[darstar]

Originally Posted by jeeg

LOL!! I think you read waaaayyyy to much into all of this. Just relax and ignore what you think the other drivers are thinking

No state has a perfect way to handle traffic otherwise there would be a universal way. I'm happy with the michigan turns and will vote to keep things how they are if the issue ever comes up

OK , now , what do you think about the Blondeau double trailer trucks having to go up 41 , and make a Michigan turn back to McClellan, then south to 553 ?
Not a safe way to go , .in my opinion. There are at times 6 trucks every 10 minutes. More fuel expended , more time , and more wear on the roadways, as well.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by darstar

OK , now , what do you think about the Blondeau double trailer trucks having to go up 41 , and make a Michigan turn back to McClellan, then south to 553 ?
Not a safe way to go , .in my opinion. There are at times 6 trucks every 10 minutes. More fuel expended , more time , and more wear on the roadways, as well.

They go right by my house on their way to the gravel pit. If I disliked it so bad, I would move. They've been running that route long before I came here and will be running it long after I leave.
I do support them having to use the main roads as opposed to the residential areas they were driving through.

[Torrid]

LOL, you better be kidding........smarty pants LOL It's probably YOU up my toosh saying "C'mon, it's just a lake!" anyways LOL JK!!!!

Originally Posted by jeeg

You're an overly paranoid driver to begin with so your opinion doesn't count!! Just kidding!!

[darstar]

Originally Posted by jeeg

They go right by my house on their way to the gravel pit. If I disliked it so bad, I would move. They've been running that route long before I came here and will be running it long after I leave.
I do support them having to use the main roads as opposed to the residential areas they were driving through.

The City made the change , not the trucking Company. They were traveling on a "truck route" before , it was shorter. Thats why all the controversy. When they get to your house , thats long out of the city , on the open highway.
Could all this be a case of " not in my back yard " ?.....maybe , but , I think safety should come first. Having to make a Michigan turn on 41 is not in the best interest of safety.

[Bluefly]

I just find Michigan turns annoying, not really dangerous. It's like - "I gotta drive all the way up there then back just to get here again?"

While we're talking about this minutia scale - can anyone explain why cars turning left at the light into the Westwood mall always assume that they have the right of way? Everytime I come out of the mall and am turning right I have to fight for my right of way.

In contrast - when people in this town (never seen it elsewhere) come up to a stop sign and are turning left, no matter what order they arrive in, they will wait until everyone else has gone to turn left. It's annoying because it's technically their right of way and yet we all just sit there.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by darstar

The City made the change , not the trucking Company. They were traveling on a "truck route" before , it was shorter. Thats why all the controversy. When they get to your house , thats long out of the city , on the open highway.
Could all this be a case of " not in my back yard " ?.....maybe , but , I think safety should come first. Having to make a Michigan turn on 41 is not in the best interest of safety.

I'm well aware of all the particulars in this case having followed it closely since the drama first began

You take up the Michigan turns with the Michigan Department of Transportation and let us know if they agree that they are unsafe (which I don't agree they are). Here's the link for ya!! MDOT - Roads and Travel
According to that website, all the research shows that Michigan Lefts actually increase the safety for all involved, which is why they put them into practice.

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by Torrid

LOL, you better be kidding........smarty pants LOL It's probably YOU up my toosh saying "C'mon, it's just a lake!" anyways LOL JK!!!!

Actually no. I love Lake Superior and always treasure getting a glimpse of it. Before we had kids, Gen would probably agree that is how I drove (I grew up in San Diego, Chicago, Denver, and Grand Rapids. I thought that was normal!!). Now that we have the kids, I'm very concious of safety first I have to keep my perfect record up after all!

Well...... if I'm alone in the car I might still occassionally get just a tiny bit of the lead foot syndrome......... (just don't tell Gen)

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

While we're talking about this minutia scale - can anyone explain why cars turning left at the light into the Westwood mall always assume that they have the right of way? Everytime I come out of the mall and am turning right I have to fight for my right of way.

That is just the selfishness phenomenon at play. Was common on the East Beltline in Grand Rapids too.

Originally Posted by Bluefly

In contrast - when people in this town (never seen it elsewhere) come up to a stop sign and are turning left, no matter what order they arrive in, they will wait until everyone else has gone to turn left. It's annoying because it's technically their right of way and yet we all just sit there.

This I do not have any idea why this happens here!! Here, I'll post this from our own MDOT manual online in case any of our fellow drivers read this site!
When approaching intersections
without traffic signals or signs, or
four-way stop intersections, yield
to the driver on the right if you
reach the intersection at the same
time as another vehicle. Yield to
any vehicle that reaches an
intersection before you.
 When making left turns, you must
give the right-of-way to pedestrians
and oncoming traffic.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by jeeg

I'm well aware of all the particulars in this case having followed it closely since the drama first began

You take up the Michigan turns with the Michigan Department of Transportation and let us know if they agree that they are unsafe (which I don't agree they are). Here's the link for ya!! MDOT - Roads and Travel
According to that website, all the research shows that Michigan Lefts actually increase the safety for all involved, which is why they put them into practice.

The great debate here , if I am correct , is safety ? MDOT thinks they are on the cutting edge in several areas , however , I think a lot of what has been
implemented in this State, that is new , or , different from surrounding States , is based on Costs , and not necessarily safety. Saving money is commendable, it is our tax dollars, but , not always if it flies in the face of over all safety. MDOT's latest is the Roundabout. Nothing new , they have been in New England since time and memorial.I hate them ,they are not safe ( if I am on the road). Locals will praise them. Its all a conspiracy , against , out of state drivers. Same goes for the Michigan Lefts. Wisconsin has the worst drivers in the country, followed by Indiana.Whatever Michigan can do , to confuse them , they will do. ( doesn't take much ) This theory has been confirmed by several folks from Wisconsin ." If you don't like it , stay home" , that is the attitude. Not a good one , for a State that will depend , more and more on tourist. The MDOT mentality, is move em through as fast as possible ,at the least cost, and , they will come up with numbers to make it convincing. I tried fighting this fight downstate, before, the issue was reduced speed limit in front of my house . We had a county road that split our properties, in a resort area, with small children crossing all the time . i was told , forget it. ," unless you can show us a number of fatalities , we won't lower it from 55"., thats the way they think.
My rational is (aside from all the conspiracy tongue in cheek crap) , is , when ever or where ever you can reduce exposure is the better way. Percentages , as found on MDOT web site are problematic. You can't fight City hall, or , the State, that I have learned. Chasing windmills has been my way , all these years, you would think I would know better by now........
implemented in this State

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by jeeg

That is just the selfishness phenomenon at play. Was common on the East Beltline in Grand Rapids too.


This I do not have any idea why this happens here!! Here, I'll post this from our own MDOT manual online in case any of our fellow drivers read this site!
When approaching intersections
without traffic signals or signs, or
four-way stop intersections, yield
to the driver on the right if you
reach the intersection at the same
time as another vehicle. Yield to
any vehicle that reaches an
intersection before you.
 When making left turns, you must
give the right-of-way to pedestrians
and oncoming traffic.

Thank you. If someone ever actually takes their proper turn at a stop sign, I shall think fondly of you.

It's funny - I'm the one who looks like the jerk because I get pissed when they don't follow the law and go when they are supposed to.