Random Image

Breezewood

Breezewood

Subscribe

Where am I?

Dutch Considering Mileage Tax

Toll Roads

Seen at Autopia:

The Dutch government wants to abolish ownership and sales taxes on automobiles and instead levy a fee on every kilometer driven. The Transport Ministry says the move will cut congestion in half and curb carbon dioxide emissions by 10 percent.

Motorists driving a typical sedan would pay 3 Euro cents per kilometer, or about [...]

Broken Cable on Bay Bridge Equals Lovely Traffic

Traffic

I’ve been a little bit grumpy for the past few days, after getting word that my local office is moving in a few months, and my commute will go from being a leisurely drive on back roads to a grind on nasty freeway traffic.

However, at least I shouldn’t have to face the sort of nastiness [...]

Connecticut License Plate Funds Diverted For Budget Crunch

News From Connecticut

So, those of you in Connecticut with Long Island Sound, Greenways, or similar “special” license plates – remember how the surcharge for the prettier tags were supposed to be used for Sound preservation, greenways (un)development, etc.?

That might not be happening.

From the Stamford Advocate:

Sixteen years after motorists began paying premiums for special "Preserve the [...]

If It’s Monday, Which Side of the Road Should We Be Driving On?

Odd

It’s been far too long since I made a roadgeek post here.  Thanks to the Wall Street Journal, I can remedy that omission. 

Thanks to Samoa, for the first time in a few decades, we’re going to see a country change which side of the road people drive on:

Samoa is about to become what’s [...]

Common Theme, Anybody?

Speed Limits

Two articles from different sources, reporting on different parts of the country

Seen in the Boston Herald:

Pike officials, under fire for approving a hefty toll hike scheduled to take effect July 1, faced more heat yesterday after the Herald reported that there was a 23 percent increase in speeding tickets on the Pike during the first [...]

New York City / Connecticut Foreclosure Map

Economy

For those of you who are so inclined, it seems that the New York Times has a fascinating, if sad, interactive map online, showing the foreclosure rates by census tract in its primary market for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Camera Traffic Enforcement Bill Moving in CT Legislature

Speed Limits

Given prior public debate about setting up photo radar on Avon Mountain and on I-95, as well as West Hartford’s ‘warnings only’ photo radar… well, given the tightness of the budget and congestion on Connecticut highways, it’s not surprising that some photo traffic enforcement measure would have some traction in the Connecticut legislature this session.   [...]

Connecticut Considers Voiding Law of Supply and Demand

Gas Prices

While I won’t jump on the meme that the feds have turned socialist, I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t a Connecticut state legislator by the name of Karl Marx.  From the Greenwich Time:

A Connecticut legislative committee has endorsed a proposal to prohibit fuel distributors from charging varying amounts to gas stations based on [...]

Chop Suey for a Friday

Marriage / Family

I’ve been busy and have once again accumulated a pile of articles worth mentioning without having the time to go into much detail.

Business Insurance has an article summarizing a recent Hewitt study, reporting that 19% of all employers are planning to eliminate employee health benefits over the next 3-5 years.  It’s not clear from the [...]

West Hartford Gets a Speed Quasi-Enforcement Camera

Speed Limits

And people wonder why I hate driving in West Hartford.   From the Courant:

Speeders beware — you are being watched.

But the speed-detection camera installed this week at Boulevard and Whiting Lane is a kind of compassionate Big Brother that just wants to slow down drivers. Those photographed traveling 45 mph or faster at this 30-mph location [...]