Comments on: 9 cities with the worst traffic jams http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: JANE http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-31636 JANE Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:24:52 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-31636 I know it might seem funny to some, but the island of oahu in hawaii should be on this list. To commute 36 miles to high school took approximately 1.5 hours on a good day and 2 hours or more with a car accident or minor collision. I drove at least four hours a day. And if there was ever any rain on the horizon you could guarantee an additional 30 min. of drive time to your trip. ...So i'm just saying hawaii should be mentioned.. I mean that's a lot of congestion for such a small number of commuters in comparison to the big cities. I know it might seem funny to some, but the island of oahu in hawaii should be on this list. To commute 36 miles to high school took approximately 1.5 hours on a good day and 2 hours or more with a car accident or minor collision. I drove at least four hours a day. And if there was ever any rain on the horizon you could guarantee an additional 30 min. of drive time to your trip.
…So i’m just saying hawaii should be mentioned.. I mean that’s a lot of congestion for such a small number of commuters in comparison to the big cities.

]]> By: Taylor http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-27199 Taylor Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:49:01 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-27199 Well, it may not have the worst traffic JAMS out of all these cities, but it certainly has to make it into the top 10 for having the most unsafe and congested traffic. Living in Northwest Indiana for 16 years, I can say that Chicago traffic is unbelievable. It all truly begins while commuting in (my starting point in this example is Portage, Indiana), whether you take the Skyway in, take the long way through the Southside of Chicago, take the train from South Bend ind, (now that's a joke, since they're derailed half the time), or even if you happen to make it through Gary (ind) without getting robbed at a red light or shot in gang crossfire in Glen Park, going into Chicago is awful. Once you're in, youre in. Since the congestion is so bad, there's no chance to ever change lanes. Many streets don't have signs, and there's no city maps to be found. Red lights are discretionary suggestions, and green is the shotgun fire at a horse race. This is defensive driving put to the test. People are fearless in Chicago, and for a good reason. People will pull out in front of you, try to cross three lanes of non stop traffic, u turn at an intersection, and so much more. And because of construction, there are many bottlenecks. It is just so wrong how five lanes of traffic can be squeezed into one. Never. Ever. Ever drive in Chicago at night without knowing EXACTLY where you are going. Getting lost when it's dark usually ends in renting a hotel room for the night. Making reference to what I said before, if there's no touring during the day, then there certainly is no chance in trying to find your way in the dark in the traffic. It doesn't help that many times you will find yourself driving through really dangerous parts of town. On top of all that, there is non stop construction work going on all over NW Indiana and Chicago, year round. Not to mention the SNOW, omg the snow, with Lake Effect. Good Lord. The Loop? Forget it. Lakeshore drive? HA. I have even witnessed the worst combination possible (or so i believe). A blizzard during rushhour traffic in the dark with an accident at the only exit that you know how to get home by as you sit in the Southside. It's no wonder Oprah takes a helicopter to work every day. Well, it may not have the worst traffic JAMS out of all these cities, but it certainly has to make it into the top 10 for having the most unsafe and congested traffic.
Living in Northwest Indiana for 16 years, I can say that Chicago traffic is unbelievable.
It all truly begins while commuting in (my starting point in this example is Portage, Indiana), whether you take the Skyway in, take the long way through the Southside of Chicago, take the train from South Bend ind, (now that’s a joke, since they’re derailed half the time), or even if you happen to make it through Gary (ind) without getting robbed at a red light or shot in gang crossfire in Glen Park, going into Chicago is awful.
Once you’re in, youre in. Since the congestion is so bad, there’s no chance to ever change lanes. Many streets don’t have signs, and there’s no city maps to be found. Red lights are discretionary suggestions, and green is the shotgun fire at a horse race. This is defensive driving put to the test. People are fearless in Chicago, and for a good reason.
People will pull out in front of you, try to cross three lanes of non stop traffic, u turn at an intersection, and so much more. And because of construction, there are many bottlenecks. It is just so wrong how five lanes of traffic can be squeezed into one.
Never. Ever. Ever drive in Chicago at night without knowing EXACTLY where you are going. Getting lost when it’s dark usually ends in renting a hotel room for the night. Making reference to what I said before, if there’s no touring during the day, then there certainly is no chance in trying to find your way in the dark in the traffic. It doesn’t help that many times you will find yourself driving through really dangerous parts of town.
On top of all that, there is non stop construction work going on all over NW Indiana and Chicago, year round. Not to mention the SNOW, omg the snow, with Lake Effect. Good Lord. The Loop? Forget it. Lakeshore drive? HA. I have even witnessed the worst combination possible (or so i believe).
A blizzard during rushhour traffic in the dark with an accident at the only exit that you know how to get home by as you sit in the Southside.
It’s no wonder Oprah takes a helicopter to work every day.

]]> By: Russel http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-26052 Russel Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:28:08 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-26052 I lived in Atlanta and have visited LA, SanFran, Dallas, NYC, DC/Baltimore and Chicago. Could be bias, but Atlanta was worse than the others (except possibly getting from Baltimore airport to DC), probably because I had to drive in it EVERY DAY. Just sitting in dead still traffic for hours... I'm sure if I lived in these other places, I would think the same having experienced it daily. The roads and interchanges in Atlanta are confusing... you better know what lane you need to be in and quick-- and the MARTA (subway) is not efficient in moving large numbers of people over the WIDE expanse of the city (that just keeps bulging outward). If you're not going from the airport into downtown, you might as well forget it. I lived in Atlanta and have visited LA, SanFran, Dallas, NYC, DC/Baltimore and Chicago. Could be bias, but Atlanta was worse than the others (except possibly getting from Baltimore airport to DC), probably because I had to drive in it EVERY DAY. Just sitting in dead still traffic for hours… I’m sure if I lived in these other places, I would think the same having experienced it daily. The roads and interchanges in Atlanta are confusing… you better know what lane you need to be in and quick– and the MARTA (subway) is not efficient in moving large numbers of people over the WIDE expanse of the city (that just keeps bulging outward). If you’re not going from the airport into downtown, you might as well forget it.

]]> By: joe w. http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-24330 joe w. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 06:33:37 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-24330 Chicago is the worst. After visitng LA for a few months, I can say that LA freeway traffic is worse, but the surface roads are unbelievably wide and fairly empty, even at rush hour. In Chicago, the freeways are bad, but the surface streets are no better. All the surface roads are super narrow and congested and traffic lights are not synchronized or computer controlled except in the loop itself. And the surface roads are 30mph limit and you'll be lucky to reach that. And the SNOW omg. Chicago is overall quite a bit worse then LA, sorry LA. Chicago is the worst. After visitng LA for a few months, I can say that LA freeway traffic is worse, but the surface roads are unbelievably wide and fairly empty, even at rush hour. In Chicago, the freeways are bad, but the surface streets are no better. All the surface roads are super narrow and congested and traffic lights are not synchronized or computer controlled except in the loop itself. And the surface roads are 30mph limit and you’ll be lucky to reach that. And the SNOW omg. Chicago is overall quite a bit worse then LA, sorry LA.

]]> By: Raz Cody http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-24082 Raz Cody Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:39:43 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-24082 I know how bad the traffic is in LA but who the hell really wants a subway in LA of all places? A monorail, yes. But this list should definitely include the city of Houston as the worst traffic. I know how bad the traffic is in LA but who the hell really wants a subway in LA of all places? A monorail, yes. But this list should definitely include the city of Houston as the worst traffic.

]]> By: tony http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-20754 tony Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:42:15 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-20754 I've been to every major city in America so I can tell you what cities have the worse traffic. By the way, I should know because I am a truck driver from Macon, Ga. The 3 Cities that I try to avoid the most are Atlanta, Chicago and L.A. Avoid them as much as you can if you know what's good for you. Here's my top 10: 1) L.A 2) Atlanta 3) Chicago 4) Washington 5) San Fransisco 6) Dallas 7) Houston 8) Miami 9) N.Y City 10) Baltimore( converge with Washington traffic) I’ve been to every major city in America so I can tell you what cities have the worse traffic. By the way, I should know because I am a truck driver from Macon, Ga. The 3 Cities that I try to avoid the most are Atlanta, Chicago and L.A. Avoid them as much as you can if you know what’s good for you. Here’s my top 10:

1) L.A
2) Atlanta
3) Chicago
4) Washington
5) San Fransisco
6) Dallas
7) Houston
8) Miami
9) N.Y City
10) Baltimore( converge with Washington traffic)

]]> By: Swimerjb http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-19535 Swimerjb Mon, 18 May 2009 03:11:29 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-19535 Denver suprisingly has a congested rush hour, commuters commute from a 100 miles radius. AND LODO [lower downtown] is pretty congested at all times any day any where Denver suprisingly has a congested rush hour, commuters commute from a 100 miles radius. AND LODO [lower downtown] is pretty congested at all times any day any where

]]> By: Dani http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-10371 Dani Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:42:51 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-10371 LA and other such congested cities may have been left off the list simply because they didn't apply. There is not enough information on the US DOT press release to determine how they chose the semi-finalists so its hard to know if LA was rejected or they didn't submit an app. Some states lose out on millions of dollars of funding simply because the right person or agency didn't bother to submit an application. What I think is funny is that every one of the semifinalists recommend tolls as a way to reduce traffic. And they will "beef up" transit options, but as Chris pointed out elsewhere the award amount is the equivalent of what it takes to put up a monument in downtown NYC. LA and other such congested cities may have been left off the list simply because they didn’t apply. There is not enough information on the US DOT press release to determine how they chose the semi-finalists so its hard to know if LA was rejected or they didn’t submit an app. Some states lose out on millions of dollars of funding simply because the right person or agency didn’t bother to submit an application.

What I think is funny is that every one of the semifinalists recommend tolls as a way to reduce traffic. And they will “beef up” transit options, but as Chris pointed out elsewhere the award amount is the equivalent of what it takes to put up a monument in downtown NYC.

]]> By: CaliRiut http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-10297 CaliRiut Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:57:01 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-10297 I Go with jermey Because i have lived in every city like jermey La is and SF ARE THE WORST I MEAN I LIV IN CALI AND THE 405 AND 101 KILLS NYC TRAFFIC BY FAR.I MEAN THE 405 AND 101 HAVE TRAFFIC FROM SUNUP AND SUNDOWN BECAUSE I WORK I WORK LATE AND IM ALWAYS STUCK. AND THE HARBOR FREEWAYS DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THOSES FREEWAYS. AND LONG BEACH IS JUST HORRIBLE BECAUSE OF THE 710 WITH SO MANY TRUCKS GOING TO THE PORTS. PLUS THE BAY AREA MAN I BELIEVE THE BAY AREA IS WORSER THAN NYC I MEAN ITS MORE DENSLY POPULATED THAN NYC LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLOE MORE THE BAY AREA IS MORE POPULATED THAN NYC. AND LAST SAN DIEGO ITS MORNING AND NGHT COMMUTES ARE BAD BUT NOT AS BAD AS BAY AREA AND LA. AND GARY UR LYING I Go with jermey Because i have lived in every city like jermey La is and SF ARE THE WORST I MEAN I LIV IN CALI AND THE 405 AND 101 KILLS NYC TRAFFIC BY FAR.I MEAN THE 405 AND 101 HAVE TRAFFIC FROM SUNUP AND SUNDOWN BECAUSE I WORK I WORK LATE AND IM ALWAYS STUCK. AND THE HARBOR FREEWAYS DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THOSES FREEWAYS. AND LONG BEACH IS JUST HORRIBLE BECAUSE OF THE 710 WITH SO MANY TRUCKS GOING TO THE PORTS. PLUS THE BAY AREA MAN I BELIEVE THE BAY AREA IS WORSER THAN NYC I MEAN ITS MORE DENSLY POPULATED THAN NYC LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLOE MORE THE BAY AREA IS MORE POPULATED THAN NYC. AND LAST SAN DIEGO ITS MORNING AND NGHT COMMUTES ARE BAD BUT NOT AS BAD AS BAY AREA AND LA. AND GARY UR LYING

]]> By: Jermey http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-9692 Jermey Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:05:47 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-9692 I have beem to ATL NYC AND CHICAGO AND LA I DONT BEIEVE LA IS NOT ON THE LIST BY FAR LA HAS THE WORST TRAFFIC I MEAN IF U LIVE IN LA THE WORST FREEWAY OR HIGH WAY IS THE 405 AND 101 LOOK IT UP IN GOOGLE NUMBER 1 WORST FREE WAY AND LA OR GREATER LA BEAT NYC IN HIGHWAYS BECAUSE LA HAS THE BIGGEST FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN AMERICA. I have beem to ATL NYC AND CHICAGO AND LA I DONT BEIEVE LA IS NOT ON THE LIST BY FAR LA HAS THE WORST TRAFFIC I MEAN IF U LIVE IN LA THE WORST FREEWAY OR HIGH WAY IS THE 405 AND 101 LOOK IT UP IN GOOGLE NUMBER 1 WORST FREE WAY AND LA OR GREATER LA BEAT NYC IN HIGHWAYS BECAUSE LA HAS THE BIGGEST FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN AMERICA.

]]> By: richard http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-7724 richard Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:45:29 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-7724 Haven't been to New York or LA, but having lived in Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas, Atlanta traffic is the worst by far. Commuting into Hotlanta from either the south or the north, you're stuck in traffic at 6:00 am. The connector, 85, should be named the congestor as everyone and their grandparents sit in traffic almost all day. Once I timed driving from downtown Atlanta to Norcross, about 17 miles away. It took 1hr and 15 min during rush our traffic... Thank God I live in Denver now! Haven’t been to New York or LA, but having lived in Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas, Atlanta traffic is the worst by far. Commuting into Hotlanta from either the south or the north, you’re stuck in traffic at 6:00 am. The connector, 85, should be named the congestor as everyone and their grandparents sit in traffic almost all day. Once I timed driving from downtown Atlanta to Norcross, about 17 miles away. It took 1hr and 15 min during rush our traffic… Thank God I live in Denver now!

]]> By: Darrel http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-7506 Darrel Sun, 30 Dec 2007 23:30:22 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-7506 Chicago is terrible. There is no such thing as a reverse commute against traffic. I’m in outside sales and continually sit in traffic worrying about being late to appointments. There was no vision here in terms of planning for the future. There is very little room for lane expansion as frontage roads and homes are extremely close to the freeway/tollways since real estate is so precious. It is not uncommon to find MAJOR interstate arteries in Chicago that only have 3 lanes in each direction. There are plenty of Chicago highway projects that were killed by opposition in the highway building boom years of the 60’s and 70’s. We need to propose these projects again as some of the opposition probably isn’t around anymore (sorry to say). Resurrecting these projects and finding a way to engineer lane expansion to current highways is a must. As much as I want the Olympics here…..we don’t have the infrastructure to accommodate it. Chicago is terrible. There is no such thing as a reverse commute against traffic. I’m in outside sales and continually sit in traffic worrying about being late to appointments. There was no vision here in terms of planning for the future. There is very little room for lane expansion as frontage roads and homes are extremely close to the freeway/tollways since real estate is so precious. It is not uncommon to find MAJOR interstate arteries in Chicago that only have 3 lanes in each direction. There are plenty of Chicago highway projects that were killed by opposition in the highway building boom years of the 60’s and 70’s. We need to propose these projects again as some of the opposition probably isn’t around anymore (sorry to say). Resurrecting these projects and finding a way to engineer lane expansion to current highways is a must. As much as I want the Olympics here…..we don’t have the infrastructure to accommodate it.

]]> By: Chris http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-7121 Chris Sat, 15 Dec 2007 03:05:55 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-7121 I grew up in LA and moved to Long Island in my early thirties. In general the traffic in new york is worst. It rush hour lasts much longer, drivers are way more aggressive, the amount of time you can be in complete grid lock is much worst and the fact that people have no courtesy or regard for other drivers. The LA area freeways are wider with more lanes however new york has more highways than LA. Also the mass transit in LA is nothing compared to new york's. Most people who commute to Manhattan use mass transit. In fact almost everyone who work in my office uses mass transit to get to work. The reason is because they would have to leave at 4:30 to get in for 9 am. Almost no one who works in manhattan drives Thats a fact that cannot be argued ask any New yorker and they will tell you nobody drive to work. Its impossible. Most people in LA drive. Millions of people use mass transit in New York. Imagine if all those people drove. If LA built a subway system then the traffic would be much better. If you hypothetically to the people using mass transit and made them drive like in La where most people drive it would be a huge problem. Millions of extra cars would be added to the traffic. This is the real comparison LA might think its bad but if New york didn't have such a good mass transit system it would be in big trouble I grew up in LA and moved to Long Island in my early thirties. In general the traffic in new york is worst. It rush hour lasts much longer, drivers are way more aggressive, the amount of time you can be in complete grid lock is much worst and the fact that people have no courtesy or regard for other drivers. The LA area freeways are wider with more lanes however new york has more highways than LA. Also the mass transit in LA is nothing compared to new york’s. Most people who commute to Manhattan use mass transit. In fact almost everyone who work in my office uses mass transit to get to work. The reason is because they would have to leave at 4:30 to get in for 9 am. Almost no one who works in manhattan drives Thats a fact that cannot be argued ask any New yorker and they will tell you nobody drive to work. Its impossible. Most people in LA drive. Millions of people use mass transit in New York. Imagine if all those people drove. If LA built a subway system then the traffic would be much better. If you hypothetically to the people using mass transit and made them drive like in La where most people drive it would be a huge problem. Millions of extra cars would be added to the traffic. This is the real comparison LA might think its bad but if New york didn’t have such a good mass transit system it would be in big trouble

]]> By: Greg http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-6297 Greg Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:26:07 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-6297 There is no doubt LA and the Bay area are terrible. I live in Chicago but spent 5 years in LA and SF. I hate Chicago traffic, but I admit that the left coast is worse. I can't imagine why Minneapolis is on this list. I spent nearly 3 years working there and without the bridge collapse issue, it can't compare to the top ten. It isn't hard to figure out that anywhere you have millions of people in one area, you have heavy traffic. I travel heavily and if you ask anyone who lives in just about any city, such as Indianapolis, they think they have it bad. Any city where you can drive through it in rush hour and can get over 55 mph through downtown, forget it, you have it easy. The cities that need discussion are the ones where you can't get the needle much over the zero on the gauge without slamming on the brakes. There is no doubt LA and the Bay area are terrible. I live in Chicago but spent 5 years in LA and SF. I hate Chicago traffic, but I admit that the left coast is worse. I can’t imagine why Minneapolis is on this list. I spent nearly 3 years working there and without the bridge collapse issue, it can’t compare to the top ten. It isn’t hard to figure out that anywhere you have millions of people in one area, you have heavy traffic.

I travel heavily and if you ask anyone who lives in just about any city, such as Indianapolis, they think they have it bad. Any city where you can drive through it in rush hour and can get over 55 mph through downtown, forget it, you have it easy.
The cities that need discussion are the ones where you can’t get the needle much over the zero on the gauge without slamming on the brakes.

]]> By: Cecil http://www.elliott.org/blog/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/comment-page-1/#comment-6053 Cecil Thu, 01 Nov 2007 04:32:56 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/9-cities-with-the-worst-traffic-jams/#comment-6053 This article is B.S. Chicago's traffic is hiddeous---I work 21.4 miles from home and must alot 90 minutes (many times clocking in right on the button for my start time). On a good day, the most direct route takes 75 minutes. In the morning, if I leave home after 5:30 a.m., forget about it, you're done. Trying to go .25 miles, making a left turn at a light, it has taken me up to 45 minutes after 5:30 a.m. (I have to be at work by 7 a.m.) Trying an alternate route, I can take a road less traveled to make my left, but then it takes 40 minutes to go 6 miles (whoo, hoo, I save a whole 5 minutes). The expressways are a joke. . . 38 miles to the city limits, one must allow 105 minutes to reach the Northside of Chicago. In Chicago, we have two seasons, winter, and construction. Our government is so corrupt, construction is a way of life---Chicago doesn't do construction in order to fix spurs and poor infrastructure due to poor urban planning, it does construction to keep cronies in business and patronage alive (Walsh Construction Co., anyone????) It's truly pitiful; that's why our previous governor is headed to the bighouse (literally---he is due to report to prison, soon, for all the stealing that he did from the coffers of the taxpayers), and our current governor probably isn't far behind. . . .federal indictments, come out, come out, wherever you are. . . . I'm ashamed when I have to empathize with visitors who have no idea what they are in for, land in town, and it takes them 3 hours to make it 20 miles from the airport. G-d forbid you come through Indiana and have to pass through the Southside of Chicago and have to go 40-50 miles to a Northwest suburb; that can take you upwards of 6 hours. G-d forbid. I can't imagine if Chicago was to get the Olympics. . . the commuters would have to helicopter to work and rapel down to the roof of their buildings. . . there is no other way---as it is, our heavy rush hour(s) last from 5:00 a.m., to 10:00 a.m., and then again from 1:00 p.m., to 10:00 p.m. I think it might be heavy for longer at night due to all the universities in the Chicago proper letting out the night classes, and people working late to pay for their sprawling, empty suburban homes on their .25 acre lots. . . all lot, no yard, can't afford furniture. These are the people to blame for urban sprawl, but ultimately I blame the local goverments for allowing so many "cookie cutter" subdivisions to pop up, which places the burden on the roads. . . . And, don't get me started on the people commuting to downtown Chicago from the great (blechhh) state of Wisconsin. These are the folks that clog the roads at 3:30 a.m., YES, 3:30 a.m., bumper to bumper, yet, weirdly, moving at 75 miles per hour. I started going to work at 3:30 a.m. in order to avoid traffic going to work and returning home, however, I feared for my life due to the maniacal cheeseheads plugging our roads so early, driving like some wild da*n maniacs in their Ford F-150's. Hee, haw, yall. This article is B.S. Chicago’s traffic is hiddeous—I work 21.4 miles from home and must alot 90 minutes (many times clocking in right on the button for my start time). On a good day, the most direct route takes 75 minutes. In the morning, if I leave home after 5:30 a.m., forget about it, you’re done. Trying to go .25 miles, making a left turn at a light, it has taken me up to 45 minutes after 5:30 a.m. (I have to be at work by 7 a.m.) Trying an alternate route, I can take a road less traveled to make my left, but then it takes 40 minutes to go 6 miles (whoo, hoo, I save a whole 5 minutes).

The expressways are a joke. . . 38 miles to the city limits, one must allow 105 minutes to reach the Northside of Chicago. In Chicago, we have two seasons, winter, and construction. Our government is so corrupt, construction is a way of life—Chicago doesn’t do construction in order to fix spurs and poor infrastructure due to poor urban planning, it does construction to keep cronies in business and patronage alive (Walsh Construction Co., anyone????) It’s truly pitiful; that’s why our previous governor is headed to the bighouse (literally—he is due to report to prison, soon, for all the stealing that he did from the coffers of the taxpayers), and our current governor probably isn’t far behind. . . .federal indictments, come out, come out, wherever you are. . . .

I’m ashamed when I have to empathize with visitors who have no idea what they are in for, land in town, and it takes them 3 hours to make it 20 miles from the airport. G-d forbid you come through Indiana and have to pass through the Southside of Chicago and have to go 40-50 miles to a Northwest suburb; that can take you upwards of 6 hours. G-d forbid.

I can’t imagine if Chicago was to get the Olympics. . . the commuters would have to helicopter to work and rapel down to the roof of their buildings. . . there is no other way—as it is, our heavy rush hour(s) last from 5:00 a.m., to 10:00 a.m., and then again from 1:00 p.m., to 10:00 p.m. I think it might be heavy for longer at night due to all the universities in the Chicago proper letting out the night classes, and people working late to pay for their sprawling, empty suburban homes on their .25 acre lots. . . all lot, no yard, can’t afford furniture. These are the people to blame for urban sprawl, but ultimately I blame the local goverments for allowing so many “cookie cutter” subdivisions to pop up, which places the burden on the roads.

. . . And, don’t get me started on the people commuting to downtown Chicago from the great (blechhh) state of Wisconsin. These are the folks that clog the roads at 3:30 a.m., YES, 3:30 a.m., bumper to bumper, yet, weirdly, moving at 75 miles per hour. I started going to work at 3:30 a.m. in order to avoid traffic going to work and returning home, however, I feared for my life due to the maniacal cheeseheads plugging our roads so early, driving like some wild da*n maniacs in their Ford F-150′s. Hee, haw, yall.

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