Blowing off steam - The Rant Thread

[crank_case]

Wasn't it Coventry which removed all traffic lights, road markings etc on some roads and traffic continued to flow without any increase in accidents?

The Netherlands have been doing this for years based on the work of Hans Mondermans "shared space" design philosophy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Monderman

It goes further than just taking away lights, it involves removing as much street clutter and demarcation as possible, even seperation between footpath and road. The idea is that without signifiers of right of way everyone has to negotiate with other users of the street - you need to start making eye contact with other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians and actually look at what's going on on the street itself and not distracting traffic signs and markings. It can work up to a point, but once you start getting an area of traffic over 110 vehicles per hour, it may not work so well. It's a good idea that I'm a fan of, but it's not completely suitable for all situations, probably not this junction.

I think the resistance to the idea comes from that most governments/authorities operate on a command and control mindset and letting people figure it out and treating them like adults goes against what makes them comfortable.

Shared spaces can be good for mobility impaired users, but vision impaired users can find them problematic.

[Cold]

If the Kia was already in the middle of the junction I would think the Audi is at fault?

I’m not sure I’m picturing what happened correctly but it sounds like the Kia was breaking a red light in order to make the turn and somebody took off from a green light and hit the car. I’ve been that green light car a few times where somebody breaking a red light ended up in a near miss scenario.

[crank_case]

You’d wonder who’s at fault there. Not obvious I would have thought.

I'd imagine there will be liability on both sides but a greater proportion of that going to the Audi who clearly sped through a red light where the Kia was borderline amber gambling.

[Padrio]

Wasn't it Coventry which removed all traffic lights, road markings etc on some roads and traffic continued to flow without any increase in accidents?

[Roarsbaby]

You’d wonder who’s at fault there. Not obvious I would have thought.

If the Kia was already in the middle of the junction I would think the Audi is at fault?

[Cold]

You’d wonder who’s at fault there. Not obvious I would have thought.

[crank_case]

Can people driving in urban areas just calm the hell down?

Witnessed the dumbest accident right in front of me this morning and was a little shook by the sheer violence of it.

Was at a 4 way junction, my light goes green, I notice a Kia has emerged from my right a little late and is turning, probably got stranded by some amber gamblers going straight on and not giving them a chance to turn. A little bit naughty but no harm no foul at this point so I give small pause before moving and I'm glad I did...

An Audi (of course it's an Audi) comes barreling through from my left, hits the nose of the Kia as he's turning it in and turns it round 180 degrees. I couldn't see a huge amount of damage but it sounded like an almighty slap...

Like I'm not an advocate for the Lovin 30 nonsense and I do not hang about on the open road, but for goodness sake, cities are just something you should tip through, your driving style should be chill, considered, deliberate and predictable, not this zipping about trying to make every gap, doing 60-70kph through streets stuff.

I mean a lot of younger urban types are getting increasingly anti-car as it is, the very least people can do is at least behave while drivng through urban areas. People like this are just making life harder for those of us who are trying to show consideration to the fact there's pedestrians and cyclists about the place.

[fez]

Good to know. I flew Aer Lingus a couple of weeks back for the first time in yonks, within Europe though. I had forgotten the Irish mammy treatment that you get on their planes, for good and for bad. It’s a shame if they have downgraded the experience to the US as they used to be one of the better if not the best on that route. What usually scuppered them for me was lack of connectivity unless I was going to one of their destinations. I flew with them to LA a few times and all good, well as good as it can be on those endless flights. I’m very happy that stuff is no longer necessary.

Fez will be flying from Germany I’m assuming so Lufthansa I’m guessing. Which is usually good quality stuff.

Yeah I’m flying Berlin-Newark and then DC with Lufthansa/United

[Neilo]

According to one of the air stewards on the Dub-Mia route the planes will be getting a full refit in 2024.

Hopefully this happens, they were supposed to be refitted during covid but it never happened. I’m sceptical whether it will happen as they are old aircraft, GEY is 22 years old.

[Cold]

Good to know. I flew Aer Lingus a couple of weeks back for the first time in yonks, within Europe though. I had forgotten the Irish mammy treatment that you get on their planes, for good and for bad. It’s a shame if they have downgraded the experience to the US as they used to be one of the better if not the best on that route. What usually scuppered them for me was lack of connectivity unless I was going to one of their destinations. I flew with them to LA a few times and all good, well as good as it can be on those endless flights. I’m very happy that stuff is no longer necessary.

Fez will be flying from Germany I’m assuming so Lufthansa I’m guessing. Which is usually good quality stuff.

[JohnH]

If anyone wants to avoid the misery of these sub par aircraft, these are the ones to avoid.
EI-EIL
EI-EIK
EI-GEY

They are used on the Chicago route too, awful things.

According to one of the air stewards on the Dub-Mia route the planes will be getting a full refit in 2024.

[JohnH]

Re US flights. USB etc will depend on the route. Aer Lingus running an ex Qatar lease plane to Miami. Old in the arm remote, 480p screens when they worked, no WiFi and crap seats. Dublin Miami is 9 hrs so a fairly miserable experience.

Currently in South Africa and a modern BA Boeing 777 down was such an improvement but still a long 11 hours.

I've found avoiding booze, having a nice light meal before the flight really helps. Means you don't have to eat the inflight meal if it's crap.

Then once they finish service ear plugs in and eye mask on and try and sleep. So far seems to be best option for me.

When you land, don't stop. Don't attempt to go near a couch or bed, try and soldier on untill the local bed time as best you can and hopefully you reset sooner. I used to be a walking zombie on day one in Aisa but day two was a huge improvement.

This is bang on the money and is what I’ve been doing for years. Even if you land in say Chicago mid afternoon keep going till 10pm, have a walk, go for dinner. The way I look at it is 10pm in Chicago is 4am in Dublin which used to be coming home time from a good night out and I used to manage that without a nap! 🤣

[Traco]

Yep,.Mrs Traco has to use the Chicago route a few times a year for work and has noted the older planes.

Unfortunately though if you have to go there isn't a lot you can do about it.

[Neilo]

Re US flights. USB etc will depend on the route. Aer Lingus running an ex Qatar lease plane to Miami. Old in the arm remote, 480p screens when they worked, no WiFi and crap seats. Dublin Miami is 9 hrs so a fairly miserable experience.

If anyone wants to avoid the misery of these sub par aircraft, these are the ones to avoid.
EI-EIL
EI-EIK
EI-GEY

They are used on the Chicago route too, awful things.

[Traco]

Re US flights. USB etc will depend on the route. Aer Lingus running an ex Qatar lease plane to Miami. Old in the arm remote, 480p screens when they worked, no WiFi and crap seats. Dublin Miami is 9 hrs so a fairly miserable experience.

Currently in South Africa and a modern BA Boeing 777 down was such an improvement but still a long 11 hours.

I've found avoiding booze, having a nice light meal before the flight really helps. Means you don't have to eat the inflight meal if it's crap.

Then once they finish service ear plugs in and eye mask on and try and sleep. So far seems to be best option for me.

When you land, don't stop. Don't attempt to go near a couch or bed, try and soldier on untill the local bed time as best you can and hopefully you reset sooner. I used to be a walking zombie on day one in Aisa but day two was a huge improvement.