Sometime in 2006, the Sun began the column “Getting There.” The column, by Michael Dresser, covering transportation issues. Since I was a commuter, I kept an eye on this column as regularly as I could.
I have read some bad columns out of our local fishwrap–admittedly the quality it was once known for has continued to decline more sharply in recent years. This column, though, comes close to one of the worst regular columns ran by the Sun. That “distinction” continues to be a two-horse race between Dan Rodricks’ and Laura Vozzella’s columns. I could spend a lengthy blog post railing about how annoying Rodricks is and his blatant inability to check his facts, but I digress.
Dresser’s “Getting There” has been more annoying. In a column that should be covering those issues that are important to transportation in the metro area, let’s take a quick look at what Dresser has focused his attention on:
- Aggressive Drivers (14 January 2008 and 7 January 2008)
- Speeders (31 December 2007)
- Work Zone Speed Limits (17 December 2007)
- Alternatives to I-95 South (10 December 2007 and 3 December 2007)
- ICC Opposition (26 November 2007)
- Delaware Tolls (19 November 2007)
Why isn’t this column focusing on things like, I don’t know, road closures due to construction, common commuting bottlenecks in the area, the recent attempt in Baltimore to repave road surfaces, parking issues and other items actually relevant to local transportation issues.
Dresser has instead made this column his bully pulpit about what he deems as bad motorist behavior. He rails against speeders, informs folks of ways around the I-95 tolls in Delaware, and has timed different long-distance commuting routes. Any savvy commuter already knows of multiple ways around those tolls and other obstacles to navigate while driving the East Coast’s major thoroughfare. The column is by no means informative. Even the Examiner has a better column on local commuting and traffic issues, and that says a lot.
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Ha. I liked how in one of his articles he advocated the abolition of the car horn as a way to make people slow down rather than have the horn allow them to tailgate and rage on the cars going too slowly in front of them.
You have to admit those articles are so bad they’re good. On the other hand, I have no idea what’s real and a what’s a joke in the Sun anymore. Like this. WTF is that all about?
@SC: I will admit, some of his articles are so off the wall that they deserve nothing but derisive laughter. Heck, just look at the photo accompanying his articles if we want a really good belly laugh.
The editorial you linked to is atrocious. My God, WTF have they done? How is that even an editorial subject?
Don’t get me started on that annoying tabloid-style Sports section.
While I understand why you’d like him to expand his focus, I think any discussion of the Baltimore area’s traffic flow needs to include aggressive or negligent driving and possible solutions to them. And when people come up behind me and honk and tailgate, I slow down. It’s a safety issue: if I’m going to risk being rear-ended by some asshole driving five feet off my bumper, I’d rather we both be doing 20mph than 40mph.
Snay: The real solutions to your traffic observations is stricter licensing standards, better driver education and yes enforcement. Of course the folks you want to enforce the laws are sometime the ones who flaunt the laws most. I’ve see occasions where patrol cars turn right on red where sign-age forbids it [and no they don't have their lights on]. I’ve also see them flip their lights on to run a red light. And I’m sure I’m not alone in saying patrol cars are some of the worst offenders when it comes to speeding through neighborhood streets.
JJT: as for the column yes it is pretty devoid of meaningful useful content. I’d like to see it expand beyond just driver concerns and start addressing transit, which includes driving, buses and rail.
@Snay: His column has no meaningful discussion concerning the problem of aggressive drivers. Instead, it is the journalistic equivalent of an old man standing on the front porch outside his home, yelling at the neighborhood kids to get off his lawn. Moreover, at most times, it devolves into a “Viewer/Reader Mail” segment where he takes letters from commuters and drivers much like yourself. Paul’s comment is dead-on. Having the “Old Curmudgeon” Dresser admonish us for being bad or negligent drivers does nothing to ameliorate the problem, but if he changed his focus on driver education then he might have a leg to stand on.
@Paul: That’s a large part of what I want a column like this to address. With BRAC coming and other regional growth concerns, what is Baltimore and most of Maryland going to do to address the growing transit problem?
@JJT: sadly I already know what MD is doing to support BRAC, lots of hand wringing about how to pay to expand the road network.
the sun is just so pathetic these days. everything’s from syndicates. none of the reporters have a clue about baltimore. grrrr.
Does anyone remember the “Dr. Gridlock” column in the Washington Post? That was a good traffic/transportation column, and quite useful. Too bad the Sun can’t pick that up, since it uses very little from its own writers.
And wtf WAS that idiotic editorial? I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
@Carol: Dr. Gridlock is very specific to the DC Metro area I’m not sure the Sun picking it would be useful.
I was hoping maybe they’d pick up the format, not the actual content…yes, I agree DC’s traffic issues wouldn’t be of much interest to Baltimore. But I really like that guy — can we kidnap him and bring him here?
@Carol: The original Dr. Gridlock (Ron Shaffer) retired a back in 2006. They have obviously replaced him. The only problem with Dr. Gridlock is that is is very auto oriented and only sometimes touches on the larger need of a comprehensive transit solution.
What the Sun and/or Examinor needs is someone like the author of Baltimore Inner Space (baltimoreinnerspace.blogspot.com) to write for them.
I *loooooove* the Baltimore Inner Space guy — that’s one of my favorite blogs. I think he would be an excellent addition to the Sun, but I have to wonder…since it’s the Sun…would they actually hire anyone that smart? Heh.
Jason you hit the nail on the head! I think Michael Dresser and Joseph Goebbels would have hit it off famously. Dresser use to be a financial writer (who is obsessed with statistics, and seems to be a spokes person for the MVA and police). I wonder sometimes, if he has ever been on either beltway or 95 at all. Beside the fact that his agenda, seems to be a personal vendetta against people just trying to get to work on time, through many, many obstacles. He never addresses those issues you mentioned above.
It would be a great asset to the Sun to hire someone who is on the side of the commuter and not the inept pencil pushers. Why don’t you apply for the job?
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