Has the poor economy eased traffic congestion? (bus, places)

[denverian]

Originally Posted by formercalifornian

The website doesn't do it justice. It's actually a very cool place, especially for kids. Every year, we drive to Missouri to see family, and as soon as we pass the Colorado-Kansas border, the young sprouts in the back seat start asking how long it is until we get there. In addition to the marbles, the shop has an absolutely amazing selection of vintage toys. You can also watch the proprietor create stunning art marbles in his workshop. It's worth the trip.

Then I may have to check it out someday with the kids. Thanks!

[wanttomoveeast]

I-25 at 9pm, at least headed north towards Thornton, has always been dead for me. I've been taking college classes for years and have often headed home around that time.

That said, omg the buses and light rail are JAMMED AND PACKED. So yeah, I'd say the economy is forcing people to take mass transit, which is a very good thing IMHO. Also, my fridge at work has increasingly become packed as people are now bringing their lunch to work. A total novelty for them it appears.

[jkcoop]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

I sure don't see any difference. All this bad news in the economy, yet folks are still driving as much as they ever have been from what I can tell around Boulder County. Longmont traffic sucks, Boulder traffic sucks, the Diagonal Hwy traffic sucks.

I'm not opposed to fewer cars on the roads, but I think when that day comes, if it comes, things will have to be really, really bad.

I don't know...after being in Houston a few weeks ago for a funeral I told my husband I'd never complain about traffic again. It was unbelievable on a Saturday evening. Bumper to bumper and stopped for periods of time. Don't know how people can stand it.

Longmont doesn't seem that bad to me, but I do work from home so maybe I'm just not out and about at the worst times.....

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by BK913

Speaking of weird landmarks, there are two brown highway signs, one on the eastbound side and the other on the westbound side, at the Genoa, CO interchange on I-70 that simply read "Point of Interest, Next Right". There's nothing else on these signs to tell you what the "point of interest" is. Now picture this is out in the barren, eastern Colorado plains where you can see for miles around you. These pics are just 10 miles west of where these highway signs reside.

I-70 at Limon, Colorado!

Anyway, after some digging on the net after returning home from CO, I found out that sign is a reference to the "Tower Museum", which is apparently a place where you can look at artifacts and odds and ends from the great frontier. You can actually see it (a tall, red building) from the interstate just went of the Genoa interchange. Funny!

Yup, that'd be the Wonder Tower in Genoa. Never been there anf they claim you can see what...like 6 states from the tower?

[BK913]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

Yup, that'd be the Wonder Tower in Genoa. Never been there anf they claim you can see what...like 6 states from the tower?

On my way back from Colorado yesterday (2/22/09), I took a couple of pictures of the non-descript "Point of Interest" sign on I-70 and the Tower Museum at Genoa. That place needs a paint job!

The Tower Museum is actually located about a mile west of the Genoa exit, so by the time you see the "Point of Interest" sign you've already passed the museum. Why don't they give you a little more information on this sign?

[bullfish15]

Well, you could have fooled me. I can't get a table in a restaurant without a 15 to 30 minute wait on the weekends. (And I'm talking about lunch and dinner time.) Lunch time lines at downtown area restaurants are as long as usual. The box office is reporting record revenues, with last year being the second best in history. The streets on Saturday and Sunday are as packed as ever. American Furniture Warehouse was packed and took 30 minutes to pull my sofa because they were so busy. Circuit City is having a going out of business mark-up sale and the stuff is flying off the shelves. Most of the stuff there isn't a good deal but people think it is and are paying top dollar.

Sure, the economy is in a downturn, but people's spending habits aren't changing when it comes to creature comforts. They may sacrifice buying a car but still go out for dinner and a movie.

[wanttomoveeast]

True Bullfish. Although I have noticed Furniture Row looking quite empty. We went in on a Sat. afternoon and it was dead, we were left all alone w/the sharks and that was scary.

Also, downtown is a bit of a different beast. It tends to be where the people with money hang, and then people like me who work down here everyday tend to go out when the weather is good, making for long lines. We also know where all the deals are vs. spending $15 for a lunch.

[Osito]

I'm unemployed right now, and I went for a walk yesterday and there was a lot of traffic. I remember thinking, aren't all these people supposed to be at work? LOL!

[wanttomoveeast]

I used to think that Osito, but you have to remember, a lot of people are not carrying day jobs. They are in service-oriented places and often have the days off.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

I sure don't see any difference. All this bad news in the economy, yet folks are still driving as much as they ever have been from what I can tell around Boulder County. Longmont traffic sucks, Boulder traffic sucks, the Diagonal Hwy traffic sucks.

I'm not opposed to fewer cars on the roads, but I think when that day comes, if it comes, things will have to be really, really bad.

I concur! Louisville traffic is as heavy as ever, too. Lots of people are still working.