End of An Era: XC90 Sold

September 16, 2016 is the end of an era.

Cat Herder has been sold.

Cat Herder was a
2007 Volvo XC90 3.2 AWD...

and customized to NOT look like a "soccer mom SUV."

This blog was named after her
for all the adventures she provided.


Her nickname was inspired by an EDS commercial… 
“It’s like herding cats.” I borrowed it, 
as at the time I was managing designers and developers who together were like
herding cats—each with their unique perspective and actions.

Cat Herder…

• Hauled my kayaks to the MANY waterways I paddled.

• Shuttled me back and forth to work, especially when I worked excessive hours to implement the financial software (leading to my burnout).
• Carried my Zoe dog and I down to Ashville, NC, and up to Grandfather Mountain.
  
  
  
  
• Was there when I won 40 Under 40 and celebrated at the Hilton.
• Carried 250# of dogs and 8# of cheese almost every weekend for three years down the PA Turnpike.
• Four-wheeled me through the farm fields to my homemade target shooting range.
• Transported me back in time as I photographed historic bridges all over rural Pennsylvania, Maryland and other states.
  
• Carried Zoe to the emergency center to be put to rest one early, icy morning.
• Commuted Noah, a brave dog who had bone cancer, to his chemo appointments (once he could hobble the height it took to get into Cat Herder).
• Carried my stuff from my first house to my second house and a places in between.
• Took a beating when my contractor told me bad news on a bathroom remodel.

• Was there when my good friend passed away and safely transported my mother, step-father and best friend to her service one icy evening.

Cat Herder was like a friend—dependable, adventurous, giving and fun.

She was big-boned and guzzled almost eight quarts of oil at an oil change—she was no cheap date.

Long live her legacy of greatness as a friend welcomes her into her redneck world of hunting, hiking and kayaking. I know that XC90 will treat her well. 

Fira!

Where to Paddle When Water Levels Are Low

Where to Go When It’s Low

The dog days of summer leads us kayakers--who love to paddle in moving water--into a quandary. 

Where is it deep enough to paddle without walking the boat?

Our hobby sometimes comes to a halt mid-summer as we suffer from what seems like near drought conditions. Like farmers, we are encouraged by thunderstorms, but their brevity doesn’t increase the flow enough to paddle with confidence. Yet we still have hope!

This list is what I call my “last ditch efforts” to paddle within 90-minutes from Harrisburg area. 

I have provided the waterway, the sections and the recommended minimum gauge height (so you don’t have to walk your boat). Cringe! 

Be careful as many waterways have dams, rock outcrops, ledges and shallows that may still require you to carefully navigate, or dare I say, walk. 

And, for all you sadomasochists who enjoy a march, feel free to ignore my blog and all gauge height recommendations and go paddle, err hike.

On the Susquehanna River near the West Fairview access point (on the right); Harrisburg, PA is on the left.

“Last Ditch Efforts”

Susquehanna River

From Port Trevorton, PA to Harrisburg, PA

Gauge: 3.25’ Harrisburg, PA

Conestoga River 

From Mill Creek below Lancaster, PA to mouth (Susquehanna River)

Gauge: 1.4’ Conestoga, PA

Monocacy River

From Devilbiss to mouth

Gauge: 1.7’ Jug Bridge in Frederick, MD

CFS: 215

“Hopefuls” but don’t hold your breath…

Juniata River

From Raystown Branch to Mount Union, PA

Gauge: 4.0’ Huntingdon, PA

Gauge: 2.6’ Mapleton, PA

From Mount Union, PA to the mouth (Susquehanna River)

Gauge: 3.5’ Newport, PA

Schuylkill River

From Auburn, PA to Port Clinton, PA

Gauge: 5.5’ Berne, PA

From Port Clinton, PA to Muhlenburg, PA

Gauge: 5.1’ Berne, PA

Conestoga River 

Brownstown, PA to Mill Creek (south of Lancaster, PA)

Gauge: 1.9’ Conestoga, PA

Monocacy River

From Rt. 77 to Devilbiss

Gauge: 2.1’ Jug Bridge in Frederick, MD

CFS: 350

Antietam Creek

From Keedysville, MD to mouth (Potomac River)

Gauge:  2.6’ Sharpsburg, MD

CFS: 165

The next blog will cover some "gems"--waterways that are a rarity to paddle (without walking), but very enjoyable.

Mastering Logistics for a Recreational Kayak Trip

Who is this for

• Recreational paddlers doing moving water with a put-in (start) upstream and a take-out (end) downstream.
• Recreational paddlers wanting to know the total time of a trip. 
• Captain organizing a recreation paddle trip with a group.

Considerations

Number of boats, gear, people and vehicles

1. Do you have a life vest, a paddle and, as of 2012, a sound-producing device* for each person?
2. Do you have enough boats for people?
3. Do you have enough vehicles to transport the boats, gear and people?

Drive time: Duration from your house to the put-in or take-out or back home

Shuttle time: Duration of shuttle

• This is personal preference, but the shorter the shuttle, the more time for fun. 10-20 minutes is typical.
• See my blog on Shuttling Step-by-Step

Distance to paddle (miles)

• The number of miles helps determine if it is a casual afternoon paddle, a day paddle or an overnight camping trip paddle.

Float time

• I call this float time, but if you are in a waterway with a current and obstacles, you might find yourself paddling just to keep in control. So factor in that it is a mix of paddling, floating and even a break for a stretch. These averages are on the low side because I factor in breaks. I’m old—I need to stretch. I’m young—I need to explore.
• In the summer when water is flowing low and slow, divide the distance (miles) by 2mph. For example, a 7-mile trip will take 3.5 hours to float.
• When water is moving (note spikes in CFS**) or you will be doing a constant paddle, divide the distance (miles) by 3mph. So a 12-mile trip will take 4 hours.

Food and drinks

• Check out this nerdery: A Hyrdation Calculator by CamelBak…I love it 
• My general rule is to have 16 oz. per hour. So a 4-hour trip would mean I bring (2) 32-oz. water containers. Also, I like cold water so I put in lots of ice and keep it in a cooler with ice packs.

Time Constraints (e.g., sunset, dinner plans, babysitter needs to leave)

• This is the tricky part. Calculate it using the formula below and back time it. For example, if your total time <<feel free to use 2mph to be sure you have enough time versus the average of 2.5mph>>

Calculation Example

A 10-mile trip with a 15-minute drive and shuttle each way would take approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. This means if your group had to be back by 5pm, then don’t leave the house later than 10:30 AM.

Juniata River – Howe Park (3 miles south of Newport, PA) to Ann Street in Duncannon is 10-miles. The float time is 4 hours. The shuttle is 15 minutes one-way. However, from my house, the drive to put-in is 40-minutes and the drive from take-out is 35 minutes. So I average up and down to nearest quarter of an hour, and use 45-minutes as the total unpacking/packing.

Example with 2 people, 2 boats, 2 vehicles

Drive to take-out = .5 hr

Shuttle 1-way = .25 hr.

Unpack = .25 hr.

Float = 4 hours

Pack = .5 hr.

Shuttle 1 way = .25 hr.

Drive home = .75 hr.

TOTAL = 6.5 hours

Example with 4 people, 4 boats, 2 vehicles

Drive to put-in = .75 hr

Shuttle 2-way = .5 hr.

Unpack = .25 hr.

Float = 4 hours

Pack = .5 hr.

Shuttle 2-way = .5 hr.

Drive home = .5 hr.

TOTAL = 7 hours

Did you know?

*The Pennsylvania Boating Handbook lists in Chapter 2 the “operators of unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats, paddleboards) are required to carry a device capable of sounding a prolonged blast for 4-6 seconds that can be heard by another boat operator in time to avoid a collision. An athletic coach’s whistle is acceptable.”

**CFS means Cubic Feet per Second

Shuttling Kayaks Step-By-Step

Shuttling

Shuttling kayaks is necessary when it is desired to paddle in moving water. Shuttling is the act of moving cars from the take-out to the put-in or vice versa. These are guidelines based on most vehicles hauling 2 boats--usually on a roof rack. 

A COMMENT ON ROOF RACK WEIGHT

Whether you use OEM rails and racks, or an aftermarket brand like Yakima or Thule, you must know the weight limit on these components--and go with the lowest number. For example, your Yakima rack may hold 200# but if your SUV’s rails, that this rack sits on, only holds 100# then you are limited to 100#. So if you are planning to carry two Pungo 140s at 58# each, then you might want to reconsider your plan.

With some ingenuity, I am sure you can find ways to make your shuttle easier. Perhaps, befriend someone who owns a pickup with an 8’ truck or someone with a beater van, and you can stack 4 boats easily in one vehicle. I’ve also seen many homemade trailers that haul multiple boats behind the vehicle.

Remember to bring your keys in a waterproof container and latch it to your boat when paddling.

The easiest trip is 2 people, 2 boats, 2 vehicles. 

2 people, 2 boats, 2 vehicles

1. Load both boats on one vehicle. 
2. Meet at take-out. 
3. Drop the unloaded vehicle at the take out.
4. Drive the loaded vehicle to the put-in.

Variation 

1. Two people, each with boats on their vehicle can meet at take-out
2. Load a boat from one vehicle to another so now a vehicle has 2 boats. 
3. Leave the unloaded boat at the take-out
4. Drive the loaded vehicle to the put-in.

3-4 people, 3-4 boats, 2 vehicles

1. Load 2 boats on each vehicle.
2. Meet at put-in.
3. Unload boats and gear.
4. Leave 1-2 people to watch boats and gear. 
5. Drive the 2 cars to take-out. 
6. Leave 1 car and return to put-in in the other.

Example

Juniata River – Howe Park (3 miles south of Newport, PA) to Ann Street in Duncannon.

For 2 people, 2 boats, 2 vehicles

1. We would meet at take-out (Ann St.). 
2. Drop one car off 
3. Ride together in the other with both boats to put-in (Howe Township Park).
4. Float downstream.
5. We would load both cars on the car at the take-out.
6. Then we'd drive up to retrieve the car at the put-in and drive home.

For 4 people, 4 boats, 2 vehicles

1. We would meet at put-in (Howe Township Park) and unload all boats and gear. 
2. Drop off a car at the take-out (Ann St.) 
3. We'd return with the other car to the put-in . 
4. Float downstream.
5. We would retrieve the car at the put-in.
6. Then we would load both cars at the take-out and drive home. 

I hope that helps! Feel free to add your questions, tips or 2 cents in the comments. Thanks for reading.

Commute via Swatara Creek

"Commuters Guide Volume 3"

<<SARCASM DISCLOSURE...However, all the paddling information is true.>>

Summers in Pennsylvania signal heavy traffic, accidents on our major highways, as well as lane closures and detours while PennDOT repairs the roads. A beautiful and refreshing alternative to I-81, PA-39 and US-22 is the Swatara Creek. You can hop on as north as Pine Grove, Pennsylvania and float past Jonestown, Hershey, Hummelstown, Middletown and even further south to Goldsboro via the Susquehanna River. Summer also indicates vacation time, and this creek offers many sights to see while you use this waterway as the throughway to your vacation spot—whether a campground, amusement park or to fly to another destination.

Thinking about the name of this creek might make you hungry. Swatara is derived from a Susquehannock word which means “where we feed on eels.” So pick up your kayak, life vest, paddle and eel trap today! Well, unfortunately today this creek doesn’t have has many eels so bring snacks instead of the trap.

In fact, in August 1, 2016 DEP declared Swatara Creek (along with the Susquehanna River and the Conodoguinet Creek) impaired for recreation and aquatic life. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying the waterways. It’s mostly a warning for fish (or eel) consumption. Let’s hope DEP, the businesses and community surrounding these waterways support taking measures to return these waterways to being healthy so we and generations after us can enjoy them and their bounty.

 

The Swattie originates in the Appalachian Mountains in central Schuylkill County, approximately five miles west of Minersville. A railroad branch of the now Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad follows the creek into Tremont. This creek was clearly convenient for transporting anthracite to cities in the 19th century.

In addition to seeing farms, forested riparian buffers and some civilization, especially around towns like Hummelstown, sights to soak in on this creek include the Swatara State Park, the abandoned Lebanon to Tremont railroad bridge, Harper's Tavern, limestone outcrops, the only lava deposits in the state, Middle to Hummelstown railroad bridge, TMI in the distance and Union Canal locks. I have a little more on the canal at the end of the blog.

The Route

There are two dams that are hindrances with terrible portages so I broke the creek into three sections.

Sections, Gauges & Water Levels

• Section A (Pine Grove to Rt. 22) To start at Pine Grove, Harper Tavern should be over 2.5’; To get through Swatara State Park, Inwood should be 3.25’.
  

• Section B (Jonestown to Boat House Road Park in Hershey) For the stretch between Jonestown to Water Works, Inwood should be 2.85’ and Harper Tavern should be 0.85’; For Water Works to Boat House Road Park, Harper Tavern should be at 2.1’.
  

• Section C (South Hanover Park in Hershey to Goldsboro) For the stretch from Hershey to Middletown, Hershey should be 2.0 (For Fulling Mill to Middletown, you can get away with Hershey at 1.90’ as long as the Susquehanna is over 4’). 
  

Commute Times (and vacation ideas)

These times are based on proper water conditions, great weather, no headwind and you are paddling the whole time.

• Coming from Pine Grove to stay at the campground in Lickdale will take you almost 4.5 hours.
• If you live in Jonestown and work/visit The Hotel Hershey, you will paddle a beautiful section of 22.5 miles in seven hours.
• Maybe you live in Ono (put-in at Water Works) and work at Fort Indiantown Gap (take -out at Harper Tavern). The paddle would only take you to 1.5 hours.
• If you live in Hummelstown and work at TE Connectivity in Middletown, you are looking at a commute of less than two hours—not bad unless you have to wear a suit because you are bound to get splashed at Fiddler’s Elbow.
• Jonestown dwellers can visit Hollywood Casino in about 4.5 hours and then continue to Hershey Park in less than two hours.

Wildlife You Might See

• Bald Eagle
• Great Blue Herons
• Green Herons
• Mallard Ducks
• Wood Ducks
• Snapping Turtles
• Box Turtles

About the Swatara and the Union Canal

The historical significance of the Swattie is quite interesting. In 1690, William Penn proposed to build a canal to connect the Susquehanna and Delaware valleys in southeastern Pennsylvania. The notion stood idle for nearly a century until the discovery of anthracite in the northern Susquehanna valley motivated Philadelphia businessmen to push for feeding commercial traffic away from Baltimore, a rival shipping port and to their city. The Pennsylvania General Assembly chartered two companies, and construction began in 1792 with President George Washington breaking ground and shoveling the initial load. By 1828, 36 years later, the canal was open for business.

The Union Canal turned its focus to connecting the Susquehanna to the Schuylkill because another canal had already taken over the Schuylkill passage into Philadelphia. Middletown was the western terminus, allowing products to avoid follow the Susquehanna down to the Chesapeake Bay, and Reading was the eastern terminus at the Schuylkill River. Four years later in 1832, in an area called Union Water Works, south of Ono, a 22-mile branch was built along the Swattie heading north to Pine Grove and serving as a feeder for the summit level. The businessmen of Philadelphia reaped financial benefits of this canal with the transport of anthracite from the mountains down to Philadelphia. We benefit by seeing remnants of this canal all along the creek.

Resources

Map & Info

Swatara Watershed Association

Gauge Data

USGS 01572190 Swatara Creek near Inwood, PA

USGS 01573000 Swatara Creek at Harper Tavern, PA

USGS 01573560 Swatara Creek near Hershey, PA

Commute via Yellow Breeches Creek

"Commuters Guide Volume 2"

<<SARCASM DISCLOSURE...However, all the paddling information is true.>>

Continuing the series of how folks can consider kayaking as a green alternative for commuting to work. Today, we will look at using the Yellow Breeches Creek which conveniently serves anyone from Mount Holly Springs area to Goldsboro.

Travel from Mount Holly Springs area to Goldsboro, PA

Named “Pennsylvania Scenic River” in 1992, the Yellow Breeches Creek is even more popular today as many fishermen and paddlers seek out the pastoral views to escape the heat and everyday stressors.

The story behind the naming of this creek dates back to the Revolutionary War. British soldiers either clad in their white breeches crossed the creek, or washed their breeches in the creek, and the knickers turned—you guessed it—yellow.

Originating on South Mountain, in Michaux Forest, Cumberland County, near Walnut Bottom, the "Breeches" flows west to east over a limestone valley. Many springs along the way feed this cool-water creek making it ideal conditions for trout.

Yellow Breeches to Susquehanna River

Unlike the Conodoguinet (see Commuters Guide Volume 1), this creek wanders through areas not as developed until you approach the Green Lane Farms and Allendale communities. Up until then, the banks are not adorned with dense housing, but rather limestone hills, forests and farmland.

Water Levels

For the commuter options, we will be starting at South Middleton Township Park between Mt. Holly Springs and Boiling Springs. The Camp Hill gauge should read over 1.4’ to paddle here and down to Messiah College comfortably and 1.3’ to paddle further south. Any lower and there are areas you may scrape or have to walk, boo. On the other extreme, again based on the Camp Hill gauge, action stage is 6’ and flood stage is 7’. My advice is if the gauge is over 3.5' and 650 cfs you might want to reconsider paddling to work unless you and your coworkers don’t mind the smell of feces.

Wildlife You Might See

• Brown Trout
• Rainbow Trout
• Brook Trout
• Great Blue Herons
• Common Merganser Ducks
• Mallard Ducks
• Snapping Turtles
• Box Turtles

  

  Common Merganser Ducks

The Route

41 miles of paddling on the Yellow Breeches and Susquehanna River

Click to access sheet in a larger view

Some things to note about the route:

• Allenberry Playhouse is for sale, pending an auction in July 2016. This shouldn’t impact your paddle, but the name of the establishment may change.
• As of Spring 2016, construction on the Locust Road Bridge has washed out the area above the bridge—think swamp—so it may not be paddle-able.
• As of June 2016, construction at Messiah College has forced the student commuters to park at Starry Fields parking lot and as a result the public may be forced to park elsewhere.
• As of September 2015, Yellow Breeches Park has been closed until further notice.

Commute Times

These times are based on proper water conditions, great weather, no headwind and you are paddling the whole time.

• Coming from the east of Mount Holly Springs (South Middleton Township Park) to work at Three Mile Island near Goldsboro will take you almost 13 hours as it is over 41 miles. Ignore the fact that you have to cross five dams and multiple other obstacles and focus on all the money you are saving by not having to take the Pennsylvania Turnpike!
• Perhaps you live in Boiling Springs and work at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg. The nice thing is you are paddling right up to work after a 3-hour paddle.
• Maybe you live in Lisburn (Lower Allen Park) and work at the Rossmoyne Business Center in Mechanicsburg. The paddle would only take you to two hours. Ignore the fact that it is only an eight-minute drive—12-minutes in traffic—and your suit will need ironed when you arrive.
• If you live in New Cumberland and work at Harrisburg International Airport in Middletown, you are looking at a 2:15 hour commute, mostly down the Susquehanna. All the while soaking in the historic sites of the former glorious steel industry on the bank of Steelton.

Final Thought

If you work at Capitol City Mall or the Camp Hill Prison and happen to live in the area of Slate Hill Road, Valley Road or Limekiln Road, I can offer an ideal commute. This one traverses through idyllic scenery and allows one to enjoy themselves versus the road rage and stop-and-go traffic. Put-in at Slate Hill Road and take-out at Spangler’s Mill. Years ago, I had a Pitbull mix that loved to swim/run along this stretch so I named it after her, Zoe’s Run. Take in the pastoral scenery, deep shaded pools flanked by dense trees as there is barely any development and enjoy this 30-minute commute as Zoe once did.

Zoe in the Breeches by Etters Bridge

Shout out to Marty R. for her input on the western part of the Breeches.

Resources

Map

Gauge data

Commute via Conodoguinet Creek

"Commuters Guide Volume 1"

<<SARCASM DISCLOSURE...However, all the paddling information is true.>>

Many folks consider green alternatives for commuting to work. Walking, bicycling, sharing rides and taking public transportation are the usual considerations. By why not kayak? Let's explore the logistics and feasibility involved with paddling to work. Today we will look at using the Conodoguinet Creek which conveniently serves anyone from Carlisle to Camp Hill passage east to Harrisburg.

Travel from Carlisle area to Harrisburg area in Pennsylvania
Instead of I-81 with the dreaded truck traffic, consider paddling from Carlisle to Harrisburg (or any points in between) via the "Conodoguinet Creek Expressway."

If you aren't familiar with the creek, the name sounds similar to "Can I go in it?" It is pronounced CON-oh-do-gwin-it. This Indian word means "a long way with many bends" and this creek lives up to its name. So maybe this is not an expressway, but rather an idyllic commute.

Map of entire creek with dam pointed out

The "Connie" originates in Horse Valley close to Letterkenney Reservoir. The creek flows west to east. It rambles down the Great Valley north of Roxbury through a handful of gaps crosscutting the divide between the Appalachian Mountain and Great Valley sections and drops a total of 1,700 feet at the confluence with the Susquehanna River.

For this discussion, I have divided the creek into two parts due to a dam between Rt. 74 and Rt. 34. We will be looking at just the eastern half of the creek--downstream from the Carlisle Raw Water Intake Dam. Unfortunately most of the steep gradient occurs before this dam. But, on the bright side, the eastern part of the creek widens up, so strainers are no longer an issue. By Mechanicsburg, the creek's shape is serpentine and as wide as many rivers.

The logistics involved are based on a water level of at least 1.7' using USGS Hogestown gauge. Any lower and there are areas you may scrape or have to walk. Fun fact: It takes 20 hours to flow from the headwaters to the Hogestown gauge. So if a downpour occurred at noon on Tuesday near Roxbury, the water wouldn't hit Mechanicsburg until 8AM the next morning. Another fun fact is that 8' is the flood stage. Really, if the gauge is over 4' you might want to consider working from home rather than paddling to work unless you are fully insured and an expert paddler.

Wildlife You Might See
I have seen at some point or multiple times the following:

• American Bald Eagle
• Smallmouth Bass
• Tiger Muskellunge
• Catfish
• Rock Bass
• Golden Rainbow Trout
• Egrets
• Great Blue Heron
• Kingfisher
• Cedar Waxwing
• Woodpecker
• Box Turtles

The Route

Over 35 miles of passage on the Conodoguinet from Creekview Park in Carlisle to Harrisburg

Trip Options

Commute Times
So here's where it gets interesting. Keep in mind we have optimum water conditions, great weather, no headwind and you are paddling at a comfortable speed the whole time (we don't want you all sweaty for work).

• Carlisle (Creekview Park) to Midtown Harrisburg (Maclay Street) will take 12 hours--yes, one way. It is over 37 miles. In contrast, you could drive on I-81 and be there in 30 minutes.
• Maybe you live near Willow Mill Park and work at Wegman's. The paddle would only take you two hours--much more reasonable (until you have to go home).
• Perhaps you live off Orrs Bridge Road where the Connodoguinet Youth Park is and work at Holy Spirit Hospital. Let's hope you aren't a doctor on-call because that paddle would take you a little over 2 hours to arrive at Siebert Park (and then you get to climb up that dang hill to Center Street).
• If you live in Camp Hill near Siebert Park and work in downtown Harrisburg, you are looking at close to an hour-and-a-half commute. That's not so bad until someone steals your ride.

Final Thought
I think the most pleasant commute would be from Carlisle to Silver Springs Commons. It is a scenic trip. You miss the Middlesex traffic, the fast food temptations and it would take a measly four hours. Who wouldn't want to start paddling at 4AM to make it to work by 8AM?

Resources
Map
Gauge data

Why I live in the Harrisburg, PA area

Adventures on the Water

Often people ask why I live in the Harrisburg, PA area. 
This map should explain it. 

These are waterways I kayak often.

Conodoguinet Creek

Yellow Breeches Creek

Swatara Creek

Sherman Creek

Juniata River

Susquehanna River

These moving waterways are all within a 45 minutes drive of where I live in the suburbs of Harrisburg on the west shore. I have access to over 150 miles of paddling fun that can be broken into various sections. 

Who needs to go miles away for some relaxation? I can get it within a 10 to 45 minute drive. If I add another 30 minutes I have access to another handful of waterways: Monocacy River, Conococheague Creek, West Branch Conococheague Creek, Antietam Creek, Schyulkill River and more sections of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers.

Get out and enjoy nature!

If you don't have your own gear I recommend these outfitters: 
Susquehanna Outfitters in Harrisburg, PA
www.susquehannaoutfitters.com/

717-503-0066
Blue Mountain Outfitters in Marysville, PA

www.bluemountainoutfitters.net/

717-957-2413

Come back for future posts on water levels, shuttling tips and gear for sale.

Wondering About Vehicle Controls

This blog is more about "wonderings" than wanderings. This article has a special purpose here because it relates to how we wander in our vehicles--how we interface with our automobiles while we explore.

The Issue
In the past, the value of an automobile was getting from point A to point B. Gradually, a few additional needs came into play: reliability, comfort and safety. Today, while these are all still considered as "user criteria" we now see even more features packed into these objects to appeal to entertainment needs and, dare I say, even swagger needs--where else does interior LED mood lighting get categorized?!

The interface of a modern automobile is cluttered with buttons, knobs, dials, switches, touchscreens, steering wheel controls and voice command capabilities. Take a look at a 2016 Land Rover to one from 50 years ago. Before GPS, before computers were the size of pint of beer and what you see is a pretty basic interface.

1966 Land Rover Series IIA...simple

2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque...so many controls where do I begin?

Manufacturers are jam-packing features into cars with disregard for standards. It's all about "car company A" versus "car company B" at the expense of the user's learning curve.

I'm not trying to limit invention or improvements. I'm just asking for a framework--a set of rules--that dictate certain functions. Even the most advanced gadget geek will admit to craving regular ol' buttons. It allows us to drive safely while feeling our way around to turn music up, turn the heat down, turn the wipers on--all without taking our eyes off the road. It's common sense.

Maybe I'm being a cynic and perhaps standardization is happening, but if it is, the outcomes are not palatable. Maybe we can blame patents and their greedy holders. That's a another blog for another time, but regardless patents are the scapegoat of the digital age.

The Solution
Standards. I'm all for allowing manufacturers to innovate but they need to commit to a set of standards just like they did with the position of pedals and the steering wheel in the early 20th century. I will close this blog with a few standards I think should be used when designing controls so vehicles are more intuitive:

• Recognizable standard icons
• No knob as the control for the computer screen (Mercedes this is especially directed to you and you aversion of fingerprints on the monitor)

  

  2016 Mercedes GLC knob control--a neat idea for the OCD, a bad idea for usability 

• Minimum touchscreen size of 7" (any smaller and it's just not accessible for older eyes)
• QWERTY keyboard
• Predictive text for data entry
• Acceptable response times...like less than half a second. I'm trying to drive here!
• No rotating menus. Use physical buttons if all the information can't fit on one screen. No one wants to wait while the information choreographs itself.
• Multiple ways to access routine functions so the touchscreen can be bypassed. Alternative options for common functionality include steering wheel controls, large dials/buttons and voice-command. Which leads me to...
• Full voice control...that actually works!



2013 Ford Fusion volume dial--easy to use and stylish

• Separate audio volume dial--it needs to be separate and larger so I can feel for it. Ford Fusion gets points for this.

Okay now that we're done wondering, time to go wandering.