The distance from Manhattan to the Hamptons is roughly 100 miles. Most weekenders own Mercedes, BMWs, Landrovers, and other luxury capable of speeds in excess of 120 mph, but the trip can take anywhere from 2.5 to 4 hours. While Suffolk County and local police enforce speed limits on the LIE and Sunrise Highway with a mercenary vigilance, the true cause of the length of the voyage is too many cars heading to the same destination and this Tuesday traffic came to a full halt as an accident closed County Road 39 and Sunrise Highway.
No one was going anywhere.
Fast or slow.
They were trapped like rats no matter how rich they were on the clogged highways.
Years ago I was riding out to Montauk with friends. I was predicting the end of cars. The driver protested, saying, "No one will ever give up the freedom of the road."
We were sitting in bumper to bumper traffic at the time.
I think that Jack Kerouac had been writing about another kind of freedom in ON THE ROAD.
Above is 1905 photo of the Montauk Highway in East Moriches.
And there as parking everywhere.
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