Why have Pittsburgh drivers gotten so aggressive and angry? (Reading: best cities, transporting)

[Boomchee]

A joke of a highway/road system coupled with endless construction in every direction. Who wouldn't be pissed. Unless Uber develops cars that can fly (which when I was a kid thought we'd have by now) it's just more cars sitting/idling.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Its funny... with the whole driverless thing happening in cars..we will eventually have highways filled with lines of single vehicles driving them selves holding 1-8 passengers each...sure just sounds like a really inefficient TRAIN to me. Hey...maybe we can smarten up and use big passenger rails instead of highways and leave the driverless cars to the smaller streets. Perhaps a small single lane adjacent to the railways to supplement with cars, but focus on the high speed rail.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

Its funny... with the whole driverless thing happening in cars..we will eventually have highways filled with lines of single vehicles driving them selves holding 1-8 passengers each...sure just sounds like a really inefficient TRAIN to me. Hey...maybe we can smarten up and use big passenger rails instead of highways and leave the driverless cars to the smaller streets. Perhaps a small single lane adjacent to the railways to supplement with cars, but focus on the high speed rail.

Good ideas.

I always thought we should look UP - using above ground systems, on rail, or wire (THICK, strong wire!). Aerial cable cars, basically, for small to medium-range movement of people.

[8YearsinPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Boomchee

A joke of a highway/road system coupled with endless construction in every direction. Who wouldn't be pissed. Unless Uber develops cars that can fly (which when I was a kid thought we'd have by now) it's just more cars sitting/idling.

What do you find a joke about the highways?

[Boomchee]

Originally Posted by 8YearsinPittsburgh

What do you find a joke about the highways?

First thing is only 2 lanes in each direction on the Pkwy E & W. When you add in the fact that there's not what I would call a traditional loop system it just funnels everyone into an already congested bottleneck (tunnels). Because no man can move mountains this is always going to be an issue unless the powers that be come up with other solutions.

[8YearsinPittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Boomchee

First thing is only 2 lanes in each direction on the Pkwy E & W. When you add in the fact that there's not what I would call a traditional loop system it just funnels everyone into an already congested bottleneck (tunnels). Because no man can move mountains this is always going to be an issue unless the powers that be come up with other solutions.

The bigger issue is the merge points before the tunnels and the unexplainable lack of skill in regards to pulling off a merge without bringing ones vehicle to a near or complete stop.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

Good ideas.

I always thought we should look UP - using above ground systems, on rail, or wire (THICK, strong wire!). Aerial cable cars, basically, for small to medium-range movement of people.

Up, down, underground...wherever. Efficiency is the answer. Mass transit provides it for the most part...with supplemental individual transit.

[ferraris]

Self Driving Cars have more appeal than trains because they can do door to door trips and can provide a private space during the trip.

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by ferraris

Self Driving Cars have more appeal than trains because they can do door to door trips and can provide a private space during the trip.

Well, not really. Sitting in a cramped car that is driving itself in a line of hundreds or thousands of other cars down a highway isn't really to appealing...we already have that now, except people have to drive the car themselves. When there is efficient commuter rail, millions of people opt to use it. When the rail is even higher speed, more advanced, and allows people to work, eat breakfast, etc. on their commute, it will be a no brainer. I'm not saying get rid of the cars...they are useful for door to door trips on smaller side streets and like I said, can supplement travel on highways. But the future really will be in robust, modern and efficient public transportation with supplementation of self driving vehicles. Especially in urban areas.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

Well, not really. Sitting in a cramped car that is driving itself in a line of hundreds or thousands of other cars down a highway isn't really to appealing...we already have that now, except people have to drive the car themselves. When there is efficient commuter rail, millions of people opt to use it. When the rail is even higher speed, more advanced, and allows people to work, eat breakfast, etc. on their commute, it will be a no brainer. I'm not saying get rid of the cars...they are useful for door to door trips on smaller side streets and like I said, can supplement travel on highways. But the future really will be in robust, modern and efficient public transportation with supplementation of self driving vehicles. Especially in urban areas.

If trains are faster or cheaper then they will be more appealing. Otherwise they are essentially self driving cars without the benefit of privacy or door to door service.