May 22, 2008
08:21 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
After an endless battle with Exits 3 to 6 today on Interstate 84, I realized that it's not the roads that need to change, it's the drivers.
I sat back about three car lengths or more, traveling between 10 and 35 miles per hour. Not once did I stop completely. Yet I watched the domino effect of those driving around me who sped into the traffic, only to approach a screeching halt.
I look back to 20 years ago, when speed limits were 55 on most interstates. I don't recall their being this much congestion, but I do remember seeing as many cars.
Today, speed limits are 65-70 on most interstates, yet stop and go traffic seems to be worse than ever. Road projects to expand highways to three lanes or develop HOV lanes have been methods of attacking a growing problem
Suggestions to improve this (and certainly this better happen before 2028!)
- Enforce minimum speed limits on interstates. If a minimum speed of 35 is posted on all interstates, this could enable a new income stream for ticketing, and also discourage people from stopping and going in traffic.
- Much like I've seen on the New Jersey Turnpike, known congested stretches or roads should have speed limits LOWERED during peak periods.
- Rather than build new roads, enforce other laws that are rarely enforced, like following too close, driving under the speed limit, and distractive driving that doesn't involve speeding.
- As a driver, always leave 3 to 4 car lengths in front of you at all times. So what if someome decides to pull his car in front of you, the road is more than just yours!
The next time you are on 84 and see traffic suddenly go from stop and go to steady at about 10-20 miles per hour, you probably are seeing the after affects of me driving in front of you during rush hour!
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
March 1, 2008
09:23 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
1988 - Circulation for the top three business magazines are nearly 10.5 million (source - Journalism.org).
2008 - Same magazines are down to approximately 9.2 million as of 2006 (source - Journalism.org), due to many factors, including decreased ad revenues, online subscriptions, and decreased interest of readers. The Kindle debuts from Amazon.com, and the Zinio reader also enables users to read magazines in digital format.
2028 - Online viewership of magazines will continue to be the norm, as paper circulation falls to 5 million or less for the three top business magazines. Magazines will be available in digital form that is compatible with multiple devices.
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
February 25, 2008
07:08 am | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
1988 - The final stretches of interstate highway from the original Eisenhower plan near completion. In 1991, the last traffic light is removed from I-90 to essentially complete the interstate highway system. Tolls become less frequent and are essentially totally removed from many stretches of highway.
2008 - As traffic increases in major cities, HOV lanes and road expansion continues. Highways in New York and other locations are privatized (example - the New York State Thruway.) New highways become part of the interstate system and are being built through the Mid-South.
2028 - As more and more cars hit the road, we will see new smart highways built along existing interstates. These highways will emulate what you see along many bridges, and parts of highways in Boston and DC; lanes that change direction depending on time of day and traffic patterns. More roads will resemble the "carrier/distributor" format seen outside of Walt Disney World. I'd also like to see more traffic lights on on-ramps to highways like in the San Francisco area to cut down ongoing traffic.
As traffic grows, roads will need to meet the new capacity, but drivers will need to adapt to new traffic patterns
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
February 23, 2008
01:57 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
1988 - The shopping mall is a big hit. Suburban sprawl leads to malls in every corner you look.
2008 - As malls have fallen from favor (see deadmalls.com), new renovations spring up to make malls more of an entertainment destination, with restaurants like Cheesecake Factory and stores like Williams Sonoma and Apple attracting experiences vs just shopping
2028 - I see the shopping mall becoming a center for living as well as shopping. Multi-use facilities featuring housing, schools, and shopping will enable people to work, play, and shop without ever having to jump in a car. A community with an enclosed shopping area as well as parks, outdoor vendors, and onsite entertainment. The days of the stand-alone mall with a faceless facade and no entertainment are over. Today, and in 2028, we will see malls go the way of the dinosaur, and become more of a multi-purpose location focused on marketing and entertaining people to buy products.
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
February 22, 2008
03:09 pm | 0 recommendations | Be the first to comment
1988 - First Night Game at Wrigley Field
2008 - New Yankee Stadium and Citi Field Built, featuring state of the art multimedia, food service, and convention space
2028 - ?????
1988 saw Wrigley Field have its first night game. This seemed to start a trend of restoring old ballparks (like Fenway) and building new parks to reflect the old times (Camden Yards, PNC Park, AT+T Park).
2008 sees the trend continue, with parks reflecting the old time feel, yet looking to new sources of revenue (corporate sponsoring on walls, suites, high end food locations)
What will 2028 bring? I think we will see the return to the multi-purpose stadiums of the past, where perhaps football and baseball won't be played in the same area, but stadiums will be built for year round use as a destination for conventions, amusements for children, and year round use through retractable roofs.
As well, there will be direct transportation to the park from satellite parking areas located miles from each venue. This will prevent the congestion that occurs when 25000 cars escape one area. This will come in the form of some sort of light rail that enables other sites to be used for parking while the area around the facilities remains vehicle free.
Recommend This If you liked this, let others know:
