Timely eRage
So, I promised this yesterday but I decided to hold it until I was able to get the whole story. Now I have it and I am madder than ever.
1. The Accidental Tourist In Your Own Home Town
For some reason all of the various authorities who handle repairs or modifications to our road systems are completely unable to plan their projects in such a way that the world does not almost have to come to a stop. This weekend they are closing the major east/west freeway at the interchange with the outer loop. Concurrently, the first east/west road to the north is also under construction in that same area. And the loop is under construction on the road level through the first road to the south. For most of the weekend this will mean total chaos in the area. Couldn't they coordinate a little better? It is not as bad as the time when they had another section of the same freeway closed and the first 3 street going north and south of it were all either closed down to 1 way or seriously under construction. That took real smarts to plan. I guess they want us to get out and see more of our neighborhoods as we try to find creative routes to use. This construction is also linked to the reason why it now takes me an hour to travel about 5 blocks in the evening when leaving work. Their ability to look at the whole picture boggles me.
2. We don't want more cops, just more tickets...
We are installing "Red Light Cameras" at many intersections in our city to catch people who, what else, run the red light. The owner of the car gets a photo from the camera and a ticket in the mail. No muss, no fuss, no worry about extenuating circumstances. Like the one nearest me- last week the light was short cycling... literally as soon as it turned green it turned yellow and then red. The camera was flashing like a strobe. Anyone who pulled into the intersection would never be able to clear it before it was red and a photo of them "running the red" was on its way to produce a ticket. I realize this is extreme but I have seen situations where there was no way to clear the intersection after the light turned yellow too late to stop safely and you would be in violation when the camera snapped its picture. I know it is cheaper than hiring officers and training them but whenever you automate something you open yourself to failure. To listen to them this is absolutely fool-proof, a perfect deterrent to a serious crime. I know I sleep better at night knowing a camera is watching over me.
I will add to this as time permits... today has gotten a little hectic...
1. The Accidental Tourist In Your Own Home Town
For some reason all of the various authorities who handle repairs or modifications to our road systems are completely unable to plan their projects in such a way that the world does not almost have to come to a stop. This weekend they are closing the major east/west freeway at the interchange with the outer loop. Concurrently, the first east/west road to the north is also under construction in that same area. And the loop is under construction on the road level through the first road to the south. For most of the weekend this will mean total chaos in the area. Couldn't they coordinate a little better? It is not as bad as the time when they had another section of the same freeway closed and the first 3 street going north and south of it were all either closed down to 1 way or seriously under construction. That took real smarts to plan. I guess they want us to get out and see more of our neighborhoods as we try to find creative routes to use. This construction is also linked to the reason why it now takes me an hour to travel about 5 blocks in the evening when leaving work. Their ability to look at the whole picture boggles me.
2. We don't want more cops, just more tickets...
We are installing "Red Light Cameras" at many intersections in our city to catch people who, what else, run the red light. The owner of the car gets a photo from the camera and a ticket in the mail. No muss, no fuss, no worry about extenuating circumstances. Like the one nearest me- last week the light was short cycling... literally as soon as it turned green it turned yellow and then red. The camera was flashing like a strobe. Anyone who pulled into the intersection would never be able to clear it before it was red and a photo of them "running the red" was on its way to produce a ticket. I realize this is extreme but I have seen situations where there was no way to clear the intersection after the light turned yellow too late to stop safely and you would be in violation when the camera snapped its picture. I know it is cheaper than hiring officers and training them but whenever you automate something you open yourself to failure. To listen to them this is absolutely fool-proof, a perfect deterrent to a serious crime. I know I sleep better at night knowing a camera is watching over me.
I will add to this as time permits... today has gotten a little hectic...