign points the direction and then boom, you don't see another sign again and you get totally lost. I wonder if small towns do that on purpose?

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I used to drive regularly on the 401 between Detroit and Toronto/Buffalo. One thing I will hand to my Canadian friends: passing lane discipline. People actually use the passing lane to pass in, not to set cruise control and stop the flow of traffic like they do all over America (except Colorado, which I have found to be Canadian-like in the their use of the passing lane).

That's exactly what I thought! SO much like Canada.

This thread has been educational! I feel better about driving in Colorado now.

We talk about Detroit, but what about getting lost in LA? My fiance and I were super late getting to the airport so we decided to follow the "shortcut" the GPS suggested and oh my... I have never seen anything like that in my life! There were massive groves of thuggy looking people standing along the street staring at you as you drive by. Maybe its because we were in a bright orange Mustang? Regardless I was terrified!

[JillA 2]

I used to drive regularly on the 401 between Detroit and Toronto/Buffalo. One thing I will hand to my Canadian friends: passing lane discipline. People actually use the passing lane to pass in, not to set cruise control and stop the flow of traffic like they do all over America (except Colorado, which I have found to be Canadian-like in the their use of the passing lane).

That's exactly what I thought! SO much like Canada.

This thread has been educational! I feel better about driving in Colorado now.

We talk about Detroit, but what about getting lost in LA? My fiance and I were super late getting to the airport so we decided to follow the "shortcut" the GPS suggested and oh my... I have never seen anything like that in my life! There were massive groves of thuggy looking people standing along the street staring at you as you drive by. Maybe its because we were in a bright orange Mustang? Regardless I was terrified!

OMG I just thought of something when you said LA. My girlfriend and I went to LA last year on vacay, we rented a car. We got lost and ended up in the ghetto, had to stop for gas. As she's pumping fuel, this scary looking guy walked up and asked her for change, he needed bus fare as he was just let out of prison and he had 0 dollars