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From: Roland Perry on 26 Dec 2009 04:04 In message <eqOdndVjZp11X6jWnZ2dnUVZ7rdi4p2d(a)giganews.com>, at 08:01:44 on Sat, 26 Dec 2009, Denis McMahon <denis.m.f.mcmahon(a)gmail.com> remarked: >Navigating between cities is pretty easy if you have a basic knowledge >of the geography of the country and the road network. > >Where I used to find a satnav useful was in the last 2 miles from >leaving the trunk road network to reaching the destination. My own theory is almost the same, except it's the "last half mile" which is the killer. In cities, the ever increasing pedestrianisation, one way streets and anti-ratrun measures, often make it virtually impossible to get any closer without detailed knowledge. -- Roland Perry
From: Roland Perry on 26 Dec 2009 04:11 In message <4B35CD53.30C4C992(a)siz82442582548524542efitter.com>, at 08:46:11 on Sat, 26 Dec 2009, johannes <johs(a)siz82442582548524542efitter.com> remarked: >> So how do you navigate through built up areas you don't know? > >I find it easy enough. Looking for features and landmarks learned from maps >and google earth. E.g. two roundabouts then a school, a railway bridge etc. That's fine as long as you don't end up a hundred yards the wrong side of a set of "buses only" bollards, or similar feature. In a recent discussion of Cambridge, it transpired that to get to the other side of one similar "obstruction" required a two mile diversion using exactly the correct roads at every junction. Although maybe a satnav wouldn't necessarily be up to date with all the "no left turn except..." and other anti-ratrun devices either (many of which the Google Streetcar seems to ignore!) -- Roland Perry
From: johannes on 26 Dec 2009 04:28 Roland Perry wrote: > > In message <4B35CD53.30C4C992(a)siz82442582548524542efitter.com>, at > 08:46:11 on Sat, 26 Dec 2009, johannes > <johs(a)siz82442582548524542efitter.com> remarked: > >> So how do you navigate through built up areas you don't know? > > > >I find it easy enough. Looking for features and landmarks learned from maps > >and google earth. E.g. two roundabouts then a school, a railway bridge etc. > > That's fine as long as you don't end up a hundred yards the wrong side > of a set of "buses only" bollards, or similar feature. > > In a recent discussion of Cambridge, it transpired that to get to the > other side of one similar "obstruction" required a two mile diversion > using exactly the correct roads at every junction. Although maybe a > satnav wouldn't necessarily be up to date with all the "no left turn > except..." and other anti-ratrun devices either (many of which the > Google Streetcar seems to ignore!) > -- > Roland Perry Yeah, I've been fooled in Cambridge many times. Always take the wrong turn. But now I just dump the car in the multi-story and walk.
From: damduck-egg on 26 Dec 2009 05:18 On Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:36:48 GMT, James Martin(a)hgvu.com wrote: >>> Then why spend money on a satnav if you are still going to have to >>> carry a map about with you ? I do not carry a map about with me anyway >>> I look at it before leaving home if I need to. >> >> >No but I have a tongue in my head and I have never been to lazy to get >out of the cab or car and ask someone . You'll have been one of those parked in a bloody awkward place while trying to get an old lady to give you directions to a chemical factory or similar. Meanwhile blocking the free flow of traffic along the road while other road users negotiate their way around the blockage you were causing which in itself introduces the possibility of other hazards. 20 years ago it was a necessary evil rather than drive around getting lost. Today it is just the actions of somebody being selfish. G.Harman
From: Cynic on 26 Dec 2009 05:51
On Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:48:44 GMT, James Martin(a)hgvu.com wrote: >>I can relax and get on with concentrating with driving and let the >>satnav get me where I'm going. >And what are you going to do if your satnav goes nackared one day when >you are miles away from home? you wouldn't have a clue due to the fact >that you have been so used to sitting there doing what your useless >satnav has been telling you to do. Ah, a luddite. If the satnav breaks down, then you would resort to navigating by the same method you would have to use if you didn't have a satnav in the first place, or course. Whilst getting to any town or city in the UK is pretty easy, a satnav is invaluable for getting you to a particular street once you get there. It is generally far safer and quicker than a map if you don't have a passenger to do the map reading, especially if a blocked road means that you suddenly find yourself needing to take a different route to the one you planned. Getting back home again is generally far easier, because there will be signposts directing you to major roads and towns. -- Cynic |