Minor things that bother you

[hbelkins]

I understand that there is somewhat of a mindset among the youths of today that there's an ambivalence about getting a license, but what I don't get is the number of people in their 40s and 50s who don't have driver licenses, and have little to no interest in obtaining one.

When I turned 16, I couldn't wait to get my license.

[Bruce]

Living in a place with an abundance of transportation of options (aka freedom to choose) means that a license can be optional. That's a good thing for society and for drivers, since it does mean less competition for the same road space.

[Max Rockatansky]

Living in a place with an abundance of transportation of options (aka freedom to choose) means that a license can be optional. That's a good thing for society and for drivers, since it does mean less competition for the same road space.

Chicago was the only city I lived in where there were fully viable alternative transit options.  You're also maybe assuming that living in a dense urban area is what everyone wants.  I've been chasing smaller scale areas to live as time goes on.  Being around less people is ultimately is what is good for me long term.

[Bruce]

Living in a place with an abundance of transportation of options (aka freedom to choose) means that a license can be optional. That's a good thing for society and for drivers, since it does mean less competition for the same road space.

Chicago was the only city I lived in where there were fully viable alternative transit options.  You're also maybe assuming that living in a dense urban area is what everyone wants.  I've been chasing smaller scale areas to live as time goes on.  Being around less people is ultimately is what is good for me long term.

Doesn't have to be hyperurban. Suburban areas can still have pockets of density to support good transit and cycling options while also not sharing walls and confined spaces with neighbors. I'm not in favor of shoving everyone into cities, but also recognize that we're not going to have enough natural and rural spaces left if sprawl just continues infinitely.

[Max Rockatansky]

Living in a place with an abundance of transportation of options (aka freedom to choose) means that a license can be optional. That's a good thing for society and for drivers, since it does mean less competition for the same road space.

Chicago was the only city I lived in where there were fully viable alternative transit options.  You're also maybe assuming that living in a dense urban area is what everyone wants.  I've been chasing smaller scale areas to live as time goes on.  Being around less people is ultimately is what is good for me long term.

Doesn't have to be hyperurban. Suburban areas can still have pockets of density to support good transit and cycling options while also not sharing walls and confined spaces with neighbors. I'm not in favor of shoving everyone into cities, but also recognize that we're not going to have enough natural and rural spaces left if sprawl just continues infinitely.

Given that the population is expected to level and retreat in the coming decades I don't see sprawl continuing indefinitely.  The trouble is that a lot of the shoehorned transit options tend to be on the poorly designed side or remain incomplete for various reasons. 

A good example locally for me would the renewal of Measure C getting voted down.  That would have funded a lot of bike lane expansions around Fresno.  The one by me on Jensen Avenue would have been nice but appears stuck in forever limbo.  The primary argument used against renewal of Measure C (which I voted for renewal on) essentially was that roads have become too costly due to the recent passage of complete street laws in California. 

Interesting to note, the nearest FAX bus stop is 0.8 miles from my house.  The road getting to the stop (Fowler Avenue) doesn't have a complete sidewalk on either side of the road (one side is a county island).  That's probably within walking distance for many.  I just don't see many being comfortable walking on the side of a busy like that when they could drive.

[SSOWorld]

Shoot, you could drive a 26 foot box truck if you wanted to.

Or a Class A RV.

Which is bigger than many vehicles that you require a CDL or a chauffeur's license to drive.  Do not turn right in front of them.

[D-Dey65]

I wouldn't want someone driving who had to be forced to get a license.

I never forced my kids to get a license.

For the record, nobody in my family felt they were being forced to get a license. Not me, not my brothers, and not even my cousins, two of which lived in Queens at the time. Personally, I find the idea of kids of the past 20-odd years felling like they're being forced to learn to drive to be quite depressing.

Here's another thing that bothers me. Being forced to follow somebody else's questionable GPS directions when you know better. When my father died in 2017, he was cremated, and my mother and I drove his ashes to Calverton National Cemetery. After the funeral, we went to a catering place over on Sound Avenue. But instead of taking a direct route along NY 25 to Edwards Avenue to Sound Avenue in order to get there, my cousin, my aunt and uncle, my mother and others, decided to zig-zag onto NY 25A, then take Hulse Landing Road (Suffolk CR 54) to Sound Avenue. Why? Because that was the way Waze told them to get there. And I thought he knew better.

After our time at the restaurant was over, I talked my mother into letting me drive the car, and I took Edwards straight to NY 25. She was lucky I didn't go all the way to the Long Island Expressway.

[LilianaUwU]

I wouldn't want someone driving who had to be forced to get a license.

I never forced my kids to get a license.

I wasn't forced to get one, and I do just fine with the local transit system, which is excellent compared to the pitiful offerings south of the border.

[Scott5114]

When you get fast food from the drive thru, get home, and discover that the soda you paid for has its carbonation/syrup balance so far off it's undrinkable.

[SSOWorld]

When you get fast food from the drive thru, get home, and discover that the soda you paid for has its carbonation/syrup balance so far off it's undrinkable.

How about

Fast food meal combos have
- a burger (or equiv.)
- fries (chips over in Europe - or equiv)
- a drink. (almost guaranteed to be a junk drink like soda or iced tea.)

Definitely discouraging nutrition.

[Rothman]

When you get fast food from the drive thru, get home, and discover that the soda you paid for has its carbonation/syrup balance so far off it's undrinkable.

How about

Fast food meal combos have
- a burger (or equiv.)
- fries (chips over in Europe - or equiv)
- a drink. (almost guaranteed to be a junk drink like soda or iced tea.)

Definitely discouraging nutrition.

Hm.  Doesn't bother me.

[Max Rockatansky]

My wife complains about that a lot with fountain drinks but I rarely find the issue problematic.  Usually means an extra drink for me.

[webny99]

When you get fast food from the drive thru, get home, and discover that the soda you paid for has its carbonation/syrup balance so far off it's undrinkable.

How about

Fast food meal combos have
- a burger (or equiv.)
- fries (chips over in Europe - or equiv)
- a drink. (almost guaranteed to be a junk drink like soda or iced tea.)

Definitely discouraging nutrition.

What's even worse is when fast food places *upcharge* to replace the soda with a bottled water.

[wanderer2575]

Fast food meal combos have
- a burger (or equiv.)
- fries (chips over in Europe - or equiv)
- a drink. (almost guaranteed to be a junk drink like soda or iced tea.)

Definitely discouraging nutrition.

Nothing about a fast-food establishment is intended to encourage nutrition to begin with, so I'm not bothered by that.

What's even worse is when fast food places *upcharge* to replace the soda with a bottled water.

I don't drink soft drinks so I'm more bothered that every combo includes one.  Of course the reason is that the fountain soft drink costs them pennies compared to what they charge and it's how they make any money on the combo at all.  I can believe the bottled water or juice costs them more than does the fountain soda, so I sort of understand the upcharge.  The amount of the upcharge is obscene, but again that's where they make money.

[Max Rockatansky]

When you get fast food from the drive thru, get home, and discover that the soda you paid for has its carbonation/syrup balance so far off it's undrinkable.

How about

Fast food meal combos have
- a burger (or equiv.)
- fries (chips over in Europe - or equiv)
- a drink. (almost guaranteed to be a junk drink like soda or iced tea.)

Definitely discouraging nutrition.

What's even worse is when fast food places *upcharge* to replace the soda with a bottled water.

Water cup and drink from the fountain supply.

[webny99]

What's even worse is when fast food places *upcharge* to replace the soda with a bottled water.

Water cup and drink from the fountain supply.

Most places do not have cups available unless you ask, or people would start grabbing unlimited free fountain drinks. This is also not possible when using the drive-thru.

Of course the reason is that the fountain soft drink costs them pennies compared to what they charge and it's how they make any money on the combo at all.  I can believe the bottled water or juice costs them more than does the fountain soda, so I sort of understand the upcharge.  The amount of the upcharge is obscene, but again that's where they make money.

Come to think of it, I suppose one could ask for a cup of ice water and avoid the upcharge; however, there's a good chance you'd get unfiltered tap water and in that case, it probably is worth an upcharge to get a bottled water instead, which is generally purified, better-tasting, and more portable.

I just find it annoying that soda is produced and distributed so cheaply that it's literally cheaper than water - that should not be the case and is a big contributor to our unhealthy eating culture in the US.

[Max Rockatansky]

I've never been refused a free water cup at any fast food establishment. 

[ZLoth]

From what I saw, the restaurants supplied a clear cup for water, and the person still filled it up with soda anyways. Then, there are those who have a large reusable mug and fill it up anyways. (I only did this with ice, then filled it up with H₂O). Some of the restaurants, including McDonalds, are now charging for refills and removing the self-service fountains. Then again, Costco is now enforcing the membership card requirement for visiting the food court.

[hbelkins]

Lots of people sing the praises of the Coke from McDonald's, talking about how it tastes better than Coke at Wendy's.

I've noticed that at the Double Kwik chain of convenience stores in eastern Kentucky, their fountain Diet Cokes have a consistent yucky taste compared to Diet Cokes at other establishments. There's only one Double Kwik I've found that has a decent-tasting Diet Coke -- the one just off Exit 56 of the Daniel Boone Hal Rogers Parkway.

[wanderer2575]

Lots of people sing the praises of the Coke from McDonald's, talking about how it tastes better than Coke at Wendy's.

I've heard three things about the Coke served at McDonald's.  I don't know if they're true.

(1)  They use filtered water.
(2)  They still receive syrup in metal cans, not plastic bags.
(3)  The ratio of syrup to water is a little higher to account for melting ice.

[formulanone]

Lots of people sing the praises of the Coke from McDonald's, talking about how it tastes better than Coke at Wendy's.

Imma start questioning some people's taste in lyrics.

[JayhawkCO]

When you get fast food from the drive thru, get home, and discover that the soda you paid for has its carbonation/syrup balance so far off it's undrinkable.

How about

Fast food meal combos have
- a burger (or equiv.)
- fries (chips over in Europe - or equiv)
- a drink. (almost guaranteed to be a junk drink like soda or iced tea.)

Definitely discouraging nutrition.

What's even worse is when fast food places *upcharge* to replace the soda with a bottled water.

A bottle of water costs more than a soda for the restaurant. Hence the upcharge.

[J N Winkler]

About four months ago, Popeyes reprogrammed its app to eliminate the ability to lodge new orders for three-piece chicken dinners without drinks.  For about three months, it was still possible to order these by selecting them from one's order history, but about a month ago this began giving unexpected results depending on location--price lookup failure for some and conversion (without in-app notification to the customer) to a two-piece dinner for others.

I actively don't want fountain drinks with fast food, and Popeyes doesn't offer à la carte ordering or even the option of tap water just to get an order to go through.  The last time I had a meal from there, I had to take a picnic cooler with me so I could put the two unsweetened iced teas (the least offensive of the choices available) in it to prevent them from falling onto their sides and making a mess in the trunk.

[vdeane]

About four months ago, Popeyes reprogrammed its app to eliminate the ability to lodge new orders for three-piece chicken dinners without drinks.  For about three months, it was still possible to order these by selecting them from one's order history, but about a month ago this began giving unexpected results depending on location--price lookup failure for some and conversion (without in-app notification to the customer) to a two-piece dinner for others.

I actively don't want fountain drinks with fast food, and Popeyes doesn't offer à la carte ordering or even the option of tap water just to get an order to go through.  The last time I had a meal from there, I had to take a picnic cooler with me so I could put the two unsweetened iced teas (the least offensive of the choices available) in it to prevent them from falling onto their sides and making a mess in the trunk.

Ugh.  I don't go to Popeyes, but I hope nobody else gets any ideas.  If I'm ordering togo to eat at home or a hotel, why do I need one of their drinks?  I usually only order drinks if I'm on the road and dining in.

[Rothman]

I've never been refused a free water cup at any fast food establishment. 

I've been charged for one a couple of times.