An unhealthy addiction to Hello Kitty? This Japanese Driver Takes Hello Kitty Addiction To the Next Level
Image Courtesy: Imgur.com via Reddit
(via Reddit)
Distracted Driving? Nah. Just A London Cabbie-in-Training Prepping To Master “All-London Knowledge”
(Source: via Reddit -rcdaudt)
Image Courtesy: Imgur via Reddit
A fellow Redditor spotted this cabbie-in-training somewhere near Piccadilly, London. And the hive minds offered more details on what’s this is all about: a prospective London Taxi-Driver learning “the Knowledge” which involves memorizing the street names. So, today I learned that London cab drivers’ Knowledge is based on learning 320 routes (or runs). This will help them learn the 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks and places of interest in the six mile radius of Charing Cross. Amazing that it takes between two and four years to pass the All-London Knowledge and once you are licensed you can work anywhere in the Greater London area.
On point and delivered with unmatched sophistication – No one does road safety messages like the Aussies
(Source: via Reddit)
Image Courtesy: Imgur.com via Reddit
And here is the funny road safety campaign video featuring the sign above. How much I wish America adopted this blunt, yet funny style of conveying the message. Our American campaign signs are boring compared to the Aussies’. PERIOD!
Nationwide is on your side? Not for this dinged up driver – A Roving PR Nightmare For Nationwide Insurance
(Source: Reddit)
So, how do you get even with an insurance company that left you hanging? Here is one way to do it.
Image courtesy: Reddit - Click the image to get more details.
Thinking Outside the Box – Visualizing the U.S. Highways Network From a Transit Mapping Perspective
(Source: Cameron Booth via FastCoDesign)
Click the images to enlarge and also to learn more about them.
Interstate network
U.S. Routes
Job Alert: Division Chief, Technology Innovation and Policy – USDOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA)
U.S. DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) announces New Career Opportunity: Division Chief, Technology Innovation and Policy
The Research and Innovative Technology Administration seeks a senior Transportation Industry Analyst to serve as the Chief of the Technology Innovation and Policy Division (RVT-91) of the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center).
The application deadline for this position is February 15, 2012
Located in Kendall Square area in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Volpe Center plays a unique role in looking across the transportation enterprise by applying its multi-disciplinary capabilities to anticipate future transportation issues and challenges across all modes of transportation. This is a permanent position based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
As Chief of the Technology Innovation and Policy Division, you will be responsible for developing, planning, and overseeing the performance of all the work of the Division’s portfolio of projects. This Division provides technical and analytical support for research initiatives and decision-making at all levels of government and industry to (1) identify, assess, and deploy advanced technologies and innovative system concepts to reduce the frequency and consequences of transportation-related crashes, improve transportation operations, personal mobility, environmental sustainability, and/or energy conservation; and (2) assess alternative policy approaches for overcoming institutional, financial, technical, and other barriers to the deployment of advanced technology or innovative concepts at the local, regional, and national level.
In this role, you will develop the Division’s portfolio of work, and ensure the expansion of the Division work to meet high priority transportation needs; you will manage programs and projects in accordance with Volpe Center policies and procedures and best industry practices; and, establish and maintain effective working relationships with customers, industry experts, management, peers, and other public/private sector interest groups and stakeholders. You will also manage the operation of the Division, including directing and supervising staff.
To succeed you must have transportation experience related to the work done by the Division, and an entrepreneurial outlook with the ability to translate working relationships into business and new program opportunities. You must also have experience managing resources, and leading multi-disciplinary technical team(s). Strong planning and communication skills are required as is the ability to work as part of a collaborative management team. Some travel (2-3 days per month) will be required.
The announcement is posted to the Public and to Merit Promotion eligible applicants on www.usajobs.opm.gov. Please know that Merit Promotion announcements are the vehicle through which Federal employees generally apply for Federal positions.
Public Announcement: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/308212300
Merit Promotion Announcement: http://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/PrintPreview/308212600
Auto companies out do everyone else when it comes to advertising during Superbowl
(Source: Autoblog)
The graphic says it all. To get more details on the data, recommend clicking image.
Image Courtesy: Autoblog.com
Study Abroad: Portland Meets Netherlands – Multimodal Transportation Engineering Applications and Innovations in the Netherlands
Dates: June 29 – July 16, 2012
Image courtesy: Planetsave.com via Google Images
This program presents an introduction to transportation engineering applications in the European context. The course will build on earlier courses with a special emphasis on differences between U.S. and Dutch standards. The curriculum will feature material that provides a contrast between engineering principles and policies focusing on the standards presented in both the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the Highway Capacity Manual. Furthermore, specific emphases on engineering principles and practice will be explored through field trips and in guest lectures both while abroad and in Portland. Students completing this course will have a greater understanding of the contrast in policies from the Portland area with communities in the Netherlands.
The location of the course was strategically identified to share the experience with an established program from Northeastern University led by Dr. Furth. The concept for this program is to join the Northeastern students for the first two weeks, returning back to Portland after that period to complete the course in Portland. During the two weeks at TU Delft, there will be a field trip every day within the City and to surrounding communities (including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, and others). Delft is centrally located and provides an ability to represent transportation designs that follow the national policies. The lectures are a combination of guest speakers from local practitioners and others that Dr. Furth has enlisted in the program in the past.
Program Focus
Course Information
- CE 410/510: Transportation Engineering Applications – 4 credits – (6 credits are also available as an option with additional coursework after returning to Portland)
Draft Itinerary
- This program will include at least one pre-departure course meeting and a number of on campus course meetings after the group returns to Portland.
- International Component: June 29 – July 16, 2012
- For students opting for 6 credits, additional coursework (by arrangement with the instructor) and a substantial written report are required after returning from the Netherlands.
Students will spend two weeks at the Technical University of Delft developing an understanding of the transportation systems of the cities in the Netherlands, including Delft, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Den Haag, and others. A typical day will include a guest lecture from a practitioner in the local community followed by a field trip. Lunch will be time to explore the local community and students will be asked to document their experiences by collecting information (digital pictures and notes) throughout the day. The context of each community will offer opportunities for the lecturers (Furth and Koonce) to offer perspectives from their communities (Boston and Portland), contrasting the planning, engineering, and policy issues associated with the local communities. This combination will allow students to gain an understanding of transportation concepts that have been implemented to address specific challenges.
