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Non-Road Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: roadman on August 30, 2017, 06:23:29 PM

Title: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: roadman on August 30, 2017, 06:23:29 PM
consider this one:

http://www.wfmz.com/news/new-jersey/bicyclist-delivering-food-follows-app-into-lincoln-tunnel/614590475

As PHLBOS's tag line reminds us:  GPS does NOT equal God.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: SectorZ on August 30, 2017, 07:28:43 PM
Awesome. I am going to try that excuse on the Callahan or Sumner on my bike someday. It's such a bitch to get between Boston and Revere on 2 wheels.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: kalvado on August 30, 2017, 07:36:26 PM
Probably GPS is a secondary issue here. What are the options for riding a bicycle between Manhattan and NJ? Looks like Washington bridge permits those, but a detour may be long... I would say accepting bicycle delivery between NY and NJ was not so smart idea to begin with...
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: roadman on August 30, 2017, 08:06:51 PM
Quote from: kalvado on August 30, 2017, 07:36:26 PM
Probably GPS is a secondary issue here. What are the options for riding a bicycle between Manhattan and NJ? Looks like Washington bridge permits those, but a detour may be long... I would say accepting bicycle delivery between NY and NJ was not so smart idea to begin with...

Was he even trying to make a delivery from Manhattan to New Jersey?  And if he wasn't, how did the app screw him up so bad if it routes people looking for local streets in Midtown Manhattan into the Lincoln Tunnel?
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: NE2 on August 30, 2017, 09:38:12 PM
GPS also makes people call the freeway from Westwood to Braintree I-93 rather than 128. Fuck GPS.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: kalvado on August 30, 2017, 10:23:07 PM
Quote from: roadman on August 30, 2017, 08:06:51 PM
Quote from: kalvado on August 30, 2017, 07:36:26 PM
Probably GPS is a secondary issue here. What are the options for riding a bicycle between Manhattan and NJ? Looks like Washington bridge permits those, but a detour may be long... I would say accepting bicycle delivery between NY and NJ was not so smart idea to begin with...

Was he even trying to make a delivery from Manhattan to New Jersey?  And if he wasn't, how did the app screw him up so bad if it routes people looking for local streets in Midtown Manhattan into the Lincoln Tunnel?
A bit more details - and things really look interesting: guy lives in Jersey city, 26 years old, and was delivering to West 22nd Street on Manhattan.
Probably commutes across the river through one of those tunnels on a daily basis, and should have at least some idea about the concept of "tunnel"... No mention of his departure location...
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: The Nature Boy on August 30, 2017, 10:47:31 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on August 30, 2017, 07:28:43 PM
Awesome. I am going to try that excuse on the Callahan or Sumner on my bike someday. It's such a bitch to get between Boston and Revere on 2 wheels.

I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't survive a bicycle trip through the Callahan or Sumner tunnels.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: PHLBOS on August 31, 2017, 08:42:09 AM
Quote from: NE2 on August 30, 2017, 09:38:12 PM
GPS also makes people call the freeway from Westwood Canton (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Canton,+MA/@42.1827642,-71.1571137,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e481bdecf5a775:0xa35829897f4e20c0!8m2!3d42.1584324!4d-71.1447732) to Braintree I-93 rather than 128.
FTFY.   FWIW, 128's current official southern terminus (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2098353,-71.1445008,3a,75y,130.93h,86.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAHDRqjx7iMN1iMXyL8D95Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) since 1989 in the eyes of MassDOT & its predecessors.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: formulanone on August 31, 2017, 09:22:52 AM
Quote from: kalvado on August 30, 2017, 07:36:26 PM
Probably GPS is a secondary issue here. What are the options for riding a bicycle between Manhattan and NJ? Looks like Washington bridge permits those, but a detour may be long... I would say accepting bicycle delivery between NY and NJ was not so smart idea to begin with...

This smells like a publicity stunt more than anything else.

Somehow, this cyclist thought he could deliver food (something someone would prefer fresh, I'm assuming) from one state to another, via tunnel. Unless this fella just got off the boat recently, this doesn't make any sense.

I don't think this is the story the OP is looking for: It's not GPS Madness but a tale of No Bike Lanes Are a Bad Thing and/or These Tolls Are Quite High
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: SectorZ on August 31, 2017, 10:58:32 AM
 :clap:
Quote from: NE2 on August 30, 2017, 09:38:12 PM
GPS also makes people call the freeway from Westwood to Braintree I-93 rather than 128. Fuck GPS.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: SectorZ on August 31, 2017, 10:59:25 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on August 30, 2017, 10:47:31 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on August 30, 2017, 07:28:43 PM
Awesome. I am going to try that excuse on the Callahan or Sumner on my bike someday. It's such a bitch to get between Boston and Revere on 2 wheels.

I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't survive a bicycle trip through the Callahan or Sumner tunnels.

I've barely survived car trips thru them, so I concur.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: roadman on September 01, 2017, 09:34:32 AM
Quote from: formulanone on August 31, 2017, 09:22:52 AM

This smells like a publicity stunt more than anything else. 

If it's a publicity stunt, then why haven't they named the restaurant the guy was delivering food for?

Quote

Somehow, this cyclist thought he could deliver food (something someone would prefer fresh, I'm assuming) from one state to another, via tunnel. Unless this fella just got off the boat recently, this doesn't make any sense.

I don't think this is the story the OP is looking for: It's not GPS Madness but a tale of No Bike Lanes Are a Bad Thing and/or These Tolls Are Quite High

From the original story:

QuoteThe man was taking a suggested route on his phone app (emphasis added) when he entered the tunnel, according to Port Authority spokesman Joseph Pentangelo. ...

...Pentangelo said the man showed officers the app, which supported his claim.

Sounds like a GPS fail to me.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: The Nature Boy on September 01, 2017, 09:38:19 AM
I'm interested in what app he was using. I tried to duplicate this in Google Maps and Google Maps just routes bike users onto a ferry and ignores the Lincoln Tunnel.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: formulanone on September 01, 2017, 09:43:53 AM
Quote from: roadman on September 01, 2017, 09:34:32 AM
Quote from: formulanone on August 31, 2017, 09:22:52 AM

This smells like a publicity stunt more than anything else. 

If it's a publicity stunt, then why haven't they named the restaurant the guy was delivering food for?


I read the article, thanks.

Not all publicity stunts go to plan, could be more of one man's personal gripe with a lack of walking/biking options in the area.

And if was a bit of an unplanned stunt, shouldn't the media have the good sense to remove the name of the restaurant (since it has nothing to do with the issue) to not give attention to them?

In any other case, why the article? Dog bites man.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: roadman on September 01, 2017, 10:02:19 AM
Quote from: formulanone on September 01, 2017, 09:43:53 AM

And if was a bit of an unplanned stunt, shouldn't the media have the good sense to remove the name of the restaurant (since it has nothing to do with the issue) to not give attention to them?


Point taken.  However, regardless of whether this was an unplanned stunt or a genuine mistake, if I were the restaurant owner, I would not only fire the guy (for being a total dumb^$$), but I would want everyone to know I have fired him.
Title: Re: Further proof that GPS turns some (most?) people into true lemmings
Post by: kalvado on September 01, 2017, 10:29:46 AM
Quote from: roadman on September 01, 2017, 10:02:19 AM
Quote from: formulanone on September 01, 2017, 09:43:53 AM

And if was a bit of an unplanned stunt, shouldn't the media have the good sense to remove the name of the restaurant (since it has nothing to do with the issue) to not give attention to them?


Point taken.  However, regardless of whether this was an unplanned stunt or a genuine mistake, if I were the restaurant owner, I would not only fire the guy (for being a total dumb^$$), but I would want everyone to know I have fired him.
While restaurant name was removed - the fact that guy worked for Uber Eats was mentioned a few times. Uber also mentioned they suspended his account.