Cruising (driving)

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Cruising is a social activity that primarily consists of driving a car. Cruising can be an expression of the percieved freedom of possessing a driver's license. Cruising is distinguished from regular driving by the social nature of the activity. Often a popular route, or "strip," is the focus of cruising. "Cruise nights" are evenings when cars drive slowly, bumper-to-bumper, through small towns.

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[edit] In Canada

In Canada, the term cruising denotes driving slowly in a vehicle while smoking marijuana. This is in part due to the cold weather from November to March that makes smoking outside difficult and Canada's lax enforcement of marijuana laws. In 2002, after the government's acknowledgment of rare marijuana enforcement, a trial period in which marijuana was decriminalized was enacted. However, due to the high number of citizens "going on a cruise" during the trial period, the movement towards decriminalization halted because of driver safety issues.[1]

[edit] In the United States

Perhaps the most famous cruising strip (or main drag) is McHenry Avenue in Modesto, California. The cruising culture of the early 1960s was depicted in the film American Graffiti. The film was set (but not actually filmed) in director George Lucas' home town of Modesto, which also hosts an annual "Graffiti Night" celebration in the film's honor.

Cruising in Detroit, where Woodward Avenue was a popular cruising spot for decades, beginning in the 1950s.[2]

In the 2000s, some cities (such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin) began to consider cruising a traffic offense.[3][4]

[edit] See also

[edit] UK and Ireland

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Canada fears influence of marijuana behind the wheel" from TestClear
  2. ^ detnews.com | Michigan History
  3. ^ JS Online: Cruising is getting harder to defend
  4. ^ JS Online: Cruisers' cars may be seized

[edit] External links