Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[TheCatalyst31]

2025-11-07:
Aside from the earthquake, why did San Francisco want the Embarcadero Freeway torn down?

After I-238 opened, the people of the Bay Area realized in horror that they had too many freeways and needed to tear something down to prevent a number that nonsensical from ever being used again.

[pderocco]

Proposition 480

Thank you.  You took my idea and made it better worse.

Which was an improvement on the first draft returned by the secretary of state, which had the following options:

( ) Abort
( ) Retry
( ) Ignore
( ) None Of These Candidates

Not ready driving freeway E.
Abort, Retry, Fail?

That's what happens with floppy freeways.

[PColumbus73]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

[Sapphuby]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

One rewatch of WALL-E will tell you why.

[GaryV]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

Because they knew malls were not going to be viable in the long run, and they wanted to close the Sears store before Sears got around to doing it.

[wanderer2575]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

They were blinded by FritzOwl's bright light.

[Big John]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

So the stores could give drive-thru service.

[kphoger]

That's what happens with floppy freeways.

Thanks.  That gave me a good chuckle.

[kphoger]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

Under local billboard ordinances, this would have been the only way to use the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument for advertising space.

[pderocco]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

The government already owned the ROW.

[TheCatalyst31]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

The National Mall already had a National Food Court, so they wouldn't have to build a new travel plaza.

[Henry]

11/10/25

Why did planners want I-95 to go through the National Mall?

They thought it would be better than going around the east side of the Beltway, which was voted the most boring highway in the world to drive on.

[kphoger]

11 NOV 2025

Improve this sign, to remove words in favor of pictograms and/or geometric shapes that clearly convey the same meaning.

[kphoger]

11 NOV 2025

Improve this sign, to remove words in favor of pictograms and/or geometric shapes that clearly convey the same meaning.

I realize I don't have the same sign mock-up skills that a lot of you guys do, so there's definitely room for improvement here.  But here's my idea:

[Dirt Roads]

11 NOV 2025

Improve this sign, to remove words in favor of pictograms and/or geometric shapes that clearly convey the same meaning.

One can't improve on this:


Bonus:  It is so popular that both Lionel and Lego have copied the original design.

[kphoger]

OK, so that one didn't get any traction...


12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

[PColumbus73]

OK, so that one didn't get any traction...


12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

A preemption phase for turn arrows that turn red when it doesn't detect a driver's turn signal.

[hotdogPi]

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

Silver for Cybertrucks only, which would only turn on when it sees one in the front of one of the approaches. The catch? If there are two or more, it will let them go at the same time, even if they would collide.

[Sapphuby]

OK, so that one didn't get any traction...


12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

The last one got no traction because the only post won by such a huge margin that there was no way to top it;
Flashing green setup, which functions as a Yield sign.

[Big John]

OK, so that one didn't get any traction...


12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

Add a purple light phase for those willing to pay a toll.

[GaryV]

OK, so that one didn't get any traction...

I'm not sure why. Trains got traction ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traction_motor

[pderocco]

12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

A long all-red phase, to reduce VMT and save the planet.

[xonhulu]

12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

A black signal phase, because driver confusion is hilarious and not irresponsible and deadly at all.

[LilianaUwU]

12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

A long all-red phase, to reduce VMT and save the planet.

That's called a pedestrian scramble.

[Scott5114]

12 NOV 2025

Improve US stoplight operation by adding one signal phase.

An orange light, during which drivers may purchase tamales.