Every week brings hundreds of e-mails to the Sprawl and Crawl computer/office/home entertainment center and I don’t get a chance to answer all of them, even though I try. I truly enjoy hearing from you, and this week I’ll try to catch up on the mail.
Jack writes with an issue that I’m sure many have dealt with: While I know that more than a million people have taken the Georgetown Connection [bus service], it would be nice if someone took a look at why the buses have to be so noisy. I recognize that they are really modified school buses, but the way they are driven, and the noise they generate, should get some investigation. We have lots of buses going up and down New Hampshire Avenue 24/7, but the Connectors are the biggest contribution to noise pollution in my neighborhood in a long time. There are a couple of the buses that are much quieter, but I am certain there are thousands of people living on the route who would appreciate buses that don’t sound like a locomotive along the route. There is no reason why these buses have to make so much noise.
I’m not sure what it is about the brakes on those smaller buses, but they are really loud. The small buses Metro operates make enough noise for two larger buses. The sad irony is that these smaller buses are being used in order to get deeper into neighborhoods that otherwise might not have bus service. The unfortunate trade-off for these people appears to be loud,squealing brakes and drivers who think they are trying to qualify for the Indy 500.
Counting down
Apparently, a lot of drivers have discovered the value of the pedestrian countdown lights. This comes to us from Richard: I hope you can stand one more e-mail on the pedestrian countdown timers. As a driver, I find them very useful when I’m stopped at a red light, because when the timer shows two seconds, I can step on the clutch, shift into gear and be ready to move as soon as the light turns green, assuming nobody runs the red light. It’s almost analogous to the traffic light design used in London, which is a terrific design in which the lights momentarily shine both red AND yellow at the same time to tell drivers that they’re about to get a green. I must also respectfully disagree with reader Marilyn who doubted the last few seconds on the counter are reserved for drivers making turns. By all means, if a pedestrian has started to cross the street when the light said “Walk,” then finish crossing. The point is that once that “Don’t Walk” signal illuminates, if you have not started to cross, then you are to STOP and wait on the sidewalk. That’s why it says “Don’t Walk.” instead of “Run Quickly Across the Street to Beat the Light.” Unfortunately, all too many pedestrians take the attitude that because the countdown timer doesn’t read zero, they are entitled to walk whenever and wherever they please, even if it means walking in front of cars that have a green light. Then they wonder why drivers aren’t more courteous to them. Pot … kettle?
Questions, comments, random musings? Write to [email protected].
