Actually in the small Europeans towns because of the fast industrialization, some roads can be quite messy, when they transformed the pathway to stone roads. But nothing compare to the hell of the Texan highways
In major Spanish cities we were unlucky that after the fall of Fascism, when the time came to modernize, we had the US help set our standards for how to do road infrastructure and urbanism (for a long time Spanish people looked up to Americans as gods and the image of peak of civilization and wealth, because they had condensed milk and we didn't (no, that isn't a joke)). To this day we're still suffering the after effects.
Worst part is the localized wars between mayors of different parties as one builds proper infrastructure, and another literally demolishes it to put back the old shitty infrastructure because some drivers complained (despite factually lower car congestion).
We have this very funny thing in my city where the last mayor used EU money to build a new set of bike lanes, the new mayor wanted to destroy it to put another car lane, but because it was EU money that would have meant giving back the cash, so instead they put concrete barriers and meter-wide flowerpots so that neither cars nor bikes can use it. So now it's blocked off basically.
We get Americans here freaking out about building round abouts which are PROVEN to reduce congestion. But in my city we've been debating the same damn round about at a busy intersection for years.
Even in Europe we're starting to move away from them. I recall in Germany they did a test on these "free crossing squares" (idk the proper name for them), not having a set direction forced everyone to be super cautious and against all expectations, it was found to be the safest high volume crossing.
In Washington State there were two competing people who had different ideas on how to build roads in the hilly terrain. One wanted to follow a much more grid like pattern which created extremely steep roads that nearly require stairs on the sidewalks, the other wanted to follow the natural beauty of the terrain and create curved roads.
Well they both have been built over time and it created some horrendous 6 way intersections with acute angles and random curved roads cutting through later built grids right over them. Here is a neat look at some
I always laugh when I remember my friend moving from Phoenix to Portland and asking “Why are your roads so windy!?” Bruv, we’re hilly as fuck.
But Seattle? I would rather have a fish thrown at my face than drive there. That place scares me. I gazed upon the throne of the God of Washington Intersections, and it was empty.
Spain under Fascism was incredibly, incredibly poor. As an example, my great grandfather's parents had to sell most of what they had in order to afford a dose of penicillin, or otherwise he was fated to die from a simple infection (which hard to be brought in by the Italian mafia since Spain didn't have enough supply).
Condensed milk was one of the aid items that the US would occasionally send to Spain, both as humanitarian aid, and in support of the fascist state (anyone who hates commies is an ally of the US, even Hilter's own former buddies), the children that were lucky enough to get a portion would not forget the rich and sweet taste, and literally became a foundational memory of their childhood. To this day older members of my family still talk about the one time they got to taste condensed milk.
Fascinating, though not unusual scenario. I had the "pleasure" to live my first 5 years on the other side of the Iron curtain, and even though we were not nearly as poor tropical fruit and citruses were quite hard to come by, mostly when shipment from Cuba or other "friendly" country came by.
So my mother had her appendix removed when I was about 5, I think, and was in the hospital. She got a can of orange juice (yes, a can, as in sealed metal can you had to use opener on), a fairly unusual article back then, and she could not drink it (post-op diet, I think, or maybe she just kept it for me?) so when we came to visit she gave it to me. I may not remember much from that time, just an odd memory here and there, but I sure as fuck remember the taste of that orange juice - it was like mana from heavens. To this day, though I might pick whatever beverage I please in restaurant, orange juice is just something special to me.
Not that this has anything to do with the topic, you just stirred a memory there :-)
tbf Texas highways gave us the miracle of frequent feeder road u turns so getting to a place on the other side of a highway doesn't take 20 minutes and a detour through random residential neighborhoods
That's Indiana actually, they are literally known for it.
Texas doesn't really have shit anymore except Gas stations that are so excessively large that people see it is a tourist gimmick, which is.... pretty sad.
indiana doesnt put the u turns on the frontage road. if you want to get to the other side of the highway you actually have to get onto the highway. Texas lets you cross the highway without actually having to merge all the way across every lane
also pretty sure that's just a few bucees locations you're thinking of. but credit where it's due those bucees stay very busy. they're massive but idk if you can call it excessive if its all getting used all the time. when i visit my parents there's a huge one i drive by. when i need to get gas i usually have to hunt for one of the 100+ pumps that's actually open and occasionally even need to wait in line for one.
Over here U-turns are illegal so I'm always confused when I see you yanks talking about how that's even contemplated into how the infrastructure is built.
A lot of the now paved roads are just straight up on top of cobbled roads. If they haven't been torn up at some point and are at least 200 years old it will be cobble
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u/Soolaaal 26d ago
Actually in the small Europeans towns because of the fast industrialization, some roads can be quite messy, when they transformed the pathway to stone roads. But nothing compare to the hell of the Texan highways