How riding a bike in the US is different to Australia:
* bike lanes on the road are much narrower, sometimes narrower than the bicycle
* people routinely ride the wrong way in bicycle lanes, forcing the rider going the correct way into the traffic (I have never had this happen in Australia, but twice in one week here.)
* cars can turn right on a red light, so if you are on a bike stopped at a red light you are where the cars behind you want to go to turn right. However...
* at least where I am, drivers are very polite and do not mind that you are preventing them turning right. Drivers stop and wave me past them at intersections where actually I should be giving way to them. The general courtesy of drivers to bicycles and other drivers is very different from big cities in Australia.
Showing posts with label driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label driving. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Freeway Ramps
I followed the signs to get onto a freeway. I went along the on ramp, but before I reached the freeway, signs pointed me to an exit. Following the exit led me to another freeway. This was the freeway I wanted to be on.
Such navigation is common in America and I don't know how people got around before GPS devices. In Australia an on ramp is an on ramp and an off ramp is an off ramp. They are well spread out and clearly marked. In America an on ramp can become on off ramp. They can split and merge. And if you are not careful you can end up back on the freeway you just left.
Exits on freeways can be marked by exit number, the road or route number or the destination. Usually two of these appear, but you are never sure which two, so you have to remember all three. Or use a GPS.
Entrances to freeways can be well marked, but often are just a small sign with the route number and arrow right at the on ramp. Use a GPS.
When merging on to the freeway the entrance lane often quickly becomes an exit lane and if you don't get out of it you'll leave the freeway. As you try and merge left, you have to deal with the traffic merging right to leave. Fortunately, the lane is often twice the width of a normal lane, so this merging is somewhat easier. I wouldn't mind these wide lanes in Australia.
When leaving the freeway the exit can turn quickly so you often need to reduce your speed before you enter the off ramp.
Where I am everyone speeds on the freeway by about 5 mph. I've been told the police don't care unless you are going much faster. Quite different from the "Speed Kills" campaigns and cameras and fines I was used to in Australia.
Such navigation is common in America and I don't know how people got around before GPS devices. In Australia an on ramp is an on ramp and an off ramp is an off ramp. They are well spread out and clearly marked. In America an on ramp can become on off ramp. They can split and merge. And if you are not careful you can end up back on the freeway you just left.
Exits on freeways can be marked by exit number, the road or route number or the destination. Usually two of these appear, but you are never sure which two, so you have to remember all three. Or use a GPS.
Entrances to freeways can be well marked, but often are just a small sign with the route number and arrow right at the on ramp. Use a GPS.
When merging on to the freeway the entrance lane often quickly becomes an exit lane and if you don't get out of it you'll leave the freeway. As you try and merge left, you have to deal with the traffic merging right to leave. Fortunately, the lane is often twice the width of a normal lane, so this merging is somewhat easier. I wouldn't mind these wide lanes in Australia.
When leaving the freeway the exit can turn quickly so you often need to reduce your speed before you enter the off ramp.
Where I am everyone speeds on the freeway by about 5 mph. I've been told the police don't care unless you are going much faster. Quite different from the "Speed Kills" campaigns and cameras and fines I was used to in Australia.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Traffic Lights
The US has far fewer traffic lights than we have in Australia. OK, not fewer overall, but fewer at each intersection.
In Australia there are always traffic lights facing you on both sides of the intersection. When they are red, you stop the car pretty much level with the lights. This is not the case in the US, and can be quite dangerous for newcomers.
In the US often the only traffic lights are on the far side of the intersection. This can take some getting used to, particularly at night. If you stop level with these lights you end up going through the middle of the intersection and stopping just before you leave it. This is incredibly dangerous and not recommended.
So what should you look for? There are usually pedestrian crossing lines on the road before you enter the intersection. Keep a look out for those and you'll be right.
In Australia there are always traffic lights facing you on both sides of the intersection. When they are red, you stop the car pretty much level with the lights. This is not the case in the US, and can be quite dangerous for newcomers.
In the US often the only traffic lights are on the far side of the intersection. This can take some getting used to, particularly at night. If you stop level with these lights you end up going through the middle of the intersection and stopping just before you leave it. This is incredibly dangerous and not recommended.
So what should you look for? There are usually pedestrian crossing lines on the road before you enter the intersection. Keep a look out for those and you'll be right.
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