RinconRyder
New member
This is an interesting list and can probably be debated at length by most of us. I have experienced driving in many of these areas and some are self-explanatory while others are more of a mystery.
#1 - Sacramento, CA - I lived here in the late 80's and at that time I cannot say it was terrible. The roads were pretty well kept but congestion was a problem as Sacto was the hub of 4-5 intersecting freeways so was at times very busy. Surface streets were OK and I didn't notice a lot of wild drivers acting up. The CHP did have helo's monitoring and citing speeders on some of the out lying freeways which is somewhat unusual.
#2 - Salt Lake City, UT - Wifey and I just did a round trip from Phoenix to Coeur d'Alene, ID a month ago (to pick up our new Spyder) and I remember telling her on the way north that SLC had some of the worst freeways and speeding drivers we had seen and made a mental note to return in the middle of the night so as to avoid as many of those as possible. We had to transverse the city at about 45 MPH to avoid shaking the Spyder loose from the trailer.
#4 - Richmond, VA - This was somewhat of a shock. I lived in Richmond in the 70's and noted only that Henrico County at that time seemed to have the highest concentration of cops per motorist in the world. Also, the Interstates around the city were very heavily patrolled by the State Police. I remember only that Richmond drivers seemed always to be lost and driving too slowly (this same observation is also shared with Tucson, AZ).
#6 - Los Angeles, CA - Terrible freeway conditions. I will not take my Genesis into that mess ever again due to the most potholes and cracked concrete I have ever witnessed. It's like driving off-road. Drivers are crazy and lane splitting bikes make them even more dangerous. Lots of unlicensed and uninsured illegals and drivers of a certain ethnic minority who cannot see over their steering wheels. Orange County used to be acceptable but now it is just like the rest of the metro area.
#11 - Portland, OR - Lived here in late 60's for a short time but visited frequently on business throughout the 80's. Very poor road quality and lots of congestion. Seems like major road work was always taking place. More abandoned cars along Interstates than anywhere else.
#13 - Bay Area, CA - Seems like it is ranked too high. It is so congested that movement cannot exceed speed limits anywhere. Roads are generally in acceptable condition but just too many people going too many places. Was great back in the early 60's but terrible now.
#24 - Phoenix, AZ - Great freeway system although clogged at rush hours (which do not last nearly as long as in SoCal). Drivers tailgate, speed, switch lanes without signals unsafely and you can see examples of road rage almost every time you drive through. Bright sunlight tends to blind drivers certain times of the year and I never see a DPS officer on the highways. Judging by the number of hit and runs here I estimate we probably have the highest number of unlicensed and uninsured illegals in the country. I would have ranked the Valley worse than the survey did.
#28 - Tucson, AZ - Terrible city streets. Only one freeway which does not help commute traffic. Essentially the same road system I learned to drive upon in the 1950's but with a population 10 times greater. Drivers drive way too slow. Many illegals on the road. Way too many traffic lights and not enough street lights make for dangerous driving as well. Aggravating.
$36 - New York City - I have often said the happiest day of my life was looking at Noo Yawk Sity in my rear view mirror. My experience here goes back to the early 70's but 4 years of driving in this metro area was quite enough for a lifetime. Perhaps the worst road conditions in all the lower 48 and the overall worst drivers any where. Aggressive, loud, total lack of civility and driving skills. And I would include New Jersey in this ranking as well. NYC is the only place I have witnessed people stripping a disabled Yello taxi.
#52 - Memphis, TN - I have never lived in Memphis or driven on city streets but I have passed through many times on I-40 and it never amazes me the number of stupid stunts I see drivers doing near this metro area. I put Memphis in the same category as SLC - travel through in the middle of the night and you should be OK.
Let the debate begin.
#1 - Sacramento, CA - I lived here in the late 80's and at that time I cannot say it was terrible. The roads were pretty well kept but congestion was a problem as Sacto was the hub of 4-5 intersecting freeways so was at times very busy. Surface streets were OK and I didn't notice a lot of wild drivers acting up. The CHP did have helo's monitoring and citing speeders on some of the out lying freeways which is somewhat unusual.
#2 - Salt Lake City, UT - Wifey and I just did a round trip from Phoenix to Coeur d'Alene, ID a month ago (to pick up our new Spyder) and I remember telling her on the way north that SLC had some of the worst freeways and speeding drivers we had seen and made a mental note to return in the middle of the night so as to avoid as many of those as possible. We had to transverse the city at about 45 MPH to avoid shaking the Spyder loose from the trailer.
#4 - Richmond, VA - This was somewhat of a shock. I lived in Richmond in the 70's and noted only that Henrico County at that time seemed to have the highest concentration of cops per motorist in the world. Also, the Interstates around the city were very heavily patrolled by the State Police. I remember only that Richmond drivers seemed always to be lost and driving too slowly (this same observation is also shared with Tucson, AZ).
#6 - Los Angeles, CA - Terrible freeway conditions. I will not take my Genesis into that mess ever again due to the most potholes and cracked concrete I have ever witnessed. It's like driving off-road. Drivers are crazy and lane splitting bikes make them even more dangerous. Lots of unlicensed and uninsured illegals and drivers of a certain ethnic minority who cannot see over their steering wheels. Orange County used to be acceptable but now it is just like the rest of the metro area.
#11 - Portland, OR - Lived here in late 60's for a short time but visited frequently on business throughout the 80's. Very poor road quality and lots of congestion. Seems like major road work was always taking place. More abandoned cars along Interstates than anywhere else.
#13 - Bay Area, CA - Seems like it is ranked too high. It is so congested that movement cannot exceed speed limits anywhere. Roads are generally in acceptable condition but just too many people going too many places. Was great back in the early 60's but terrible now.
#24 - Phoenix, AZ - Great freeway system although clogged at rush hours (which do not last nearly as long as in SoCal). Drivers tailgate, speed, switch lanes without signals unsafely and you can see examples of road rage almost every time you drive through. Bright sunlight tends to blind drivers certain times of the year and I never see a DPS officer on the highways. Judging by the number of hit and runs here I estimate we probably have the highest number of unlicensed and uninsured illegals in the country. I would have ranked the Valley worse than the survey did.
#28 - Tucson, AZ - Terrible city streets. Only one freeway which does not help commute traffic. Essentially the same road system I learned to drive upon in the 1950's but with a population 10 times greater. Drivers drive way too slow. Many illegals on the road. Way too many traffic lights and not enough street lights make for dangerous driving as well. Aggravating.
$36 - New York City - I have often said the happiest day of my life was looking at Noo Yawk Sity in my rear view mirror. My experience here goes back to the early 70's but 4 years of driving in this metro area was quite enough for a lifetime. Perhaps the worst road conditions in all the lower 48 and the overall worst drivers any where. Aggressive, loud, total lack of civility and driving skills. And I would include New Jersey in this ranking as well. NYC is the only place I have witnessed people stripping a disabled Yello taxi.
#52 - Memphis, TN - I have never lived in Memphis or driven on city streets but I have passed through many times on I-40 and it never amazes me the number of stupid stunts I see drivers doing near this metro area. I put Memphis in the same category as SLC - travel through in the middle of the night and you should be OK.
Let the debate begin.
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EXACTLY!!! :thumbup:
