Everybody, everywhere, grumbles about the traffic.
In some towns, to be caught at a red light is considered bad luck.
In Brisbane or Adelaide, to wait an extra change of lights is considered a traffic jam.
In Bangkok, to get through on the third change of lights is considered traffic flow.
From many suburbs in Sydney, a trip to the city is considered a packed lunch – yes, an idiom of sorts, but one which apparently carries an element of truth.
A colleague who for 20 years travelled an hour and a half to work, and then home again, told me how he packed a flask of coffee each day to help him cope.
An old-school newspaper editor, the flask would not be complete without an ashtray beside the wheel.
Another seasoned campaigner referred to his car as a second office. No note-taking involved, but plenty of blue tooth chatter.
For those who I have since stared at in the morning and afternoon traffic snarls, I apologise. But consider your neighbourly intrusion for the benefit of blog research.
These are ways I have seen people killing time:
- This morning a very attractive lady was eating a tub of yoghurt.
- A very ugly man was picking his nose.
- A slightly acne-covered young woman was knocking back a can of Sunkist. I’ve been known to have a similar breakfast, living under the illusion that orange-flavoured soft drink almost passes for orange juice.
- A couple was singing. Windows were up.
- One person was reading a novel. And yes, the wheels of the car were moving at the time. That’s frightening stuff, considering not 100m away the driver of a ute was assessing damage to his wallet after rear-ending a hatchback.
I’ve also noticed some nifty CD cases hanging from sun visors, a television on the dash (although I’m sure that’s illegal) and car interiors decorated with more gadgets than a grandmother’s living room.
In my case, I’ve become very good friends with my morning and afternoon radio hosts. Beauty is, I can change my in-car friends at the flick of a button.
I’d be keen for some advice. How do you pass away the time in Sydney traffic?
Or maybe you’ve also seen some novel approaches?
