U-Turns, GPS and the Path (yours)
U-turns and the Path Am I the only person who’s noticed that since the advent of GPS – be it a separate navigation unit, one integrated into a car, or something on a cell phone – there’s been an enormous increase in the volume of U-turns? I don’t mean a slight increase – by my observation, probably about a 500% increase (maybe more). I’m not a big fan of GPS in general, though I’ve been known to find it handy when navigating the odd super-confusing subdivision, or for having a glance at traffic patterns. But what I don’t do is follow it slavishly. I look at it as a suggestion (ok, the time shown IS also my “time to beat”). But my larger concerns with are twofold: (a) There’s a whole generation – perhaps a couple by now – who have no clue how to read a map. Yes, there are a few exceptions, but they certainly seem like a very small number. (b) GPS seems to view U-turns as a default so...