More Dangerous than BBFS!! Much more dangerous.

[rumpleforeskiin]

You ever try driving in Boston? Here's some help for you.

http://books.google.com/books?id=VF...rontcover&vq=boston+driver's+handbook#PPP1,M1

Having lived in Boston for four years, two of them driving a Checker cab, two of them commuting from the South Shore on the Southeast Distressway aka the World's Longest parking lot, I'm quite lucky to be alive today.

If you want to drive in a place where rules of the road have long been abandoned, where driving in the breakdown lane is a daily routine, where driving in the breakdown lane is a necessity as there's almost surely someone cruising at 55 mph in the passing lane, Boston's your place.

In fact, there's only one thing known to man to have been proven more dangerous than driving in Boston: crossing the street in Boston.

 

[korbel]

You ever try driving in Boston? Here's some help for you.

http://books.google.com/books?id=VFCJE6P_M-wC&printsec
=frontcover&vq=boston+driver%27s+handbook#PPP1,M1

Having lived in Boston for four years, two of them driving a Checker cab, two of them commuting from the South Shore on the Southeast Distressway aka the World's Longest parking lot, I'm quite lucky to be alive today.

If you want to drive in a place where rules of the road have long been abandoned, where driving in the breakdown lane is a daily routine, where driving in the breakdown lane is a necessity as there's almost surely someone cruising at 55 mph in the passing lane, Boston's your place.

In fact, there's only one thing known to man to have been proven more dangerous than driving in Boston: crossing the street in Boston.

Hello Rumpie,

Bwahahahahaha...having driven in Boston hundreds of times I thought this was just the right way to drive there. Storrow Drive is an especially exhilarating adventure. Here we learn to drive 10 feet from the next bumper at 60 mph. If you can't you had better learn before you go there. And changing lanes like sliding your car into an ATM slot between cars is just par for the course. Yes, driving in Boston is loads of fun. So if you have a little of that Kamikaze spirit, come on down and take your turn.

One thing Boston does have sensibly that Montreal doesn't. Boston actually makes an extra left side turning lane in it's streets instead of as in Montreal where having to dodge all of the banzai drivers coming at you as you try to turn left. Yes, in BOston you can stop safely without blocking traffic or being pressured to cross some no chance in hell traffic. It is such a tremendous pain and sooo dangerous. And, people in Boston do not walk in front of turning cars. No wonder so many pedestrians get hit and killed in Montreal.

All in all...driving could be a toss up between the two cities.

Banzai,

Korbel

 

[Special K]

where driving in the breakdown lane is a necessity as there's almost surely someone cruising at 55 mph in the passing lane, Boston's your place.

You have the two states of Vt. and Ma. confused. Numerous and I mean at least 15 f'n times up and back last week I was stuck behind some Green lovin' jackass doing 55MPH in the left lane on Rt. 89 while both lanes are wide open!!

Every time I happened upon a slow poke in the left lane they had one of those f'n green plates on their cars. They absolutely SUCK!!! Oh, and by the way, you fit in nicely there Rumples Magoo, old right turn from the left lane, no signals, just cut out onto St. Catherine St.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

And, people in Boston do not walk in front of turning cars. No wonder so many pedestrians get hit and killed in Montreal

I actually saved my daughter's life in Kenmore Square about 15 years ago. We were on our way to the ballpark when some moron from Woburn, or Chelsea, or Nooton thought that the red light meant "get mad and floor it." I pulled her back just in the nick of time.

I swear they sell driver's licenses in vending machines in Southie.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

You have the two states of Vt. and Ma. confused. Numerous and I mean at least 15 f'n times up and back last week I was stuck behind some Green lovin' jackass doing 55MPH in the left lane on Rt. 89 while both lanes are wide open!!

Actually, it was 65 when you told me about it, as you were driving 80 and talking to me on your f'n cellphone in a raging blizzard.

I've driven in Vermont for 35 years and everytime, I mean everytime, I see somebody mindlessly cruising at 55 in the passing lane for mile after mile, the plates read "Massachusetts." I've also driven in Massachusetts for many years and everytime, I mean everytime, I see somebody mindlessly cruising at 55 in the passing lane for mile after mile, the plates read "Massachusetts."

They sell driver's licenses 2 for $10 in package stores on Beacon Hill. Hell, I bet they'd even let Joe.T drive there.

 

[Special K]

Ok Magoo....Roadhog!!

 

[korbel]

Ok Magoo....Roadhog!!

Hello Special K,

LOVE IT!

As for me:

I've driven in Vermont for several years and everytime, I mean everytime, I see somebody mindlessly cruising at 55 in the passing lane for mile after mile, it's a stinking Volvo. I've also driven in Massachusetts for many years and everytime, I mean everytime, I see somebody mindlessly cruising at 55 in the passing lane for mile after mile, It's another stinking Volvo.

Hey Rumples, I believe the state motto in New Hamshire is "Live Free Or Die". In Vermont I believe it's "Drive 55 Or Die". I also believe in Vermont they give a free drivers license with every 5 pine cones you can collect. No wonder you guys are never afraid of having the cops take it away from you. So many spares.

Joe.t/Joe.G...well...here Yankee Fan Hunting Season runs Jan 1-Dec 24, and Dec 26-Dec 31. We let the bastards take a breath for Christmas.

Cheerio,

Korbel

 

[KRO]

. And it gets worse the further south you go. You'll see stunts there that would leave a native Boston person in tears.

I was there last summer and I can confirm this, Driving south from Rome to Calabria on the A1 highway there is no speed limit (private highway). Crazy drivers, don't stay on the left lane they will run you over, in a one car lane curve they will pass you on the right and in a tunel longer than hypolite they pass you on double lines.

One good thing, all the rigs have a speed limit of 80 or 90km/h so they don't cut you like here,they stay on the right lane most of the time.

 

[Uncle Kracker]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

this thread's hilarious!

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

The craziest Western European drivers have to be in Italy. And it gets worse the further south you go. You'll see stunts there that would leave a native Boston person in tears.

I hitchhiked through Italy in the summer of 1970. Certainly the most terrifying moment, other than trying to cross the street in Rome which is almost as death-defying an event as in Boston, was the trip from Pisa to Rome.

The road was a two lane, a bit narrower than those here. The cars were almost all tiny Fiat 500s, driven at breakneck speeds. They'd drive in the far right hand side of the lane and PASS IN THE FUCKING MIDDLE OF THE TWO LANE ROAD.

The key difference between the Italian drivers and the Massachusetts drivers is that the Italians know how to drive.

 

[korbel]

I hitchhiked through Italy in the summer of 1970. Certainly the most terrifying moment, other than trying to cross the street in Rome which is almost as death-defying an event as in Boston, was the trip from Pisa to Rome.

The road was a two lane, a bit narrower than those here. The cars were almost all tiny Fiat 500s, driven at breakneck speeds. They'd drive in the far right hand side of the lane and PASS IN THE FUCKING MIDDLE OF THE TWO LANE ROAD.

The key difference between the Italian drivers and the Massachusetts drivers is that the Italians know how to drive.

Hello Rumples,

I think your problem is living in Vermont. There's little out there but mountains, trees, and cows. It makes you lazy having the whole road to yourself. No wonder you find cities so challenging. There is actually traffic you have to deal with. Maybe you should take a trip to Greenland where there are practically no roads to worry you. Don't go to Arizona. There in the Red Rock region you may be forced to drive along mountain side roads with a 2000 or 3000 feet drop on the edge as you are pushed along around 80 mph with tandem trailers all around you.

Cheers,

Korbel

 

[RogerRabbit]

Bolivia

Just try the Trans-Bolivian "Highway". Mountains one side, precipitous fall the other side, just one lane width and even not everywhere. Oh, traffic going both ways. Just too bad I cannot attach the pps on that one.

RR

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I think your problem is living in Vermont. There's little out there but mountains, trees, and cows. It makes you lazy having the whole road to yourself. No wonder you find cities so challenging. There is actually traffic you have to deal with. Maybe you should take a trip to Greenland where there are practically no roads to worry you. Don't go to Arizona. There in the Red Rock region you may be forced to drive along mountain side roads with a 2000 or 3000 feet drop on the edge as you are pushed along around 80 mph with tandem trailers all around you.

Nope. I've got more than enough experience driving in cities. I learned to drive in NYC. Down there, the drivers are obnoxious, aggressive, fast, but, unlike Boston, they're predictable and know what they're doing. Driving in NYC is a piece of cake.

In Boston, it's a free-for-all. No rules. No predictability. Aggressive and erratic is a nasty combination.

 

[korbel]

Nope. I've got more than enough experience driving in cities. I learned to drive in NYC. Down there, the drivers are obnoxious, aggressive, fast, but, unlike Boston, they're predictable and know what they're doing. Driving in NYC is a piece of cake.

In Boston, it's a free-for-all. No rules. No predictability. Aggressive and erratic is a nasty combination.

Hello Rumpie my friend,

Sounds like you have a lot of that New York hatred for Boston after all, despite the fact you aren't a damn Yankers fan. Of course in New York you have the crime to go along with the traffic. I remember the inevitable "Free Show". Guys up against the wall surrounded by cops including mounted officers. It's so nice of them to provide this show regularly so none of the tourists miss it. Funny how in 7 or 8 trips to New York I have seen this happen a few times, and after several hundred trips to Boston I have never seen it once. It is so telling how things are when I go to pay for an item in a store on Manhattan and the owner says...WHOA...never never show your cash near the door unless you want to risk getting robbed.

Actually, Boston does end up near the top rankings for worse places to drive in the U.S., right there with New York. But, the worst place in the country...drum roll please...is...MIAMI where the issue is not only rotten driving but also the imminent threat of carjacking. So enjoy driving there...just don't plan to get back unscathed.

Toodles,

Korbel

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Hello Rumpie my friend,
Sounds like you have a lot of that New York hatred for Boston after all.

Korbie,
No, I'm not a fan of NYC at all, really can no longer stand the place. But I don't feel like I'm risking my life and limb every time I get behind the wheel or cross the street, like I do in the Land o' Beans.

 

[Special K]

But I don't feel like I'm risking my life and limb every time I get behind the wheel or cross the street, like I do in the Land o' Beans.

Then please stay away!

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Then please stay away!

Touchy, aren't we today. I'll stay away just as soon as the move Fenway to South Burlington.

 

[korbel]

Touchy, aren't we today. I'll stay away just as soon as the move Fenway to South Burlington.

Well Rumpie,

I am suprised. Aren't you afraid of getting run down by a peanut vendor? And those beer lines...ohhhhhhh the humanity. WATCH OUT...my goodness, Ortiz lined a pitch right past your head. That's Boston for you...lol. Sorry, but the Red Sox are Boston.

Dangerous game,

Korbel

 

[andreww770]

I drove a bit in Boston when I lived there and have driven here in New York City. Boston drivers, to put it nicely, aren't so good on the highways. Overall driving in Boston is a little more difficult than in NYC. I'm talking urban, not suburban areas because I don't know much about the suburbs.

However, I've driven a lot in Europe, and the extremes there are much more pronounced. German & Swiss drivers are excellent as you would expect. The UK is a piece of cake even though they drive on the wrong side of the road. French drivers are generally ok except in Paris (12-lane traffic circle at the Arc de Triumph!) where they could improve by taking lessons from Boston drivers.

The craziest Western European drivers have to be in Italy. And it gets worse the further south you go. You'll see stunts there that would leave a native Boston person in tears.

I was just going to say, try Rome! I drove in Palermo and I swear I don't know how I survived it.

I've heard Manila is insane. NO traffic signals!