Walking across the North Bronx...

This is my Sunday morning run to Home Depot in order to finally get sth fixed at home - 8 KM total. Just to give you a view of the not-so-beautiful neighborhood, not always those photoshopped pictures taken in parks... Really nothing spectacular, but I think this perspective was missing here. I will do other walks across the area with GPS-tagged pictures, this iphone app is cool...

(Click here for large version)

Now my comparison between driver's licenses in the Bronx and Germany:

Germany:

• paperwork: ID, vision check, photo, first aid class certificate
  
• plenty of theory classes, meaningful written test
  
• 12 required driving lessons (>500$), 45min road test, expensive (>200$)
  
• few people fail, if you fail, you have to wait 2wks before trying the next time.
  

Bronx, New York:

• Huge bureaucratic steps in order to be even allowed to take any classes, no 1st aid class
  
• no meaningful teaching required/enforced, ridiculous written test
  
• 10min free road test consisting of parallel-parking, turning and one u-turn
• 50%+ fail. Can be repeated as often as you please, 10$ fee for every two appointments.

Anyone surprised that traffic in the Bronx is dangerous, especially for pedestrians and cyclists?
But of course I appreciate the freedom to drive given to even the most incapable drivers. Many people don't have a license here anyway, being illegal immigrants and therefore without a chance of getting a NY license.
Seriously, it might be a good thing that there is not much federal oversight ... over anything. I just get annoyed occasionally. And yes, my NYS license was dirt cheap compared to my German one (188$ vs ca 1500$) - and had I applied in Arizona, it would have been a lot easier... But I prefer the Bronx :) ...