My last post dealt with my decision to primarily drive on Westheimer Road to my office rather than take the freeways. That being said, I really need to point out that taking the freeways here in Houston has got to be one of the most pleasurable experiences I have ever had in a big city.
Now, before I get slammed by Houstonians who will scream that traffic is terrible let me just say that the amount of traffic in this city is HUGE! There are long lines of waiting and the rush hour is, well, the rush hour like any other major city. It will take you 60 minutes to go 10 miles...stop and go traffic. That sort of thing. All major cities have this. Please remember that Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States, folks. Our peer cities are Chicago and LA.
But here is the difference. I have driven in Philly and Chicago where freeway driving is pretty much a blood sport. Drivers make a game out of not letting you on and changing lanes is an adventure in anger management. I have driven in LA and DC where most of the people there are all personally ambitious and self-centered which comes across in their driving habits. The "I'll let you in if you are not infringing on my personal path", sort of attitude.
In Houston, the freeway drivers are courteous. The attitude seems to be here "Come on in...we will all get there together and on time." In New York, Chicago and LA where the sound of a car horn is regular and darn near constant, here in Houston it is an anomaly. The sound of a car horn is given extra attention precisely BECAUSE it is heard infrequently.
Now...if that same infrequency could be applied to the guy whose car alarm keeps going off at 3am in my apartment complex...
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