Kate’s recent post about the tax-free holiday got some folks in quite an uproar. Not about the rebate, but a passing comment about the traffic situation in and around New Tampa got many a commenter’s attention.
I may be off on this, but it seems like there is not a lot of New Tampa representation amongst both bloggers and blog readers. If you count Wesley Chapel as part of New Tampa, there’s Kate, myself, Brett, and the Gax (that I know of). So in order to provide some perspective, I thought I’d relate some common drives I make from my apartment, which is just barely in New Tampa.
This is my daily drive from home to work (I don’t work on the corner of Fletcher of Palm, but the USF drive is incidental). Mapquest says 7 minutes – on average that drive takes me twice that long, though at least once a week it can take over 20 minutes (and twice it has taken half an hour).
Now and again, I have to head to the Sarasota store. The drive from the apartment to the I-75 on-ramp is 8 minutes according to Mapquest – in the morning I’m normally looking at 20 minutes just to get to that spot. Add another 10 minutes to actually merge onto the highway, then another 10 minutes to reach a speed above 20 mph, which usually doesn’t happen until after the Fowler on-ramp.
I believe John and David are onto something with their comments. The fact that New Tampa residents are under-represented within the blog scene is probably no coincidence. Take a poll of those that blog and read blogs – particularly blogs related to civic concerns – and you’re likely to find a great collection of people who take an active interest in the city and world around them. I know plenty of people who live in New Tampa; these are people I consider friends, but I would never describe them as having an active interest in anything but their own home and life. If anyone from New Tampa is reading, please take no offense; I know it’s not everyone, but think about your neighbors and then tell me I’m off base.
kate
4 years ago
What we lack in numbers, we make up for in quality.
Whenever a group a homeowners allow a stellar school to be degraded to a low “C” grade because of busing, allow property values to drop, allow traffic issues to dampen any enthusiasm to live and work in the area – then something is wrong. That “something” usually involves the same group not flexing any political muscle or giving a rat’s ass about anything other than their own personal issues.
Mike
4 years ago
I’m also in Wesley Chapel. Fortunately, we avoid the I-75 /BBD mess by taking the SR-56 onramp to 275.
Brett
4 years ago
I’m of the firm opinion that homeowners in my community are, in general, too self-absorbed to actually pay attention to the things going on around them. They don’t know how to talk to their neighbors; in some cases, actually scurrying away when trying to initiate conversation – “Oh no, it’s the balding neighbor! Flee, children, FLEE!” They’re more concerned about the homeowners group enforcing their codes than just mentioning to their neighbor, via friendly conversation, that they just might wanna trim up the lawn this weekend. These people have no clue, or interest, in community, beyond those who attend the local quazi-nondemominational church, conveniently meeting in your nearest public school assembly room. Don’t forget to pick up plenty of notepads and pens to take door to door as you spread the word of
right wing fanaticismour Lord and Savior. People like to be told what to do anymore – it’s so much easier than thinking for yourself. Justlook at my neighbors, they’ll tell you…if they’re still outside by the time you get within speaking distance.bamaroller
4 years ago
“Flee, children, FLEE!” I almost spewed Coke Zero when I read that. Funny stuff, Brett.
As for the part about people not thinking for themselves, that will change soon enough. Once more of us start realizing the load of bull fertilizer we’ve been sold, people will start to pay more attention to what’s going on, just like after Watergate.
tim
4 years ago
I live in Meadow Pointe. (So go ahead and add me to that list
). I don’t think traffic is that bad. Yes, it’s a pain, but traffic is a pain in *any* big city. It takes about 40 minutes for me to get home from USF at 5pm. That’s not that bad.
Tom
4 years ago
Ug..my company just moved its headquarters to New Tampa(BBD and I-75) from its Westshore Location, now my South tampa commute is horrible to New Tampa(over an hour at times for 26 miles.), plus, there are no non-chain restaurants for lunch, I MISS TAMPA!!
madeline
4 years ago
I drive in New Tampa during rush hour for a living (a meager one at that). I also live here and would like to throw a driver’s manual at half the people here. And, I’m tired of having to compensate for cell phone users! Still beats New York traffic though.
Just stumbled onto your blog and enjoyed it. I’ll be back.