A small commuting rant
 

I'd just like to point out a few small details to all of the complete fucking idiots who drive in Philadelphia.

• Turning Lanes. The idea of the turning lane, be it left or right, is that you move out of the way so that traffic that's not turning can continue on. Sitting half in and half out blocking traffic is no fucking good.
• Speed. Guess what people, you're not on the fucking interstate. I've never been one to religiously adhere to the speed limit, but you just need to recognize that on most roads traffic will not permit you to go more than 20 or 25 MPH over the speed limit
• Lane changing. (related somewhat to speed) Let's say you want to do 60. (This is perfectly reasonable, because the speed limit is 25.) And let's say most people in the right lane are doing 40 and most in the left lane are doing about 50. Weaving back and forth between the two lanes will not get you where you're going faster.
• Merging into traffic. Believe it or not, merging from one lane into another isn't a pissing contest and you won't be emasculated if you merge by going behind another car. I know this may come as a shock, but waiting until the last possible minute, hitting the gas, passing four cars in the other lane, and whipping over from the shoulder after your lane has pretty much disappeared, with approximately 0.347 inches to spare between you and the next car, may feel good, but it's not safe, and I'd wish for you to die a horrible flaming death in doing so if it weren't for the fact that you'd take another car full of innocent people with you.
• Stop signs. A stop sign is a fucking stop sign. You STOP and you don't continue until traffic is clear. I don't know why people at certain intersections think it's OK to just keep on going and make a left turn no matter what's coming.
• Turns into traffic in the middle of a block. If it's rush hour and you're trying to turn left onto a 5 lane highway out of a gas station, Wawa, etc. with no traffic light to help you, there's two things you need to know. First, it's probably a stupid idea. Second, if somebody in the lane closest to you is nice (but dumb) enough to stop and let you out, that doesn't mean the people in the other four fucking lanes know you're coming and are stopping for you.

Sorry.

Just had to get that off my chest.

You can move along now.

Still picking glass out of your hair?

Seconded for Colorado Springs.

Actually, my commute was very nice for once. I hit every single light green, which turned a 30 minute commute into a sub-20 minute drive. I knew I spent a lot of time waiting on lights, but I had no idea it was fully one third of my commute every day.

As I was having my traumatic experience on the New Jersey Turnpike the other day, I had a thought. Or two. But this is the for this thread.

Other than stupid lane changing, merging onto the highway at an entrance ramp is the most dangerous part of highway driving. I do commend the New Jersey Turnpike for having accelleration lanes, which don't actually exist in Pennsylvania. I also dug the trucks/busses vs. cars split lane thing. Very pleasant.

Anyway ...

Why doesn't anyone design a limited access highway in which the entrance ramp actually creates a new lane ... taking, say, a two lane road into a three lane, and not forcing the cars newly entering to jump into the full speed traffic lanes right away ... they have several miles to do that. At exits, this outer lane would be exit only, and would not continue past the ramp, so you'd have a two-lane ... but the corresponding entering lane would take it back to three (Kind of like the Broomall Entrance to the Blue Route, if you're here near Philadelphia).

This would require a different kind of politeness in driving (if you like going slow and hugging the right lane you'd have to change lanes a lot more often), but it works in the picture in my head.

Since the area I live in is fairly new, every intersection has a four-way stop sign. People operate a car, program a VCR, but they can't get the concept of a four-way stop. Drives me nuts.

If I understand your description, Wolf, lots of places do that. It's unusual around here to find an entrance ramp that doesn't have a merge lane for 1/2 mile or so.

Of course you'll still see on occasional timid driver who drives to the end of the merge lane and sits there waiting for an opening. :rolleyes:

To SD: May I suggest that you do your utmost to avoid having to use any gas station that you have to access by turning off an interstate after a couple of miles, then going across a through junction and then across a set of lights where there is a turning lane. It just won't be your day - guaranteed!

Bah... merge lanes are for wusses. The Pasadena Freeway -- the prototypical freeway, BTW -- has stop signs at the end of many 'onramps'. You must be prepared for takeoff to get on that number 2 lane... hmmm... I wonder why they call it number 2?

Fortunately, that particular prototype has been largely scrapped.

'Round here, wolf, those constructs are called "collector - distributor lanes" and they're a regular fixture in the morning traffic reports. Yet another good idea vulnerable to the power of human stupidity as demonstrated by SD's examples above.

Unless you drive in Oklahoma.

I damn near disappeared up the tailpipe of the moron ahead of me as I *ahem* accelerated in preparation to merge while I had my head turned over my left shoulder looking for my upcoming spot. This is in conflict with the local merge style, which is heavily influenced by the drag strip clutch dropping wheel spinning speed shifting school. Thankfully, no paint was exchanged, but it did cost me a pair of underwear.

This is one reason I just never drive on the Schuylkill Expressway. It's got plenty of bad examples, but the South Street onramp really takes the cake.

I could be wrong, but I'm fairly sure the only reason this entrance exists as it does is that when they built the Blue Route, they were unsuccessful in getting enough easements to build three lanes south of Broomall.

If you're taking Rt. 1 southbound, it used to be that the rightmost lane disappeared with a "merge left" sign for about 50 feet and then the lane to exit onto the Blue Route reopened. Needless to say, almost anybody with half a brain would just drive on the shoulder rather than do that merge. They've now changed it so the lane just stays open all the way to the exit.

Actually I left that one out. Around the area where I live there are dozens upon dozens of 4-way stop signs. And then there will be one regular non-4-way stop sign right in the middle of it all. The result, of course, is that many people treat it like a 4-way stop and go on through after they've stopped for a moment, assuming that the traffic on the cross street will be stopping. (And it usually will because people have learned to look out for these intersections.)

I learned to merge into a highway on Route 309 between Philadelphia and Ambler. Route 309 does not have accelleration lanes. Route 309 often does not have a line of sight from the entrance ramp that lets you check for a car-sized gap in traffic, once you psychically identify this gap, you are required to go from 0-65 in less than 2 seconds.

To this day I have significant issues about merging, to the point that this should have gone in the heebeez thread. I am surprised every time I do not die doing this. I have gone out of my way to avoid highway merging. Seriously.

Here in LA, the old California 110 freeway goes from downtown to Pasadena. It was the first freeways built in LA, and one of the first anywhere. As a result, it has onramps and offramps that are, like 30 feet long. This is not an exageration. At one point, there is a road that ends at a T with the freeway, and you make a right hand turn directly onto the 65 mph freeway.

I've seen those! I've been on those! What kind of insane crazyness is that anyway?! San Diego has a few of those as well. As you get off the Hotel Circle onto I-8 there is (or used to be, haven't been there in a while) an on ramp that essentially dumps you right on the freeway in a matter of feet! Geeeeeaaaaa! Used to scare the crap out of me and I ain't afraid of nothing. I also remember an onramp to I-15 north bound where you had to drive though a neighbor hood, turn down what you thought was an alleyway and BOOM, you on the freeway. *shudder*

this is the spot I was looking for

Google Maps

and this

Google Maps

4 way stops.
If you come to a 4 way intersection and stop. And I'm approaching from your left or right but still 100 feet from the intersection. GO, goddamn it! Don't wait for me to get to the intersection and stop then make we wait for you to get the hell out of the intersection before I can go.
Afraid I don't see the stop sign? Even if I don't, I'll see your damn car. Even if you are afraid I'm going too fast to stop, I can slow enough to not hit you, so just GO!

When in the course of human events, you're traveling along at say 30 or 40, and the car in front of you makes a right or left turn. You will have to slow to probably 15 or even 5 to avoid hitting them.....no problem. BUT, once they have made their turn, there is not one reason on God's green earth for you to proceed at 15 for the next quarter mile before you resume speed. The faster you stop becoming an obstruction, the shorter the "memory" will last in the traffic pattern. :smack:

And another thing, you are supposed to be doing the same speed as traffic when you get to the bottom of the ramp so merging is a very simple thing.
If you only have 70 hp stay the hell off the road.

When they stop building them with decreasing radius turns and 25 feet of running room, I'll try that.

If your car can't take that bend at 30mph, you need a better car. From 30 to 50 isn't that much of a leap if you have more than 70hp and don't have 6 tons of crap in the trunk. :lol:

You get bonus points for doing this while yakking on a mobile phone while paying no obvious attention to what the other cars are doing.

Did no one mention TURN SIGNALS?? Yes, I checked to be sure before bringing this up - every car made in America has turn signals as a basic option in a car.... I want one of those programmable message screens to remind people to simply...

"Indicate your f***ing intentions!"

I live in Virginia, work in DC... and drive Interstate 95 morning and evening, 56 miles in each direction...some one say a prayer!

great post. The shit traffic in Philly is one of the main reasons I moved to central PA. I was commuting 20 miles from Roxborough to East Swedesford road on the shurkill everyday, frequently that 20 mile drive would take me 2 hours! I was an extremely aggresive driver (only way to survive) and I would arirve at work pissed of due to road rage almost daily. I took a big salary cut, and moved out of the city with my wife, and about 8 years later, I am now pretty much road rage free. I do drive back into Philly to see the in-laws, and I basically piss everyone else on the road off now, beacuse I leave a safe distance between my car, and the car in front of me, and of course that dirves a typical Philly driver insane. That being said, Boston is even worse.... :headshake

http://cellar.org/2006/notgoinganywhere.jpg

http://cellar.org/2006/notgoinganywhere2.jpg

Whatta ya nuts? Tip my hand? Give 'em time to develop a counter attack?
Not this kid. :p

And yeah, Boston beats 'em all.

Great pictures. His wheelbase is just a little too long. How much you want to bet he saw a small hatchback do the illegal move with success and he tried to copy it?

Ahh traffic...........at least you don't live in BFE!

Ok. I'll bite. BFE?

bum fucking Egypt.

How about when you're driving along in the left lane, doing about sixty, and the guy in the right lane pulls in front of you - doing 50!

Or the two cars in front of you who are doing the same exact speed right beside each other - even though there's nobody in front of them!

If you hate philly traffic, try South Jersey. I go around two traffic circles on the way home. Talk about a pissing contest - if you stop, you're stuck for a llllooonnnggg time.

Wasn't that the stupidest setup? I'd just like to take the opportuniy to thank Swarthmore College for limiting the Blue Route to just two lanes below Westchester Pike

I get behind farm trucks/tractors on my commute. Curvy 2 lane roads at 45 mph. I know they have to travel slowly. Point taken.

But why the fock don't they wait till the regular majority are at work and then move their equipment? It would be a helluva lot safer for everyone. And it's not like the damn field is gonna change that much in two hours. Whew. I feel better now. Thanks.

Our council is upgrading the major highways around our area. They're all designed like that now which is great. Really saves a lot of time...cept for the FUCKING MORONS who like doing 20 under the speed limit in the passing lane.

LMAO You should be a driver in Northern Virginia.... YES SIR!!
Any one done Seattle? 6 lanes of pure insanity...in the rain!!! :worried:

Here in Pennsylvania we run the same traffic volume through two lanes.

Of the many things to be thankful for, one is that I don't have a "commute" per se.
When you live on an island with 14 miles of paved roads, it doesn't take long to get to where you are going.

According to the Yahoo driving directions, here is my commute to work:

Distance: 0.7 miles
Approximate travel time: 1 minute
Directions:
1. Start at XXX, SITKA - go 0.2 mi
2. Turn Left on HALIBUT POINT RD - go 0.3 mi
3. Continue on LAKE ST - go 0.2 mi
4. Bear Right on HARBOR DR - go 0.1 mi
5. Arrive at XXX HARBOR DR, SITKA, on the Right

The car doesn't even have time to get warm.

And you drive instead of walk?

Edit: Not that I'm judging you. I just walk more than that each way to my Metro stop each day. Is it a bad place to walk? Speeding cars, no shoulder, etc.

Seattle, yes. Insane.

And while I don't want to spook anyone, there's a good chance I'll be commuting to the AIRPORT of all places :smack: . At least for an interview. :crossed fingers: :driving:

Oh BigV - you have my condolences on the travel to Sea-Tac...
but my fingers crossed on your opportunity.

From which area will you begin your commute?? I lived in Port Orchard and Gig Harbor for 15 yrs....Give my regards to I-5 and Highway 16.

Glatt - in the summer I walk, but when it's icky out I have my hubby drop me off after he takes the kids to school.

BigV - good luck!!! I hope it works out!

Lucky me. I take the train in which I can read/play on my Nintendo DS/sleep.

Ballard to SeaTac. Aurora/99/509/518 is the ticket. I-5 is the way to insanity/morgue/jail. No thanks. I'll walk first.

Traffic complaints? Woo!

Attention owners of motorbikes that have a loud exhaust (i.e.- Harley, etc): You are just as annoying, if not moreso, than the punk kid with a speaker in his trunk. Squelch that junker and slap a muffler back on that thing! The "potato-potato-potato" racket doesn't make you a bad-ass, lone wolf. It makes you an ass and, in the future, deaf.

Want to be noticed and safer in traffic? I have an orange flag on a pole you can put on the back of your bike plus a helmet for your head.

To the asshole who passed me because I was going too slow on Friday afternoon
 

Dear asshole,

The reason I was driving so slowly is that I happened to notice you were holding your mobile phone in one hand and shuffling a sheaf of papers that you were reading in your other hand. I decided you had a pretty high chance of plowing into me if I had to stop quickly. I'm kind of surprised you noticed how fast I was going at all.

Love,
Steve



(I might not have noticed the phone with a casual glance in my mirror, but that paperwork really stood out.)

I think that not a safe ploy, Steve.
I'd speed up to get away or pull over and let 'em go by, either way you don't want him on your ass at any speed. :headshake

Good point... it being City Avenue at rush hour "speeding up" isn't exactly relevant (you could go from 35 to 37 I suppose). Anyway, he solved the problem for me.

I figured out the other day why there are so many fatal crashes on Route 422 (a stretch of highway that runs between King of Prussia and Reading, Penna.)

I was doing 80 in the left lane when some bastard decided that wasn't quite fast enough for him, and passed me on the right.

Watching the news with one eye while getting ready for work Monday. They are showing the truck carrying 54k lbs of flour, tipped over on the I-95 ramp, when the crawl at the bottom of the screen says, "Driver Ed car hits two police cruisers". Somebody is so screwed. :eek:

422 should slow down this week... J reported that a state trooper took a bad wreck around the st. gabe's curve... cops will have a bad sense of humor for a while. This has been a public service announcement

Basic Rule: You can't go through the car in front of you.

In fact, spastic lane-changing has the opposite effect. I study this phenomenon every day. As I stay in one lane, that being the lane from which I will eventually have to turn, and maintain a safe, respectable distance from the car in front of me, I observe the most aggressive lane-changer/tail-gater as they attempt to ram their way through traffic. As I make my way across town, I watch as each of their maneuvers backfires and they end up way back in traffic, and madder than ever.

You miss the point, Flint. The maneuvers don't backfire because they are just a way to amuse themselves.... make the commute more fun. :lol:

@xoxoxoBruce: There is another, more practical, element to it. While accelerating, any vehicle is gtting about 1/50th of it's rated MPG. What the lane-changer/tail-gaters do is accelerate and slam on the brakes, accelerate and slam on the brakes, accelerate and slam on the brakes, you'll wear your car out quickly, driving that way, and waste alot of fuel.

Mileage? Mileage! We don't need no stinking mileage! We're having fun, we're masturbating with motors. :D

The new hybrids use that braking force productively... amazingly, in the future we will even recover the energy lost from the stupid! :)

Harnessing the energy of the stupid is what makes the world go around, always has.

Once upon a time, long ago and far away, there was a horse. A very special horse...bright red with wings. He lived at the Socony-Mobil ranch.

Socony-Mobil along with the Automobile Association of America, AAA not to be confused with AA, sponsored an annual event called the Mobil Gas Economy Run.

Sure, the cars were ringers. Specially prepared, narrow hard tires, no extra weight, no accessories like power steering or AC. But still, they turned in some amazing mileage compared to their standard brethren.

The secret was in the driving..... never, ever use the brakes unless absolutely necessary. Every time you brake, you're dissipating speed/energy/motion that you used gas to create.

Many people think avoiding rapid acceleration is the key, but tests have proved it's not a big factor. Rapid acceleration that causes you to have to brake hard, is.

Driving without brakes isn't practical or safe but you can use them less by planning ahead. Letting rolling and wind resistance slow you down as much as possible before braking. I've tried it normal daily driving, with a conscious effort, and got a 20% increase in mileage.

Sure, the guy behind you will be having apoplexy if you take it to extreme, but used in moderation most won't even notice you're doing it. Every time you don't brake, you're saving gas. :litebulb:

Dear Greasy-Haired Man in the 2000 Black Eclipse,

I'm sorry to see you were having a bad start to your day this morning. Of course, you weren't able to verbally express it to the commuters around you, but I assure you that everyone at the intersection of Morris Bridge Road and Fletcher Ave at 0830 this morning heard your polo shirt angst as you proudly blared Papa Roach at full volume. If only all of us had hearing damage as bad as you soon will, we could have continued to enjoy the fresh, morning air with our windows down in peace.

Thanks for sharing your whiney, suburb-white emotional terror with the world.

-Kitsune

I saw a similar guy in traffic the other day, that can only be described as "cell phone, pony-tail, convertible LeBaron"

If that really happened, the whole fucking solar system would explode.