ContentGiven my new unhealthy obsession with commuting, I’m thinking of creating a web site called “bestcommutes.com” or something. Basically, people would be able to post their favourite routes and ways of getting from A to B.
The site wouldn’t need a particularly sophisticated interface or engine — it would simply contain the step by step directions for each commute and the average time and any comments people want to add. Add a search engine on top of it and it could become a useful resource for those unlucky enough to have to get in a car in the morning. (I really miss my 2 mile walk to the office between Loisaida and Chinatown…)
By the way, having tried out 5 or so completely different ways of getting to work, I’m thinking that this is one of the better ways to get from the Upper Haight to downtown Palo Alto:
- Start at Cole St.
- Right on to Haight St.
- Left on to Stanyan St.
- Right on to Parnassus Ave.
- Left on to 7th Ave.
- 7th Ave becomes Laguna Honda Blvd.
- Left on to Woodside Ave.
- Straight on to O’Shaughnessy Blvd.
- O’Shaughnessy becomes Bosworth St.
- Right on to 280 South
- 280 South to Sand Hill Rd. heading East
- Right on to Aboretum Rd.
- Left on to Palm Dr.
- Palm Dr. becomes University Ave.
- Right on to Waverly St.
- Left on to Hamilton Ave.
The total time is a little under an hour, but the nice thing is that around 9:00 AM there is very little traffic, relatively few stop-lights and stop-and-go sections, few hills (makes a difference when you drive stick), and much more scenic than taking 101. When I get the bestcommutes site up I’m sure I’ll post a refinement…