AARoads Forum

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

The AARoads Wiki is live! Come check it out!

Author Topic: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways  (Read 8853 times)

thenetwork

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 3278
  • Age: 2020
  • Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
  • Last Login: March 17, 2024, 11:28:55 AM
Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« on: December 25, 2011, 11:56:11 PM »

I figured that this would be a great place to create a listing of local newspapers and/or magazines that provide a regular forum for people to ask questions about and/or to gripe about "why things are?" on their local roadways.

Case in point:  The Cleveland Plain Dealer has a twice-a-week column called "Road Rant", which gives a chance for their readers to voice complaints about everything from non-working street lights to poor signage to potholes and much more.  The column covers highway questions in the Northeast Ohio area, closer to Cleveland than Akron and usually runs on Tuesdays & Fridays.  The column can also be found at cleveland.com . 

An example of one of these columns is here: http://www.cleveland.com/roadrant/index.ssf/2011/10/cleveland_and_brooklyn_a_bit_t.html


I know several years ago, the Detroit Free Press did a similar column as well (not sure if it still does).  Are there any other similar columns out there that regularly cover local roadways and their deficiencies?   :hmmm:

Logged

myosh_tino

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 2809
  • Silicon Valley Roadgeek

  • Age: 50
  • Location: Cupertino, CA
  • Last Login: March 17, 2024, 01:25:52 PM
    • Silicon Valley Roads @ Markyville.com
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2011, 01:59:42 AM »

Gary Richards of the San Jose Mercury News writes an almost daily column (Sunday thru Friday) titled "Mr. Roadshow".  He covers anything transportation related in the San Francisco Bay Area although his primary focus has been the south bay region around San Jose.  He will, on occasion, discuss statewide issues like gas prices, high speed rail and construction projects on major California highways outside of the Bay Area like I-5 and I-80.  He also hosts an online chat through the newspaper's website every Wednesday from noon to 1 PM although his next scheduled chat isn't until the first Wednesday in January.

You can find his column at http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow
Logged
Quote from: golden eagle
If I owned a dam and decided to donate it to charity, would I be giving a dam? I'm sure that might be a first because no one really gives a dam.

adt1982

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 187
  • Location: Litchfield, IL
  • Last Login: March 17, 2024, 01:57:29 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2011, 11:36:47 AM »

Ken Leiser of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes a column called Along For the Ride.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/traffic/along-for-the-ride
Logged

roadfro

  • *
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 4870
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Reno, NV
  • Last Login: March 17, 2024, 07:21:57 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2011, 12:18:40 PM »

The Las Vegas Review-Journal has published its "Road Warrior" column twice weekly for several years now. Wednesday's edition is usually devoted to answering readers' questions. Sunday's column typically covers something related to roads or transportation in the Las Vegas area, but sometimes delves into state-wide issues or other related transport topics.

The Road Warrior column is here: http://www.lvrj.com/columnists/Adrienne_Packer.html
Logged
Roadfro - AARoads Pacific Southwest moderator since 2010, Nevada roadgeek since 1983.

xcellntbuy

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 806
  • Location: Milledgeville, GA, the Antebellum capital (1804-1868)
  • Last Login: April 05, 2022, 10:57:44 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2011, 12:39:29 PM »

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale has "On the Roads" written by Michael Turnell published every Monday.  Excellent column.  Quite often there are reader questions and answers for traffic fixes of signs, traffic lights, ever changing traffic patterns and extensive construction updates throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties. :nod:
Logged

txstateends

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1081
  • Location: north TX, not far from an interstate interchange and a US terminus
  • Last Login: June 05, 2019, 11:30:28 AM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2011, 02:16:18 PM »

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram's traffic/transportation blog is called "Honkin' Mad".
http://blogs.star-telegram.com/honkin_mad/

Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News has its own, untitled blog:
http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/
Logged
\/ \/ click for a bigger image \/ \/

oscar

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 10936
  • Age: 68
  • Location: Arlington, VA
  • Last Login: Today at 10:06:37 PM
    • my Hot Springs and Highways pages
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2011, 02:17:02 PM »

The Washington Post has Robert Thomson's "Dr. Gridlock" column (usually on Sundays and Thursdays, sometimes with short items other days), which also covers transit and some other non-roads issues.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2011, 04:56:59 PM by oscar »
Logged
my Hot Springs and Highways pages, with links to my roads sites:
http://www.alaskaroads.com/home.html

hobsini2

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 4070
  • Age: 47
  • Location: Bolingbrook, IL
  • Last Login: Today at 07:43:32 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2011, 03:53:56 PM »

The Chicago Tribune had a column every week call "Getting Around" on Tuesdays. Don't know if it still does.
Logged
I knew it. I'm surrounded by assholes. Keep firing, assholes! - Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)

jdb1234

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 644
  • Age: 35
  • Location: Birmingham, AL
  • Last Login: March 17, 2024, 04:30:57 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2011, 05:49:44 PM »

The Birmingham News has a weekly column called Driver's Side

http://blog.al.com/drivers-side/index.html
Logged

JREwing78

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1797
  • Location: Janesville, WI
  • Last Login: Today at 01:49:25 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2011, 10:27:33 PM »

The Chicago Tribune had a column every week call "Getting Around" on Tuesdays. Don't know if it still does.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/traffic/chi-jonhilkevitch,0,3124478.columnist
Logged

hbelkins

  • *
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 19278
  • It is well, it is well, with my soul.

  • Age: 62
  • Location: Kentucky
  • Last Login: Today at 04:15:45 PM
    • Millennium Highway
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #10 on: December 27, 2011, 02:20:43 PM »

One of the Pennsylvania newspapers does -- Allentown, I think.
Logged


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

Takumi

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 5263
  • now with even more cars!

  • Age: 38
  • Location: central VA
  • Last Login: Today at 12:05:38 PM
    • The Practical Hoon (blog)
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2011, 02:45:08 PM »

The Richmond Times-Dispatch had (and probably still does) a semi-weekly column called Street Beat. I'm not sure if Petersburg's paper, The Progress-Index, does or not.
Logged
Olive Garden must be stopped.  I must stop them.

Don’t @ me. Seriously.

PAHighways

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1521
  • Not affiliated with PennDOT nor the PTC

  • Location: SWPA!
  • Last Login: March 17, 2024, 09:44:55 PM
    • Pennsylvania Highways
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2011, 06:20:57 PM »

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a Transportation section and the Allentown Morning Call has "The Road Warrior" column.
Logged

US71

  • Road Scholar , Master of Snark
  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 11846
  • Mad man with a camera

  • Age: 64
  • Location: On the road again
  • Last Login: April 06, 2023, 10:39:02 PM
    • The Road Less Taken
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2011, 06:26:13 PM »

NW Arkansas Times/Arkansas Gazette used to have Gridlock Guru, but he left the paper and the column ended.
Logged
Like Alice I Try To Believe Three Impossible Things Before Breakfast

brownpelican

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 591
  • Age: 46
  • Location: Franklinton, La.
  • Last Login: January 03, 2023, 08:07:07 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2011, 11:24:42 AM »

The New Orleans Times-Picayune's Web site has an entire section dedicated to traffic issues. Recently, they added fire reports to it for some reason.

www.nola.com/traffic
Logged

1995hoo

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 16384
  • Age: 50
  • Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
  • Last Login: Today at 04:22:06 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #15 on: December 29, 2011, 04:27:06 PM »

The Washington Post has Robert Thomson's "Dr. Gridlock" column (usually on Sundays and Thursdays, sometimes with short items other days), which also covers transit and some other non-roads issues.

As someone who has been quoted in his column, I can attest that he reads comments posted to his blog and takes them seriously.

The Baltimore Sun has a similar column written by Michael Dresser called "Getting There," but their website doesn't seem to be updated as regularly as the Post's. Mr. Dresser put together a very comprehensive series of columns some years back regarding "Delaware Avoidance Routes" for people driving northeast who wanted to avoid the Newark Toll Plaza specifically and the I-95/New Jersey Turnpike corridor in general.
Logged
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

hm insulators

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 1140
  • Location: Phoenix, AZ
  • Last Login: October 19, 2017, 04:01:16 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2012, 03:06:04 PM »

Years ago, the Arizona Republic had such a column. I think it was called "Bumper to Bumper."
Logged
Remember: If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

I'd rather be a child of the road than a son of a ditch.


At what age do you tell a highway that it's been adopted?

mapman1071

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 442
  • Location: Glendale, AZ USA
  • Last Login: March 15, 2024, 07:21:03 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #17 on: January 14, 2012, 08:42:26 PM »

Years ago, the Arizona Republic had such a column. I think it was called "Bumper to Bumper."
Bumper to Bumper Runs on Monday and on Friday both on page B2
Logged

cpzilliacus

  • *
  • Offline Offline

  • Posts: 11133
  • Age: 65
  • Location: Maryland
  • Last Login: December 31, 2023, 03:00:12 PM
Re: Regular Newspaper Columns On Area Roadways
« Reply #18 on: January 24, 2012, 07:35:56 PM »

The Washington Post has Robert Thomson's "Dr. Gridlock" column (usually on Sundays and Thursdays, sometimes with short items other days), which also covers transit and some other non-roads issues.

As someone who has been quoted in his column, I can attest that he reads comments posted to his blog and takes them seriously.

The Baltimore Sun has a similar column written by Michael Dresser called "Getting There," but their website doesn't seem to be updated as regularly as the Post's. Mr. Dresser put together a very comprehensive series of columns some years back regarding "Delaware Avoidance Routes" for people driving northeast who wanted to avoid the Newark Toll Plaza specifically and the I-95/New Jersey Turnpike corridor in general.

Michael Dresser has moved to the the Sun's Annapolis coverage, and Candus Thompson is now in charge of the Getting There and commuting content by the Baltimore Sun.
Logged
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

 


Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.