Today was the first time I’d seen this video of Thanksgiving traffic on “the 405” in Los Angeles. (I’ve never lived anyplace where people preface a highway number with “the.” Me and mine would say “I-405.”) Traffic like this would be reason enough to stay away from LA, even if there weren’t fires, landslides, droughts, and of course, earthquakes.
Interestingly, Denver news has reported in the last few days that people are actually moving away from here (Denver) because of the traffic. And ours can’t hold a candle to Los Angeles. (Skyrocketing housing prices aren’t helping either. But still … )
The sad thing to note here is that yesterday, due to wildfires right in the LA area, “the 405” was completely shut down. No traffic at all in either direction. Completely empty:
No, I would never consider living in Los Angeles, but I hope everyone who does live there stays safe during these unprecendented fires.
You have to wonder at the mindset of those that live in LA, Why would they buy motor vehicles, probably quicker to walk.
Have you visited any cities in the Ameican West? Very few people live within walking distance of their jobs, grocery stores, or anything else.
Been to San Francisco twice, Salinas (Steinbeck Museum) Monterey, stopped overnight in Bakersfield on way back from Las Vegas; didn’t really take note of those things you mention.
Actually, now that I think about it, I’ve never lived where I didn’t need a car. And that includes the West, South, and Northeast US.
It would be fabulous to live where you could walk to work – but the size and “width” of our cities don’t allow that…along with the 100 degree high humidity weather for multiple months.
I used to routinely, daily drive almost 100 miles a day when a local sales rep. Visit Houston or Dallas and you’d get the concept of sprawling cities of the West…San Francisco isn’t a good example…
We keep voting for mass transportation systems locally…for decades..but only get more studies..and polluting/ disgustingly dirty inside buses
We’ve got light rail developed or developing throughout the metro. But the metro sprawl means people still have to drive miles to the stations. My son rides the spiffy express bus line, but has to drive 5-6 miles to the station.
I have a cousin that grew up in the Bay Area. For a while he lived in LA, was (and still is) a pilot for a commercial airlines. He told me that, at one time, LA had the best public transportation system in the country. The “Big 3,” as we called them then, did something to control and nearly destroy the public trans system so that people would need to buy cars. Back then, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised.
We have a steadily expanding rapid transit system in the Denver metro, but you still have to drive to get to the stations.
There’s a difference between having to have a car and not being able to get where you’re going even with one. So much for California dreamin!
Oh you can do all that California dreamin’ while you’re stuck in jams like this one.
That video clip is amazing. I have to wonder, if all those cars were self-driving, wouldn’t the spacing be enough greater that they wouldn’t fit?
We lived in San Diego 1969 to 1971, or at least Mollie did. I was at sea most of that time. Even then, driving on the “freeways” was different from elsewhere. One joke was that looking over your shoulder when merging was a sign of weakness.
I’m glad we live in Joplin, pop. 50,000. Everything is 6 miles away or shorter. : )
That merge thing is one reason I opted for a turbo engine on my 6-year-old car. It’s for safety, not hot-rodding. I haven’t the nerve to try merging with a car that needs a quarter mile to get up to speed.