Drive Thru I wish!!

But that doesn't explain the bank I went to that had a building and a drive through, but the only ATM was in the drive through.

I've seen a bunch of those, and it really annoys me because, like sb15, I'm short and generally have to unbuckle and climb halfway out the car window to use a drive-up ATM.  Bonus points for having my handbag on my lap and inadvertently honking the horn with it when doing the super stretch-n-reach maneuvers.    

Yeah, I wasn't really challenging what you said, Bookgrl.  I just putting my bit in.  I really don't blame people for wanting to drive up to get things done, disabled or not.  It's easier. I also don't think obesity has anything to do with drive-thrus, but I think you know where I stand on that, and it doesn't really go in this thread.  Suffice to say, when it comes to physical activity, I don't think correlation always equals causation, especially when you factor in calorie consumption later in the day and the tiny amounts of calories burnt by doing things like taking the stairs or standing in line in a fast food restaurant, even cumulative over a day.  It's a bit like saying fat clothes cause obesity because you always see fat people wearing them, and they've gotten really popular in the past few decades.

I personally just wish that more thought was put into developing countries' infrastructures and businesses around the idea that every adult would own an automobile and they'd rarely want to get out of it.  Yeah, hindsight is 20/20, but it doesn't mean we have to keep on doing things the way we always have.

I'm pretty sure America didn't get fat due to the invention of the drive thru. There are plenty of other things that have contributed to it and as someone said, the rise in obesity in the UK (with very few drive thrus) shows there is more going on there. All of my friends in the UK had cars. My housemates would drive into the city centre even though there was a reliable bus and it wasn't a bad walk.  

I think your right in what you say, When I was over there I noticed the amount of sugar in everything and it just made my mind boggle with how can orange juice have 2g's more sugar than a Coke. In the UK I think it is mostly to do with the family or technology as I have always had an active family and I believe that being out and about is the best policy.

I think DH totally freaked the first time I took him through a drive thru. He had no idea what was going on. We have a drive thru beer distributor in my hometown in PA.

When DW's daughter and her friend came to visit last year they were out on the town with my niece and nephew and they went back to someone's house......who then phoned up for an alcohol delivery, in my town there's an off-licence company that do a delivery service.
She was amazed and said she wanted one back home then she can dial out for pizza AND beer!

I suppose some Americans would faint at the idea of pedestrianized city centre's like York's.

There's generally large resistance to pedestrianized streets in the US, even in places that are relatively walk and bike friendly such as San Francisco. Whereas in many European cities they've been positively welcomed in their role of helping to revitalize city centers.

When I took Brit-in-love to the drive thru Starbucks not only did he think it was the coolest thing on the planet he was also quick to point out that here in the US our sizes (tall, grande and venti) are larger than yours. I also took him to Jamba Juice which I know doesn't exist in the UK (one thing I'll be sad to lose once I make the move) 

When I took Brit-in-love to the drive thru Starbucks not only did he think it was the coolest thing on the planet he was also quick to point out that here in the US our sizes (tall, grande and venti) are larger than yours. I also took him to Jamba Juice which I know doesn't exist in the UK (one thing I'll be sad to lose once I make the move) 

This reminds me of the first time my husband ever came to the US in 1997, he couldn't believe the food. Every restaurant we went to, he just ordered the same thing that I had!

I really want to live in Lincoln New Hampshire. They revamped the town about 10 years ago to make the town centre walkable. 

It isn't pedestrian only, but then it is so small it doesn't have to be.

There's generally large resistance to pedestrianized streets in the US, even in places that are relatively walk and bike friendly such as San Francisco. Whereas in many European cities they've been positively welcomed in their role of helping to revitalize city centers.

It's been successful in some places and failures in others.  It was really popular in the 1970s and 80s.  They are more widespread than you seem to believe.  One place where it has failed miserably is Buffalo, NY.  The general economic decline (it's been a gradual slow rot for the better part of a century) cannot totally explain the utter failure the pedestrianised section of Main Street (served by an above ground section of the single light rail line which can be ridden fare-free on Main Street while above ground ).  There have been some theories about it, including plopping a monster-sized convention centre in the midst of it, but really, not even Burger King could survive there.  

http://archives.buffalorising.com/story/pedestrian_malls

In the last 40 years, roughly 200 cities built pedestrian malls, currently only about 30 remain. While they differ in size, shape, and success, most started--and some failed--in an attempt to revitalize a failing commercial district.

But, for every few failures there are examples where they have worked well and were welcomed by at least a portion of the population.

he was also quick to point out that here in the US our sizes (tall, grande and venti) are larger than yours.

I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. Why is there rarely a 'small' beverage option in the US?? Personally, I'm not often that thirsty.

I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. Why is there rarely a 'small' beverage option in the US?? Personally, I'm not often that thirsty.

I meant as far as Starbucks goes 

I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. Why is there rarely a 'small' beverage option in the US?? Personally, I'm not often that thirsty.

There *is* a "small" option in the US, but it's huge anyways!

I remember once ordering a small drink because I wasn't that thirsty and was amazed at the size of the cup they passed me!   

DH made that mistake coming back from the airport when we emigrated. We stopped for lunch at Wendy's and they asked him if he wanted it 'medium or large'. Well, he picked large and must have gotten a two litre bottle for his drink! Hilarious! He learned his lesson!

DH made that mistake coming back from the airport when we emigrated. We stopped for lunch at Wendy's and they asked him if he wanted it 'medium or large'.

That always winds me up....how can the smallest size be "medium"?!

Reminds me of my first trip to the US in 1998, I was waiting at the airport to be picked up by my then g/friend and I had a hour to wait, so thought I'd get a drink from McDonalds, looked at the pricing and figured that the medium was what I wanted.....i was sat outside overdosing on caffeine by the time I was picked up!

Ask if they have a child size or senior size and you will usually get an 8 oz serving for soft drinks.