US Ain't Got Shit On China. Today's Edition: Traffic

[LK]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/08/23/china.traffic.jam/index.html

NINE. DAYS. Talk about some severe growing pains.

[Paelos]

What do you do at that point? Do you sleep in the car? Call the job and tell them you won't be in until next week? Geez.

[Cyrrex]

I didn't read the article, but I assume we're not suggesting that people were in their cars for 9 days - only that the jam itself has lasted that long.  I mean, people are probably only mixed up in the mess for a few hours at a time, right?

[01101010]

I think I saw that on Dr. Who once. 

[slog]

I didn't read the article, but I assume we're not suggesting that people were in their cars for 9 days - only that the jam itself has lasted that long.  I mean, people are probably only mixed up in the mess for a few hours at a time, right?

Saw something on this where some truckers have been stuck for 2 days.

[Viin]

I didn't read the article, but I assume we're not suggesting that people were in their cars for 9 days - only that the jam itself has lasted that long.  I mean, people are probably only mixed up in the mess for a few hours at a time, right?

I know it's a long article so I'll only quote the first half:

Think you had a hellish commute this morning? Just be thankful you're not in China, where a traffic jam stretching more than 100 km (62 miles) has forced drivers to keep their feet planted on brake pedals for nine days.

The gridlock, which started August 14, involves thousands of trucks between the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Chinese capital of Beijing, according to state media.

Fender-benders and broken-down vehicles are adding to the chaos, state media reported.

Some drivers played cards to pass the time, while others fumed about nearby vendors taking advantage of their predicament by gouging food prices.

[NiX]

I love how there's no explanation for why there's a 9 day traffic jam. All I gleamed from that was that the OTHER highway is under construction. So why the jam?

[IainC]

Apparently all the traffic has damaged the surface so there are major road works on there.

Also a lot of the traffic is illegally mined coal.

[Trippy]

When did coal learn how to drive?

[Goreschach]

Apparently it doesn't, thus the traffic jam.

[Merusk]

I love how there's no explanation for why there's a 9 day traffic jam. All I gleamed from that was that the OTHER highway is under construction. So why the jam?

Female Asian drivers 

I hate myself for saying it.

[Paelos]

I got a chuckle. Also, I laughed about coal driving. It's got places to be, dammit!

[schild]

So. After one day in a traffic jam, I would probably start flipping out and killing people.

[Paelos]

That's actually pretty tolerant of you. I think the average American would probably start whipping out a gun at the 4 hour mark.

[IainC]

fallingdown.jpg

[Morat20]

I'm curious how the fuck they had gas after the first day. Of course, unlike the Rita evacuations here (which led to people stuck in traffic for 12 or more hours) it's not Houston, so they don't technically need AC not to die.

[Lantyssa]

23 hours to make it from downtown to Columbus...

[Minvaren]

I'm curious how the fuck they had gas after the first day. Of course, unlike the Rita evacuations here (which led to people stuck in traffic for 12 or more hours) it's not Houston, so they don't technically need AC not to die.

F'cripes, Rita traffic...     

From what I heard on the radio, it's 6 hours with the engine off, drive for a few minutes, 6 hours with the engine off...  apparently it's all about the alternate roads having "excessive tolls" that make it cheaper to waste 2-3 days in traffic than pay them.  o_O

[dusematic]

Chinese roadways are totally lawless.  Nobody really follows traffic laws or enforces them.  It's hard to explain if you haven't been there.  People take poops in the middle of the street.  It's kind of hardcore.

[Cheddar]

Chinese roadways Most countries roadways are totally lawless.  Nobody really follows traffic laws or enforces them.  It's hard to explain if you haven't been there.  People take poops in the middle of the street.  It's kind of hardcore.

I totally miss hopping into a taxi with no seatbelt and driving in reverse for 4 miles down a "one way" road.  See, its one way... the car was pointed the correct way!

In Turkey the vehicle has the right of way.  I used to get pissed at my buddy who would "nudge" people with his SUV... 

[Teleku]

Well, I guess you could say "most countries" since most countries aren't developed countries, but still...

[NowhereMan]

Vietnamese roads are fun, seeing five year old Vietnamese kids wandering out across three lane main roads filled with motorbike as if they were taking a stroll in the park was awesome.

fakeedit: I should add that's the correct (and only) way to cross roads there. Bikes have enough room and time to go around you provided you keep moving at a steady pace. Except when they don't but while I saw a number of accidents while I was there almost none were bikes hitting pedestrians.

[Lantyssa]

Driving in Thailand was scary and I assume they have some laws.  I'm glad I was only in taxis and professional drivers' cars.  (On the plus side, they're really cheap even when they try to rip you off.)

[Teleku]

Rwanda had a very interesting traffic system as well.