One of the first things I noticed here in Idaho Falls is that they don't believe in right turn lanes. Well--unless you're turning into Walmart or the technical college (both nearby...and both places I avoid). I mean, you have two lanes going each way, you intersect with another two lanes going each way, and there is no right turn lane. If you haven't experienced such madness, it's really a pain. Over one half of the cars in the right lane want to turn. But one car that wants to go straight holds everyone else up on a red light. And when traffic's flowing, most of the people in the right lane are slowing down to take the turn. Traffic in many places is actually quite busy, and right turn lanes would alleviate much of the problem.
Four-way stop signs is another issue. When cars are backed up twenty or more at a four-way stop, you know it's time to get a better intersection. Fortunately, that's only a problem when we're heading out towards the in-laws during rush hour. Elsewhere, they've recognized the intelligence of traffic lights.
And then there's the half-mile stretch where two lanes turn into one. After a half-mile they turn back into two. It's called bottle-necking, and it's just plain stupid.
K-Dog, when he came and visited, mentioned the right turn lane thing (which is by far the worst road problem). Sweet validation. As I was giving him directions (while he was driving) he told me, "We just passed a high school". It was actually the technical college.
Oh, and next to right turn lanes, my biggest pet peeve has been the fact that you can't buy cheese fondue. We've looked all over for it. It just doesn't exist. Until yesterday.
Smith's had some. And even though we had one in the fridge from Pirate O's (in Draper), I bought another one. I'm all for financially supporting good taste, especially when it's been lacking in the past.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Hey, that is just the opposite of my experiences the last six months. Denver and New Jersey had issues with left turns that drove me nuts. In Denver you can only go left at a light, and in NJ you couldn't go left at all on major roads.
It sounds like there is a need for someone to direct traffic - you could moonlight after teaching! Fortunately for you we have a bright yellow reflective vest we could lend.:)
Or....maybe they just need a stoplight or two! Does your car have a CD player? We like to listen to books on CD. Having something fun to listen to relaxes me (sometimes) in stressful traffic situations.
I don't really get agitated while driving...
I just think the anti-right-turn-lane thing is silly, that's all.
And my CD definitely has a CD player...and as my ex-roommates know, it doesn't play books. It plays music.
Tim is so passionate about his music that his music listens to music on its own built in CD player! Just kidding, I know what you meant.
Sorry...
My car is the one that has a CD player...
How about a musical then? That's like a book in music form.
Do you think Sabotage made any musicals?
Musicals? Pretty close. They're called rock operas. And progressive rock and metal goes together great with rock operas. Everyone from Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Genesis to Dream Theater to Pink Floyd to, yes, Savatage, does them.
I also have Les Mis and Phantom.
Post a Comment