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The rarely updated blog of Joel Dixon
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
# Posted by Joel Dixon at 30/08/2007 13:02:45Updated by Joel Dixon at 29/01/2008 16:49:33
Well I've been here for a while now, and starting to regret my decision a little less. My workmates are nice and as more essentials items are bought for my apartment I'm getting a little more comfortable. I thought I'd take the time to discuss the transportation options available to me in Edmonton.
I chose the location of my apartment because it is very close to most of the clients of my new company. Unfortunately, I happen to be working for a client for whom the work is done out of the main office - a 30 minute drive from my place (and me without a car). Thankfully, I live very close to a work colleague that has been giving me a lift to and from work each day. Also fortunately, it has given me an insight into what the commuters of Edmonton deal with each day.
First thing I noticed, was that my work friend's windshield had a very large spiderweb-shaped crack all through it. I had figured it was recently in an accident and just not repaired yet, until I noticed that about 1 in 20 of the cars on the road have similar cracks in their windshields.
I found out that the roads in Edmonton can only be repaired during a few months of each year (when they aren't covered in snow), and as Edmonton is in the middle of a boom right now there is a lot of roadwork required. It basically equates to poorly maintained roads, which means more stones are shot into your windshields. What begins as small stars evolve into large cracks by the constant bumping around through dodgy potholes and other such annoyances. I was also surprised at the number of people breaking the road rules by speaking on their telephones while driving - until I found out it's still legal here. I think I might get myself a "learn to drive" booklet before I attempt to cruise the streets.
Another phenomenon around here is the number of "pickup trucks" on the roads. A pickup is basically a four-door ute, but the whole thing is huge. I guess a four-wheel drive vehicle would be useful in the Winter months, but it looks odd seeing so many of them driving around in the nice weather. Edmonton also allows a driver to start learning at 14 years of age, and have a full licence at 16. There's no "P-plates" here for probationary drivers, but you do see an occasional home-made sign indicating a "new driver" resting against the back window. Reassuring.
One of the many pickups on Edmonton's roads. To be honest - I wouldn't mind driving a bad-boy like this
Edmonton doesn't have an extensive train system, which makes getting around much harder. There does seem to be a lot of different bus routes, but almost anywhere I want to go will require a change at three different bus stops. Edmonton also do not have trams, but they do have "trolley buses". They're basically a normal bus (wheels and all) driving on the left lane of regular roads, attached to an electric cable running over head for power. They run smoothly and don't emit greenhouse gases - but man they look funny!
An artists rendition of a trolley bus
There's also a number of taxi's driving around the city - a lot less than in Melbourne. It's difficult to catch a cab without actually phone ordering it. There's three main taxi companies (and many smaller ones) - but legislation states that they all need to charge the same fares. So even though the dodgy "barrel" brand of taxis are not maintained as well as the nicer "Checker" cabs - they both charge the same fare. You can guess which cab company I'm going to call.
After living in Edmonton for a short time, I'm thinking more and more about leasing / renting a car while I'm here. It's just too hard to get around the city without one, and my place of work offers free parking. Until I finally make that decision, I'm walking a shit-load more than I'm used to!
# Posted in the Travel section and tagged as: Edmonton
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Comments
| Eryc-Ads Posts: 13 |
It's called a windscreen BITA  # Posted - 20/09/2007 16:55:37 |
 joeldixon   Posts: 170 |
ha ha - good point. Although, a windshield shields the driver from wind. What does a windscreen do? Interview the wind and determine it's eligibility to enter the car? HU HU  (that smiley face looked the closest to a contented Al grin)# Posted - 21/09/2007 04:08:16 Last Edited - 21/09/2007 06:24:34 |
| anonymous |
is this the same J. Dixon that the world of sports is learning to hate? the chinese/italian that was born a liar? # Posted - 29/09/2007 13:33:40 |
joeldixon Posts: 170 |
You're close. This is the J. Dixon that is often seen scaling walls and crushing ice. I cook Thirty-Minute Brownies in twenty minutes, I don’t perspire and I can hurl tennis rackets at small moving objects with deadly accuracy. Children trust me. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea. # Posted - 29/09/2007 15:54:43 |
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