[njohnson]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

What did you do? Walk? You could take Rt 1., stop at every traffic light and make it in an hour and a half...

Traffic almost the whole way including 4 accidents one way and 2 the other.

I almost always hit a lot of traffic, especially from NY to Norwalk and I'm a pretty fast driver, just that doesn't help me much when the traffic isn't moving.

From Meriden to Stratford is a relative breeze.

[CrissCT]

Originally Posted by njohnson

The education system in much of Connecticut is broken and I know this because I know around 15 teachers from various cities who all complain of lack of funding, pushing kids along, teacher cuts, overcrowded schools, etc. The wealthy cities may not have these problems but they also comprise of the lower percentage of overall students.

Broken? I think the quality of education is a big plus here. In California, there is no art, music, P.E., bus service, paper to make copies, large class sizes, the list goes on.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CrissCT

Broken? I think the quality of education is a big plus here. In California, there is no art, music, P.E., bus service, paper to make copies, large class sizes, the list goes on.

I agree. Anyone who thinks the education system in CT is "broken" will be in for a huge dose of reality when they move elsewhere!

Also I drive on the Merritt almost daily and the only time I hit traffic (bad traffic too) is during rush hour. Any other time of the day is clear, unless there's an accident or construction - which I'm sure is what happened to the poster who claims the 3.5 hour trip from Westchester County.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

What did you do? Walk? You could take Rt 1., stop at every traffic light and make it in an hour and a half...

I disagree. There isn't a chance in heck of pulling that off. I've worked every possible angle over the years commuting between Stamford and Stratford, and there's no way that anyone will get between Stamford and Stratford, via Rt.1, in that timeframe on a Friday, let alone Westchester Airport to Meriden in 1.5 hrs? On a typical Friday, just to get through Putnam Ave. in Greenwich can take >30 minutes.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

I disagree. There isn't a chance in heck of pulling that off. I've worked every possible angle over the years commuting between Stamford and Stratford, and there's no way that anyone will get between Stamford and Stratford, via Rt.1, in that timeframe on a Friday, let alone Westchester Airport to Meriden in 1.5 hrs? On a typical Friday, just to get through Putnam Ave. in Greenwich can take >30 minutes.

Very true. I took Rt 1 from the Darien station (exit 11) to Westport and it took about 2 hours - and that was in moderate traffic.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Anyone who thinks the education system in CT is "broken" will be in for a huge dose of reality when they move elsewhere!

As a professor, I have to deal with the product of the US public school system, and I would say that it's broken everywhere. No state produces people who are actually ready for serious college work.

Also I drive on the Merritt almost daily and the only time I hit traffic (bad traffic too) is during rush hour. Any other time of the day is clear, unless there's an accident or construction - which I'm sure is what happened to the poster who claims the 3.5 hour trip from Westchester County.

You forgot to mention the big backups when they block a lane to mow the median.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by JViello

I guess unless it's 65 you are not happy with the weather then?

No. If there are snowbanks melting across the road, or sand 'dunes' in the curves, it is unsafe to ride no matter what the temperature. I ride down to 25 degrees if it is dry and there is no unsafe stuff on the roadway.

"Winter" breaks at the end of Feb. That's my point.

I bet you a nickel that it won't this year.

By the first week of March average temps are about 45. Which means you'll have some days in the 50's and days in the 30's. More than comfortable for me.

It's not safe to ride until the winter sand dunes are gone.

[MrsMtnsOnTheMind]

Originally Posted by wannabetterlife

I am sooo sick of the snow and ice and being stuck in this house for days on end...I wish I could move to Florida...Id take a hurricane over this crappy weather anyday.

Trade ya!

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

As a professor, I have to deal with the product of the US public school system, and I would say that it's broken everywhere. No state produces people who are actually ready for serious college work.



You forgot to mention the big backups when they block a lane to mow the median.

That'd probably fall under construction/roadwork. But yeah, those backups are the type where you sit for an hour, and then you finally see what's causing it and think "I sat here for this?!?"

Regarding education, I would agree somewhat. Thing is though, CT has among the highest percentage of students who go onto higher (four year) education with NJ, MA and WI. That says something, IMO. My mother in law is a teacher, she taught in the Bay area suburbs, then in Texas and now in CT. She always says what a breath of fresh air it is to teach in the Hartford 'burbs because the parents actually care about their child's education. In other areas, even in affluent Marin County, CA, she said parents could really care less. There, she says people think money trumps education. In TX, she complained that the curriculum is literally years behind what it is in many Northeast public schools. I think that says a lot, but even in CT, we have a ways to go before I'd consider the average school acceptable by international standards.

Just curious - what do you teach?

[wavehunter007]

As someone who hates winter…I can feel the pain of what folks who can’t take the cold/snow have go through. Who wouldn’t rather be in Miami or San Diego for the next couple of months (lol). For me, I love the weather in Ct from April to late November. From December to mid March…I would rather be laying in the 80 F sun under swaying coconut palms in Ft, Lauderdale, FL. (lol).

Still, when you look at winter in the East Coast states from Ct/NYC south… snow and cold are really confined to a short time - about 90 days (late Dec to mid March). In terms of seasonal snowfall, we in Ct and the Tri-State area get nothing compared to what the get up in the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northern New England. Also, as others pointed out, there are several days in the winter months that are sunny and 45 to 55 F . Also, I disagree that any part of April is dicey. On average, April is sunny mild with days in the 60’s and 70’s. I generally start my garden in early April.