Directions Peeves: Just me?

Quoted message said:

[2] Using right-left instead of North, East, West, South.

Dude, I don't know about that. I've been a city boy all my life, and if
I don't know from previously seeing the street on a map, I have no idea
which way North is.

"bryanska" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[2] Using right-left instead of North, East, West, South.

Dude, I don't know about that. I've been a city boy all my life, and if
I don't know from previously seeing the street on a map, I have no idea
which way North is.

It's the opposite of south, where the sun comes from.

🙂

Maybe it is just me but I am very aware of NEWS. Maybe it comes from riding
trails. Plus most cities in Ontario are gridlike often with streets
designated east/west and north/south. They aren't precisely n/s and e/w but
close enough for government work.

Quoted message said:

It's the opposite of south, where the sun comes from.

Doesn't the sun come from the east and go into the west?

"bryanska" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It's the opposite of south, where the sun comes from.

Doesn't the sun come from the east and go into the west?

Not if you are sufficiently north of the equator.

"cycle-one" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"bryanska" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[2] Using right-left instead of North, East, West, South.

Dude, I don't know about that. I've been a city boy all my life, and if
I don't know from previously seeing the street on a map, I have no idea
which way North is.

Quoted message said:

Maybe it is just me but I am very aware of NEWS. Maybe it comes from
riding trails. Plus most cities in Ontario are gridlike often with streets
designated east/west and north/south. They aren't precisely n/s and e/w
but close enough for government work.

I also am usually very aware of the compass points, but at least locally it
has nothing to do with a street grid or a map. It's the position of the
mountains that have given me guidance for so many years.

If I lose the compass points in an unfamiliar place, I feel uneasy. Hm, I
didn't realize it until now -- this is probably how my husband is at all
times. When we ride together (or he drives) some place new, he relies on me
100% for navigation, and gets all freaked out if I confess I haven't been
that way before or am not completely sure exactly where we are. Since I have
a good sense of direction, it seems like I'll be able to get us where we
need to go, no problem, even with that element of uncertainity. If you don't
know which was is up or down, and are relying on another, I can see how that
would be unnerving.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
Sponsor me for the Big Climb! See: www.active.com/donate/cpetersky06
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

cycle-one said:

Q: 'How far away is it?'

A: 'Oh, about 20 minutes'

That is annoying. Then the next thing to come out of my mouth is "I'm an
a bike, so how FAR is it?"

Ken
--
You never have the wind with you - either it is against you or you're
having a good day. ~Daniel Behrman, The Man Who Loved Bicycles

Homepage: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

"cycle-one" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

One thing I noticed that differentiate me from kar types is
directions. I
dunno if it's just me or a bike thing:

[1] Giving distances in terms of time.

Q: 'How far away is it?'

A: 'Oh, about 20 minutes'

Twenty minutes is not unit measure of distance. It assumes a
uniform
vehicle type wrt speed i.e. a kar. It even assumes roughly similar
traffic conditions. I always think in terms of kilometres. If I
wanted know how long it took you I would have ask that.

Even if we are all operating on the assumption of bike velocities,
what
distance I'm capable of covering in 20 minutes might be very
different from what another considers 20 minutes worth of distance.

[2] Using right-left instead of North, East, West, South.

Q: 'Where is XYZ Store?'

A: 'Well from Main street you turn left onto Maple then take the
second right past the lights'

I had a conversation at work where some one was trying to describe
a route
to a place that even though I knew the city well I could not make
sense of his directions.

The reason? I live in the south end of the city. He lives in the
north end.
So his right-left directions assumed coming from the north while I
assumed a right-left POV coming from the south. there is no such
ambiguity in: ''Well from Main street you turn east onto Maple then
turn south at the second intersection past the lights'

Anyways. Those are my peeves. Do other cyclist think in terms of
time and right-left? Or distance and N-E-W-S?

You are likely a male, correct?

In my experience, men would generally prefer terms of distance and
compass directions (NESW), with street names.

And, women don't think that way (and, I'm generalizing here, based on
people I've known). They'd prefer to hear where to turn right-left and
at which landmarks (e.g. turn right onto State Street - you'll see the
McDonalds on your left just before you get there.).

I also think people differ, based on region. Here, in WI, people most
often will give distances based on time, rather than actual mileage.
Why? I dunno. I think people in other areas of the US will give
directions differently.

When I give directions, I try to tailor my method, based on whether I'm
giving to a man or woman. I hope I'm doing it right and get them to
where they want to go.

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention
of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body.
But rather, it’s to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,
totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a ride!!!'

"Eric Babula" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In my experience, men would generally prefer terms of distance and
compass directions (NESW), with street names.

And, women don't think that way (and, I'm generalizing here, based on
people I've known). They'd prefer to hear where to turn right-left and
at which landmarks (e.g. turn right onto State Street - you'll see the
McDonalds on your left just before you get there.).

I can't *stand* the "turn right at the big pine tree" method of giving
directions. Argh!

Quoted message said:

When I give directions, I try to tailor my method, based on whether I'm
giving to a man or woman. I hope I'm doing it right and get them to
where they want to go.

I don't know which I would do if you "tailored" directions like that for me:
ask you to translate ("which street is that McDonald's on?"😉 or just grind
my teeth quietly.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
Sponsor me for the Big Climb! See: www.active.com/donate/cpetersky06
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"Eric Babula" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

You are likely a male, correct?

*checking to make sure*

Ya I think so.

Quoted message said:

In my experience, men would generally prefer terms of distance and
compass directions (NESW), with street names.

And, women don't think that way (and, I'm generalizing here, based on
people I've known). They'd prefer to hear where to turn right-left and
at which landmarks (e.g. turn right onto State Street - you'll see the
McDonalds on your left just before you get there.).

I also think people differ, based on region. Here, in WI, people most
often will give distances based on time, rather than actual mileage.
Why? I dunno. I think people in other areas of the US will give
directions differently.

I never noticed a gender or nationality dichotomy. It seems like _everyone_
does it the other way: right-left and time.

Of course I'm used to hoeing my own row.

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"cycle-one" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"bryanska" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

> [2] Using right-left instead of North, East, West, South.

Dude, I don't know about that. I've been a city boy all my life, and if
I don't know from previously seeing the street on a map, I have no idea
which way North is.

Quoted message said:

Maybe it is just me but I am very aware of NEWS. Maybe it comes from
riding trails. Plus most cities in Ontario are gridlike often with
streets designated east/west and north/south. They aren't precisely n/s
and e/w but close enough for government work.

I also am usually very aware of the compass points, but at least locally
it has nothing to do with a street grid or a map. It's the position of the
mountains that have given me guidance for so many years.

I use the sun - not so much at night of course.

🙂

My favourite trails north of city I often use the sun and time of day to
gauge direction which can be tricky given the winding nature of the trails.

If I am in a familiar city the streets themselves are enough. In an
unfamiliar city I will have a map. I love maps. Always have. The frustrated
explorer in me.

cycle-one said:

Anyways. Those are my peeves. Do other cyclist think in terms of time and
right-left? Or distance and N-E-W-S?

Not me. I'm like to hear about the big tree with the squirrel's nest or
the ditch on the left that I will be sure to smell. Distance and
compass aren't so hot in places where it's hilly and mostly overcast.

Claire Petersky said:

"Eric Babula" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In my experience, men would generally prefer terms of distance and
compass directions (NESW), with street names.

And, women don't think that way (and, I'm generalizing here, based on
people I've known). They'd prefer to hear where to turn right-left and
at which landmarks (e.g. turn right onto State Street - you'll see the
McDonalds on your left just before you get there.).

I can't *stand* the "turn right at the big pine tree" method of giving
directions. Argh!

But you've got to admit, it's better than the "turn where that
restaurant burned down a few years back" method!

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"Eric Babula" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In my experience, men would generally prefer terms of distance and
compass directions (NESW), with street names.

And, women don't think that way (and, I'm generalizing here, based
on people I've known). They'd prefer to hear where to turn
right-left and at which landmarks (e.g. turn right onto State
Street - you'll see the McDonalds on your left just before you get
there.).

I can't *stand* the "turn right at the big pine tree" method of
giving directions. Argh!

Quoted message said:

When I give directions, I try to tailor my method, based on
whether I'm giving to a man or woman. I hope I'm doing it right
and get them to where they want to go.

I don't know which I would do if you "tailored" directions like
that for me: ask you to translate ("which street is that McDonald's
on?"😉 or just grind my teeth quietly.

I've always said, "You're one in a million, Claire!"

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Not all who roam are lost.

catzz66 said:

cycle-one said:

Maybe it is just me but I am very aware of NEWS. Maybe it comes from riding
trails. Plus most cities in Ontario are gridlike often with streets
designated east/west and north/south. They aren't precisely n/s and e/w but
close enough for government work.

Directions by the compass won't help you much where I live. There is no
consistency to the layout. Streets and freeways are referred to by name
as opposed to their interstate, state and Federal highway numbers. Pity
the poor fool who doesn't already know where he is going.

I occasionally drive, and sometimes ride a bike, in Pittsburgh. It's
the most confusing city I've ever encountered.

North, East, South and West are useless because most streets will be
all of the above within a mile. There are _no_ interesections in the
entire metro area that are perpendicular, and roads loop and twist so
that you can head north, turn right and be going southwest. Some of
the things that are legally streets are actually incredibly long, steep
staircases for pedestrians, and have absolutely nothing to do with
wheeled vehicles.

Everybody - including the highway department - seems to think in terms
of ex-cities that were annexed many decades ago. So if you want to get
to Squirrel Hill, you've somehow got to know that's the same direction
as Oakland (or some such thing) because the highway sign only mentions
Oakland. If you don't know that's also the way to Squirrel Hill, you
don't deserve to get there.

And as a bonus, if you do make a wong turn - which is guaranteed -
you'll likely be faced with standing in your granny gear (or burning
your car's clutch) to climb some of the steepest paved roads in
America.

I've been seriously told by residents that many Pittsburghers never
leave the little area they grew up in. They're not really residents of
Pittsburgh, let alone the world; they're residents of Shadyside, or
Homewood, or the East Hills, or whatever, and they're not going to
leave, dammit, because they may never find their way back home!

- Frank Krygowski

Someone called my store and asked for directions, which I gave, in terms of
numbered cross streets. Next question, "Will you be on my right or on my
left?" I said, "Which way will you be coming?" Answer, with scorn in
voice, "Toward your store, of course."

cycle-one said:

Maybe it is just me but I am very aware of NEWS. Maybe it comes from riding
trails. Plus most cities in Ontario are gridlike often with streets
designated east/west and north/south. They aren't precisely n/s and e/w but
close enough for government work.

Directions by the compass won't help you much where I live. There is no
consistency to the layout. Streets and freeways are referred to by name
as opposed to their interstate, state and Federal highway numbers. Pity
the poor fool who doesn't already know where he is going.

Claire Petersky said:

I can't *stand* the "turn right at the big pine tree" method of giving
directions. Argh!

You would not have wanted to ask directions of my grandfather. He would
have told you something like "you go down the (road named for the town
it goes to) highway till you come to the red barn off there to the left.
There's usually a big black bull in the lot. Then you take a right on
the third road past it and ..."

catzz66 <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Claire Petersky said:

I can't *stand* the "turn right at the big pine tree" method of
giving directions. Argh!

You would not have wanted to ask directions of my grandfather. He
would have told you something like "you go down the (road named for
the town it goes to) highway till you come to the red barn off
there to the left.
There's usually a big black bull in the lot. Then you take a
right on
the third road past it and ..."

Kinda like the way my dad used to cook - "you put in some of this, and a
good amount of salt, and a little pepper and bake it in the oven on
about medium heat"!

When I asked "how much", he'd dump some salt in his hand, and say "about
that much"! I'd write down "about 2tsp. I'd ask, "How high is medium
heat?", and he'd say, "I dunno. Medium." Then, he'd turn on the oven,
look at the temp and say, "about 375ish." "But, how long do I cook it?"
"Until it's done." "How do I know when it's done?" "When it starts
getting brownish, taste it."

Yep, that's how he taught me to cook!

--
Eric Babula
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Not all who roam are lost.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Eric Babula said:

to hear where to turn right-left and
at which landmarks (e.g. turn right onto State Street - you'll see the
McDonalds on your left just before you get there.).

*********
I'm like that. Landmarks are doublly helpful when you confuse right/ left