GPS usage in downtown Chicago

Bummer

In my Colorado days, on my birthday I drove down from Lyons to take the Rio Grande Zephyr to Glenwood Springs for the weekend.  I ran through the station went up the wrong ramp and my girlfriend and I watched as the train left the station.  

I drove up to Glenwood and took the train back Sunday, but my heart sunk watching that train leave.  

I made up for it with rides later, but never got over that morning.

Ouch...Your story may hurt worse than mine.

I guess it's OK to hijack my own thread, but you mention Lyons, CO.

In 2011, we were having the most miserable drought anyone alive had ever seen. By July of that year we were about to go crazy, so we got in the car and headed north until we drove out of the misery.  After a brief stop in Trinidad, CO we stayed a week in Lyons at a beautiful place on the river.  About 2 years ago, I was aware of the horrific flooding they experienced in that area, and I hoped that everybody pulled through that eventually.  Lyons is a great example of a town that lost its industry, but survived by offering art, music, and hospitality.  Great, great place.

I never go any place without an old-fashioned map!

Agreed. 

Once, when I turned on my GPS, it located me in the middle of a forest preserve about 20 miles south of where I actually was, in my driveway.

Rusty

Absolutely!!!

I feel bad (but not sorry) for the folks who got lost in Chicago and missed their train.  Often, those who live in smaller towns forget the 5 P's, because they have a good grasp of everything and everyone in their smaller communities.

The 5 P's:  Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

And then, there's Tom's Rule for Arrival:  Early is on time.  Exactly on time is potentially late.  Late is not acceptable.

So, the 5 P's and Tom's Rule would require reviewing the route on GPS in advance and calculating the running time to arrive at the station, plus potential delay for a flat tire, traffic ticket, rental car return, and road congestion.  Then the departure time for the station would be calculated and everybody would be notified that they would leave on time for the station, regardless of personal grooming or any other consideration not involving blood, vomit, or lower digestive distress.  If everything went well, they would have arrived early.  If GPS conked out, they would have the route saved in the GPS and could still get the turns and streets.  This stuff is extra important in big cities like Chicago.

Tough lesson for those folks, but the GPS just did what it was designed to do within its design limitations, and they will hopefully live the rest of their lives without being left behind again.  I am not cold-hearted about hearing this - just realistic - and wish them happier travels from now on, by adhering to the 5 P's.

when learning to drive, I taught my daughter to ALWAYS plan out your route on a map and if necessary take copies with you. technology is wonderful, but as demonstrated will let you down when you need it most.

...or use Tom's plan.

Good replies from everyone.

Number 90...I left you a quick message in the "dialogs" box at the top of the page.

As GPS becomes increasingly prevalent via phones, tablets and vehicles, people are losing the ability to use a map. The result is getting lost in downtown Chicago, where the streets are on an N-S, E-W grid and the street numbering system makes sense. This is similar to the loss of simple arithmetic ability since the rise of the calculator and the computer. Nevertheless, the progress of civilization continues.

I have a Garmin and it's only ever screwed me up in one town, Altoona, PA. Whoever provided the maps for Altoona blew it completely. On one route it took me down a long road where I came to dead end at a sheer rock face. On another route it wanted me to turn into a one-way street facing oncoming traffic. All told it gave me lousy directions at least four separate times.

I still carry paper maps as backups.