But, for all intents and purposes, approximately one quarter of the world’s countries drive on the left, and all, with the exception of Japan, are British Colonies. In the game of colonization, landed country-folk instituted their own country’s driving laws. In the Americas, for example, the Spanish and Portuguese settled South America, France took Quebec and Louisiana, and the Dutch settled New York (formerly New Amsterdam). Thus, two right-driving continents were born. So, though the British had a major presence in the area, they simply came out on the wrong side (pun intended) of the debate. As settlers moved east to west throughout North America, they took with them the tradition of driving on the right. This is why growing up with a driving slogan like “right is right” always felt, well, right (correct). Moral of this brief history lesson is the basis for my problem and is also this week’s cultural topic: TRAFFIC
Though, I suppose, more accurately, my problem is: looking the wrong way while crossing the street.
This problem stems, of course from two things:
a) It seems that every country I go to alternates which side they drive on.
b) I’m apparently retarded.
The London public transport system is based on a zoning system beginning with Zone 1 (central) through zone 6 (moving outward). I have previously talked about the London Underground for which this zoning system especially applies. Luckily, I live in Zone 1 and commute to work on foot (though some days I also use an elevator), so road traffic doesn’t usually get in my way.
In Canada and the US, kids can’t wait to turn 16. Why? Because the vast majority of kids are legal to drive in their province or state at this age. Rich kids get cars from their parents for their 16th birthdays even though they won’t be (il)legally able to drink (and drive) for another 2/3/5 years.
Nobody I know has just recently turned 16, so it’s not a very topical subject, but yesterday it rained in sunny England. In a car, the difference between cold day and rainy day is simply the flick of a wiper switch to on. Sometimes drivers act stupid in the rain, but for the most part, nothing really changes. Without the luxury of a car, though, you begin to see rain for what it really is…not snow.In London (can’t speak for all the UK), public transport is second to none. What this means is that most people don’t actually NEED to have a car, and to make matters worse, many full grown people don’t (and don’t really need to) have a drivers permit. People who own cars aren’t often in the mood to drive too often because traffic is often horrible; and those who drive often are often in horrible moods because of horrible traffic. To alleviate traffic in central London, they have set up what they call a “congestion charge” (driving tax) for all cars going in and out of the “congestion zone” in peak times. Charges can be paid in person, on the telephone, or on the internet. This tax, in addition to generating revenue, attempts to both cut down on traffic and pollution as well as encourages people to take advantage of the public transportation. If the incentives prove effective, fewer people will pollute, everyone will be healthier, and global warming and accelerated climate change will finally be over. Then what will the hippie eco-nuts have to complain about?
Really, it all just comes down to not having enough space. I guess really everything is smaller in England: apartments, cars, food portioning…even people. I’m not sure how native Londoners rate on the world wide size scale, but I bet it’s not too high. Moreover, because so few own cars, they’ll never know how to fix them. The other day I was tired and made a joke about needing “a boost – because my alternator wasn’t charging my battery properly” and no one understood. Now, I realize it’s not a good joke, but I should have at least gotten some snickers (though I prefer Mars)…The point is, they didn’t know what an alternator was.Gasoline, or “Petrol” as they call it, is ridiculously expensive. To demonstrate, take the price of a liter of gasoline in Canada, add 20cents and then turn that number into Pounds. GBP = 2.30CAD. At the pump, English taxes are as high as 78% on gasoline. At first, I thought “hey, gas is cheap here” but then realized I was retarded and that even though they still count in miles, they have enough sense to count gasoline in liters, not gallons (a UK gallon is more than a US gallon!)… Ironically, milk is measured in imperial pints.
Roads? Don’t make sense. In 1666, the city of London caught on fire and burned to the ground. Around this same time, many cities in Europe were conceptualizing what is now known as the grid system, whereby streets and avenues are arranged in parallel sequences in order to make city development and planning easier and more adaptable. After what is aptly named the Great Fire of London, city planners decided against a grid system and instead, opted for the previously established, often one-way roads to be reinstated in their original fashion. What this means now is that any walking/biking/driving commuter/tourist/bum can get lost/found/re-lost at any time of the day and not have the slightest idea of which direction they might be moving. In fact, whoever (re)designed London should be brought back to life, forced to fix his stupid error, and then shot. The fact is London has many beautiful things to see. Just make sure you can find your way; don’t get stuck in the traffic; and remember, don’t look the wrong way when you cross the street!
FYI: The reason Japan drives on the left is because after being left in shambles after WWII, the Japanese modeled their development as an accelerated English industrialization. Both being island nations with import-based economies, Japan has adopted and further perfected many technologies in which the English had previously been leaders as they were during the industrial revolution. Luckily for the Japanese, they did not also adopt British cuisine… not that they’re bragging.
No comments:
Post a Comment