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Hey
Did any of you guys notice that google maps is starting to warn you about traffic on certain roads in lebanon?
Hey!
Hahaha yeah I noticed the same yesterday!
That's great news!
It's annoying to always see "Traffic at Mirna Chalouhi" coz that's like very usual and isn't even worth a notification!
So does anyone know how it works or what the colors mean?

Also they this thing called Google offline maps.
Does anyone know how to make it work for Beirut?
Silentcontrol wroteHey
Did any of you guys notice that google maps is starting to warn you about traffic on certain roads in lebanon?
Google is going to blow up trying to find alternate routes for the traffic in this country.

Google Voice:"Tell your country to build a damn bridge in this location".
I had this before. You basically go to any other arab country and press the traffic button, which will get it enabled. You just come back to Lebanon and it should work here too.
Google Maps are probably the worst maps I used. I use Garmin, way better with more roads.
samer wrote
Google Voice:"Tell your country to build a damn bridge in this location".
Well… not if you consider induced demand. Check this out: http://www.wired.com/2014/06/wuwt-traffic-induced-demand/
Yeah I agree! Swedish researchers found that the biggest reason for traffic is when people switch lanes often and when they go from like the left lane to the last right lane. Also, drivers who cut people off in front of any bridge or bifurcation like they're some kind of suppository.

I really hate traffic in Lebanon, it destroys my day, every day.
Well you don't need Google Maps to tell you that you will have traffic in Achrafieh 6 days a week and 18 hours per day.
There are perhaps 1.5 millions ''service'' cars passing by Sassine + trucks + buses in these tiny roads, ministry of interior should seriously ban more than 50% of services for heavy traffic and pollution, and of course for God's sake put very high priced bills for any service that stops in the middle of the road
Totoro wrote I really hate traffic in Lebanon, it destroys my day, every day.
Traffic in Lebanon is ridiculous. Beirut is the capital but if you look at the map you'll see there is just one proper road that cuts it from north to south and it goes through Dora. So all the traffic has to go through there, right in the middle of the busy and polluted city.

Maybe not a circular road, that would be asking too much. Cynism apart, the encircling mountains make it difficult anyway, but maybe a secondary route?

In many big cities, there are lots of traffic, but it is managed in a way that your speed is low but as constant as possible.
In Lebanon you stand idle for long times, uselessly burning fuel, or sometimes have to accelerate - and driving like a maniac is encouraged, and the red light are set up accordingly (it is not normal to wait minutes at a time on a red light for it to turn green, as in Lebanon, normally it's much shorter)
It is more pollution and more stress.

And you know maybe some sidewalks and bicycle lanes, so that people think about walking instead of driving their car for going to the supermarket 100 meters away? Ah, forget it.

And what about the driving test?

Really, when you complain about traffic in Lebanon, to whoever reads this, don't say "this is because it's Lebanon (and it's a xxxxx country)" or "lebanese people are not civilized". No it's quite the opposite, and the origin of the problem is somewhere else, obviously.

Sure it can be argued that if people would elect different persons, it, uh, might help - sure. But let's not go into that!
Politicians won't change a thing, you need new laws and very punitive system against elements who are producing traffic in Beirut and big cities, like I said if policemen give traffic ticket everytime a service stop in the middle of the road at for example Sassine square while the light is green, which will do a domino effect of 3-5 minutes of additional traffic because light will go back to red, then 1/3 of city traffic is cleared.
Also any building construction should not get a permit in any circumstances if it will require taking more than half the road because of cement trucks. We are seeing more and more ridiculously small areas where they want to build towers, so they use the public road to park 2 sometimes 5 trucks!!
Also we need perhaps 100x more policeman in the streets to give the traffic tickets, most of policeman are used for needless tasks like mecanic payment controls instead of actively controlling the streets.
Did you ever check ABC road near Hardees on the weekends?? You have Taxis and chauffeurs parking in double lanes on both sides of the road! Only a bicycle can pass, police knows it but no one is there to put traffic tickets.
They have the tools but not the will to decrease the traffic.
rolf wrote
Really, when you complain about traffic in Lebanon, to whoever reads this, don't say "this is because it's Lebanon (and it's a xxxxx country)" or "lebanese people are not civilized". No it's quite the opposite, and the origin of the problem is somewhere else, obviously.

Sure it can be argued that if people would elect different persons, it, uh, might help - sure. But let's not go into that!
I completely agree with this last part, people think they are victims of their countries misery, but when you vote for the same corrupt thieves you're not a victim anymore you're a partner in crime.