Posted on 12/21/2012 6:53:42 PM PST by Domandred
Despite pumping life into every town and city that they haul freight to, truckers are still looked upon as a nuisance by most areas. They think of big trucks as rolling death-machines that bring pollution, noise, and crime to their towns, not realizing that what they really bring is absolutely everything the town needs to survive. Well, yet another city is taking steps to ban these “nuisances” from their streets entirely.
The mayor of Columbiana, Alabama has called for a ban on semi-trucks driving in their downtown area. He says that trucks are the main cause of traffic jams in his city and that truckers often drive over curbs. He was quoted as saying “I really feel like we are doing the city a disservice by allowing these large trucks” to drive in the area.
It seems that it’s not just one man’s misguided quest to turn truckers into a scapegoat, the city council has cast their lot in with the mayor as well. “I think it’s unanimous that everyone agrees if we can keep [truckers] out of the downtown area, we should do it,” the mayor said.
Towns across the country trying to keep trucks of their main streets cause annoying, time wasting, and sometimes dangerous detours, but even more worrying is that towns are now trying to keep truck stops from opening their doors anywhere in the town limits.
(Excerpt) Read more at thetruckersreport.com ...
Okay, do people buy food there? Goods and food trucks have to deliver somewhere near.
The next thing is they will try to ban airplanes because they create an eyesore against the pristine blue sky and have such a nasty sound.
Gotta love cab overs.. If you drive with out your belt on you can get a birds eye view of the wreck.
LOL> Our Indianapolis mayor {Republican} has screwed up our great streets with bike lanes.
That is one impressive truck. I would feel high on the status pile being able to drive one of them.
LOL, I wuz always in favor of having the wreck occur WAY OVER THERE.
This is somewhat akin to towns that died in the 1800’s for not wanting the railroad in their town. Maroons
“maybe Columbiana doesn’t need Coca Cola, but surely they drink beer.”
We’re talking a small town in the south, they may be “dry”
“I’ve never been to Columbiana, Alabama but I can imagine that some cities might reasonably want to restrict long rigs in parts of the city, without any overall prejudice against trucks, trucking, or their drivers. It just depends how the city is laid out: width of streets, types of businesses, traffic patterns, pedestrians, etc. If large trucks do not need to make deliveries in a certain part of the downtown, why do they need to be there?
But no denying there are idiot liberals in some places who hate trucks and can not comprehend the consequences if trucks were banned throughout the whole county or country. “
Not a lot of info about the town to go on. Are they on a US Highway? probably not on an Interstate. At that size they probably don’t have a bypass. A town that size should welcome the truck traffic. There are some small towns in this area on US64 that all have signs in town “NO Jake Brakes” it comes with your territory
Looks like a short haul truck. It’s long but there’s no sleeper
I guess they havent realized yet that they haul food as well. President of the stupid has real meaning
Lots of truckers looking to be offended I think. Here is the Bing map. Looks like access to about two blocks is involved. The through traffic can avoid the one downtown street and still pass through. All businesses look like they can be accessed from the back side. And I can see a downtown roundabout being a problem with tractor trailers.
Lots of towns, big and small, have access restrictions in their downtown areas. I’ve never been to Manhattan, but I don’t recall seeing pictures of bumper to bumper big rigs there. It might make more sense to look at the town and the situation before acting like this is a bad decision.
I’d expect they know more about their town than a bunch of strangers on the internet.
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?q=map+columbiana+alabama&mkt=en&FORM=HDRSC4#
Kind of like banning food production because it’s too messy - that’ll work out good...
If truckers boycot them they could be dry-—and hungry too.
I Have!
Scared the crap out of me, sounds like a cannon. I was next to the truck and just barely ahead of the tire - Boom.
Always best to respect the big rigs on the highways and back roads...they don't want you next to them either- cars are a 'blind-spot' nuisance and are in the way if you need to make a quick lane change. Always give a truck travel space on the highways.
2. Turn off the cruise control.
3. Pay attention to the traffic.
Those trucks did not suddenly appear beside you.
I don’t use my cell phone, while driving.
It’s not that they suddenly appeared, it’s about being trapped between them. I’ve got nothing against trucks or the drivers themselves, because as I’ve said, they are only at fault in about 1/400 accidents.
But thanks for the advice, I’m sure some out here can use it.
On interstates, no. Their inability to stop quickly is a problem. We had a recent 6 vehicle pileup on I-81 when a DWA got a flat and stopped in the left lane of the highway, causing trucks to jackknife behind her. Despite her idiocy, they were still nailed with following too closely. But it is getting a lot better.
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