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Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 21:53:12 -0400
From: Atif I. Chaudhry <foonopsamcom>
Subject: Re: I bought one of those as well......


Very good points! Also in the U.S. we almost always drive when we have to take long trips, partly due to the lack of a good rail system (unlike Europe). In article <macwhiz-4F07AF.20270517062002nopsam.supernews.com>, macwhiznopsamcop.net says... > In article <aelk7a$s1b$1nopsamg2.svr.pol.co.uk>, > "Phil Born" <philbornnopsam.fsnojunknet.co.uk> wrote: > > > Am I missing something here? If I want to drive, I get in my car, if I want > > a drink, I go to a cafÈ (or a pub). > > This is fine in a country with less land area and a higher density of > quality cafÈs and pubs. :) > > In the States, we've got a phenomena called the "limited access toll > highway" that makes the cupholder far more valuable, especially when > combined with the size of the country. > > For example: to visit my parents, I make a 330 mile trip. As possible > trips in the U.S. go, this is a moderate length one -- it takes five to > six hours, depending on traffic and your degree of adherence to the > almost-universally-ignored 65 MPH interstate speed limit. > > This trip is on the New York Thruway, a limited access toll highway. > You have to stop and obtain a toll ticket to enter the road, and you > have to stop, surrender the ticket, and pay a toll to exit the road. > This process often entails a wait in queue, unless you're one of the few > who has signed up for an electronic tag -- and so long as the queue for > the manned toll booths hasn't ground all traffic to a halt for a mile > back up the road. Exits are few and far between -- except for cities, > usually 10 to 25 miles between exits. > > There are "rest stops" along the way, but these are spaced out too, and > because they have an effectively captive audience, they charge > outrageous prices. For example, a small bottle of generic spring water > costs about US$0.65 in a grocery store, but the Thruway rest stop will > hit you for US$1.25 or so. Most stops at these "rest stops" are for, > ah, biological relief, which thankfully is free of charge. One might > even buy moderately expensive fast food. Stopping just to pay an > outrageous markup for a drink...? No thanks, I'll bring my own. :) > > On a long trip, where opportunities to stop are inconvenient, rare, and > pricey, it's very useful to be able to have a sip of something every now > and then. Having that drink held securely in an easy-to-reach place is > just plain safety. :) > > I suspect the distance issue, and the nature of America's Interstate > highways, are why Americans like cupholders -- and why Europeans are > bewildered by the need for them. > > Rob >

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