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On one of L.A.'s steepest streets, an app-driven frenzy of spinouts, confusion and crashes
Los Angeles Times ^ | 4/4/18 | Steve Lopez

Posted on 04/04/2018 2:42:57 PM PDT by jeannineinsd

Nobody could have known, several years ago, that technological progress could make life so complicated in Echo Park.

But along Baxter Street, everyone seems to have a story about the ineptitude of drivers — following directions from navigation apps — who can't seem to handle one of the steepest inclines in Los Angeles.

"The car came through our garden, went through two fences and ended up backwards hanging over our driveway," said Jason Luther, who was describing an accident that happened during the last rains.

"A lot of people can't make it up the hill," Baxter resident Robbie Adams said.

Why not? I asked.

"Because it's too steep, and they don't know how to drive up. So they stop and try to back down, and it's a mess because people are coming up behind them."

And that's in good weather.

"Rain is a huge problem," Adams said. "People start skidding and spinning. We had our garden wall knocked down twice, and my wife's car got hit in our own driveway. I've seen five or six cars smash into other cars, and it's getting worse."

Adams said "we sent a letter to Waze" — a GPS navigation service — suggesting removal of Baxter as a shortcut possibility, or at least listing it as hazardous during wet weather.

"They said they couldn't do that because it involves changing the algorithm of the app in a weird way," he said.

Adams' wife, Amy Talkington, helped organize neighbors in a call for a meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Several possible solutions are on the agenda, but there will be no easy fix.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Local News; Travel
KEYWORDS: gps; hill; losangeles; waze
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To: jeannineinsd

Does anyone know how to read a map anymore? Am I the only one still using a Thomas Guide??

Pathetic!


21 posted on 04/04/2018 6:47:41 PM PDT by eyeamok (Tolerance: The virtue of having a belief in Nothing!)
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To: miss marmelstein

Faults


22 posted on 04/04/2018 6:53:09 PM PDT by onedoug
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To: forgotten man

PM me the route LOL


23 posted on 04/04/2018 7:06:04 PM PDT by max americana (Fired libtard employees 9 consecutive times at every election since 08'. I hope all liberals die.)
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To: jeannineinsd
"Adams' wife, Amy Talkington..."

Libs... Obviously a marriage made in metrosexual / feminist heaven.

I wouldnt be surprised to learn that he begged to take her last name.

24 posted on 04/04/2018 9:08:30 PM PDT by Windflier (Pitchforks and torches ripen on the vine. Left too long, they become black rifles.)
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To: jeannineinsd

You’ve got to zig-zag up that kind of incline. Just make sure the left lane is clear first.


25 posted on 04/05/2018 7:22:32 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Perhaps we should care less about who we may offend and care more about who we may inspire.)
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To: Getready

Lifted 4x4 jeeps with higher torque gears and mud tires do this all the time. We don’t need no steenkin paved roads either.


26 posted on 04/08/2018 5:22:56 AM PDT by tom h
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