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twg
Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Getting some fresh air...
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 Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:23 am Post subject: Well, Seoul traffic sucks |
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The traffic, anyway.
Today, it took me an hour longer to get home to Gangbuk Gu from Incheon Airport than it did to fly in from Taipei.
My sympathies to any of you who drive a car here. |
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wo buxihuan hanguoren
Joined: 18 Apr 2007
Location: Suyuskis
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:35 am Post subject: |
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Here's what sucks - I just ordered pizza, and I know my place reeks to high heaven of beer belches and farts, so out of consideration for the delivery guy I thought I would spray air freshener around my crappy one room.
Like a moron I sprayed it into the fan and it blew right back into my eyes. Now I have the 'I've been crying because I am loser at home alone on a Friday night' look. On second thought, that seems kind of cool actually. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:46 am Post subject: |
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oh my god, stop being so bitter!
Seriously, I live away from Seoul and its not bad at all.... traffic, that is. Roads are still poorly designed and people still drive like half-decapitated pigs running around in the pen. |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:19 am Post subject: |
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| pest2 wrote: |
oh my god, stop being so bitter!
Seriously, I live away from Seoul and its not bad at all.... traffic, that is. Roads are still poorly designed and people still drive like half-decapitated pigs running around in the pen. |
Yeah, could be worse. Be grateful you're not living in England. People may drive better in England, but there's just too many people everywhere and too little space - not to mention a public transport system from Victorian times... |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: |
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| butlerian wrote: |
| pest2 wrote: |
oh my god, stop being so bitter!
Seriously, I live away from Seoul and its not bad at all.... traffic, that is. Roads are still poorly designed and people still drive like half-decapitated pigs running around in the pen. |
there's just too many people everywhere.... |
There is too many people?? Good lord, the riff-raff teaching English here.  |
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butlerian
Joined: 04 Sep 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:55 am Post subject: |
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| SPINOZA wrote: |
| butlerian wrote: |
| pest2 wrote: |
oh my god, stop being so bitter!
Seriously, I live away from Seoul and its not bad at all.... traffic, that is. Roads are still poorly designed and people still drive like half-decapitated pigs running around in the pen. |
there's just too many people everywhere.... |
There is too many people?? Good lord, the riff-raff teaching English here. |
You really are a pedantic idiot, my friend. Go roll your eyes at someone who really cares what you think. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005
Location: Seoul, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 7:54 am Post subject: |
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| Nothing greater than riding my scooter between gridlocked lanes of traffic. |
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mikowee
Joined: 03 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:19 am Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| Nothing greater than riding my scooter between gridlocked lanes of traffic. |
I bet. I hate you ppl. |
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dogshed
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:30 am Post subject: |
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On my second or third visit to Seoul I saw buses and taxis stuck in traffic and decided the subway was the way to go.
The first time I drove my scooter in Seoul I got stuck in some traffic, but now I know how to avoid that. |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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I've never thought Korea or Seoul for that matter had *that* bad traffic. But maybe thats because, I too, come from London. Despite the introduction of the congestion zones, well.. Even the small rural town centres are crammed at the rush hour and weekends.
Mix that with angry Londoners, 30c summer heat (I know thats rare but when it comes boy does it hit hard) then you've got a good London Soup.
Btw, yes, England has better drivers, but when you get into London, it's absolutely every man for himself. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| Nothing greater than riding my scooter between gridlocked lanes of traffic. |
Yeah, a scooter would be the way to go... but I have stuff to carry that wont fit in a scooter sometimes. I would still seriously consider if I lived in the city, though. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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The traffic in Seoul is funny. If I drive to Seoul from where I live on the East side of Korea, it usually isnt bad until the very very last part. Its not until I get past Seongnam, for example, that it gets bumper to bumper. It goes from very clear to very crowded very fast.
I think it has to do with the high population density of the city. Most all the people live in such a tiny space together that it's inevitable the traffic will be bad in that space.
I dont even think a relatively high percentage of people in Seoul actually drive, by the way... But it doesnt take a high percentage of so many people to make a traffic jam.
BTW, for 3 weeks last month, the expressway to Seoul from the East WAS backed up for about 100km with bumper to bumper traffic. All the people in Korea do the same things at the same time -- including getting summer vacation at the same time, and going to the same place for vacation at the same time and coming back at the same time. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| Nothing greater than riding my scooter between gridlocked lanes of traffic. |
No doubt. Given my daily commute right through the heaviest areas (dongdaemun, hyehwa, jongno, mia) I've become a pro at this.
One thing I've noticed, which I think intensifies the traffic problem, is how the lights are completely uncoordinated. So many times on the major roads I take I will look down and see 8 lights, some green, some red, completely random. If they would get their best guys to sit down and actually take on the daunting task of coordinating the traffic lights in Seoul, I'm sure it would help push traffic along, and maybe even cut down on the number of incidents of people completely blocking an intersection after the light's turned red because it was green when they went through but there was nowhere to go since the receiving lane had a red light. That happens serially. |
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shaunew
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Calgary
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Some days my car sits in the underground parking of my apartment because I don't feel like driving in all the damn traffic. |
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pest2
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Qinella wrote: |
| RACETRAITOR wrote: |
| Nothing greater than riding my scooter between gridlocked lanes of traffic. |
No doubt. Given my daily commute right through the heaviest areas (dongdaemun, hyehwa, jongno, mia) I've become a pro at this.
One thing I've noticed, which I think intensifies the traffic problem, is how the lights are completely uncoordinated. So many times on the major roads I take I will look down and see 8 lights, some green, some red, completely random. If they would get their best guys to sit down and actually take on the daunting task of coordinating the traffic lights in Seoul, I'm sure it would help push traffic along, and maybe even cut down on the number of incidents of people completely blocking an intersection after the light's turned red because it was green when they went through but there was nowhere to go since the receiving lane had a red light. That happens serially. |
yes, I would lump this into "poorly designed roads"... Where did they (not) learn civil engineering in this place???
Last edited by pest2 on Sat Aug 25, 2007 3:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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