h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Parts of St. Louis's suburbs are quite exclusive, and one neighborhood I frequently drive through has implemented roundabouts to deter anyone from driving its streets. Intersections are at severe angles, and the circular paths around the hub are frighteningly narrow. One of the plaza-ettes, by the way, is apparently an Official Bird Sanctuary, or so a nearby sign says (though it's maybe nine or ten feets in diameter). In the past months, the neighborhood association has attempted to halt drive-through traffic by various means. The last attempt involved constructing a series of half-circle flower gardens that blocked the left and right lanes, alternately. Before that were monstrous speed bumps. I'm still awaiting the moats and flamethrowers.

Sydney, Australia had a period when 'traffic calming devices' were very popular with local councils as a way to discourage through traffic & slow everyone down so that it was safe for the kiddies to play various games on the roadways.

At the time, government being a consultative process (well OK maybe there was an election coming up) my local council thought it would be a good idea to survey residents on their views of such devices as a means of slowing traffic.

Being, at the time, a male teenager, whose sole interest in life seemed to be avoiding a tedious old age through the use of various petrol driven devices, I was pleased as punch to be surveyed on this topic.

The survey went along the lines "What do you think of this device and why?"

The researcher reacted happily when I replied "I really like them" and much less enthusiastically when I supplied the why - "Because its really good fun seeing how fast you can get through/around them".

;^)#

I have read various articles which seek to understand the popularity of 4x4 vehicles in inner cities. Its generally put down to machismo. But there are so many humps, lumps, mini roundabouts and chichanes in London now, you need a 4x4 to go to the shops. Driving across Dartmoor would be easier!!

I thought the majority of 4x4's in cities were driven by women picking up their spawn from school etc. That'd explain the machismo theory then. ;^)#

btw did you know that according to an old Oxford dictionary that I have the 'macho' is a type of striped mullet?

;^)#

Yes a fish-like guy called Ducati told me that in a chat room in a time long long ago . But that's why we all have 4x4's the side streets of London have more bumps that the backstreets of Nepal.

Obviously a man of taste & distinction. ;^)#

wonder what happened to him ?

He's possibly stuck on a round about somewhere.

;^)#

probably the two way one in Hemel Hempstead....or his ducati is causing problems again, can't get out of the hall...

can't get out of the hall for all the lasses clamouring for a ride probably.
;^)#

Woooooooooooooooo someone's got an ego

We who don't get all the TDV freebies need something in our lives

;^)#