Now this is a traffic jam,,,,

[Trajan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100823/sc_afp/chinaroadtraffic

BEIJING (AFP) – Thousands of vehicles were bogged down Monday in a more than 100-kilometre (62-mile) traffic jam leading to Beijing that has lasted nine days and highlights China's growing road congestion woes.

 

[Johnny]

Let's see, that would make me late to work, thirsty, starving for lack of food, and oh my, where to pee and poop.

Not the place I would want to be for nine days.

 

[PandaBear]

Quote:
jam between Beijing and Jining city had given birth to a mini-economy with local merchants capitalising on the stranded drivers' predicament by selling them water and food at inflated prices.


Wow

 

[SLCraig]

Friend sent me the link to that just a while ago (CBC news)

Incredible. No desire to go there!

 

[IndyIan]

You would think they might learn from our urban planning mistakes... But I guess if their goal is to grow their economy with consumer spending then it would be silly to discourage car ownership... However dumb it may be to try to get to work in one.

 

[addyguy]

Traffic will eventually grind China to a complete halt.

People are worried about China's increasing use of fuel, but we don't really have to worry - these kind of traffic jams will slow productivity in China so much they will act like a natural break on growth.

 

[hardcore302]

Thats like the long island expressway in the afternoon.

 

[Ibrahim]

or like Toronto's Frederick G..Gardiner Express Way!!

 

[FusilliJerry82]

Both we and the Chinese need to find out soon that HUGE investments in public transportation and freight rail are going to be necessary to support a future economy.

 

[daves87rs]

Wow!

 

[dparm]

9 out of every 10 trucks contains Wal-mart products.

So maybe your precious Delo is in there somewhere!

 

[PandaBear]

Most likely real estate developer just build with corrupted connection before the urban planning takes effect. It takes a while for the citizen to recognize the effect before the resentment makes the government / officials think twice before approving new developments.

These areas become ghetto and redeveloped (say, in 50 years), then we'll see urban planning.

 

[Kestas]

Isn't there a law in New York City that says you can't enter an intersection unless you are able to clear through it? Traffic jams happen when you're stuck in an intersection and the light turns red on you, holding up dozens of cars on your perpendicualar.

 

[Gary Allan]

Satellite imagery would have been nice. The aerial views didn't take in enough to give you the full impact of the event.

 

[IndyIan]

I'm sure their government has many images of the event but we'll never see one!

 

[StevieC]

Looks like our 401, QEW, 403, and 400 every day during our 2 rush hours... All-day and all night. Doesn't last 9 straight days though...

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
Isn't there a law in New York City that says you can't enter an intersection unless you are able to clear through it? Traffic jams happen when you're stuck in an intersection and the light turns red on you, holding up dozens of cars on your perpendicualar.


Not sure. But if you block the crosswalk they've been known to walk on your car.

 

[JHZR2]

Don't block the box is a law. Most places though I've found that poorly timed lights are the overall cause, and blocked intersections are a result... People "blocking the box" is just a response to the poor timing and inability for more than two cars to get through a light...

 

[PandaBear]

My cousin's driver told me that as long as you are not running red light with traffic camera (they all have traffic cameras these days), traffic law is not enforced. @_@

 

[hardcore302]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
Isn't there a law in New York City that says you can't enter an intersection unless you are able to clear through it? Traffic jams happen when you're stuck in an intersection and the light turns red on you, holding up dozens of cars on your perpendicualar.


You are correct. However, at busy intersections, the police would just make it worse by enforcing this law. The mayor then passed a law to allow traffic agents to write a parking ticket for the same thing. Really clear up manhattan (well, a little, lol.