Are Philly drivers the worst on the East Coast? (Bethlehem: house, live)

[Bobilee]

I've lived here 25 years as a pedestrian, and I have to say Philly drivers are pretty bad, from Septa buses that think "red" should be called "near green", to drivers who think crosswalks are "perpendicular parking". A co-worker of mine ended up on the hood of a car at 5th & Bainbridge though he wasn't hurt. He walked away from it and the driver yelled at him for breaking his mirror. My general thoughts on Philly as a pedestrian town are that it is awful. Even if you don't mind the drivers, the city lets restaurants take over most of the sidewalks with tables, which is a real hazard in Center City, bicycle laws are not enforced (yes, there is an ordinance against riding bikes on the sidewalk). I've adapted to the situation, but it has made me a more aggressive pedestrian, which is not something I am happy about. I joked with my mother once that I leave the house like Captain Kangaroo and arrive at work like Jack Nicholson.

[john_starks]

quite possibly.

what's with the idiots who parallel park and then swing their doors wide open to get out when cars are passing? they don't even check their rearview mirror. who does that?

[maf763]

Ever spent time in Boston or NY?

[juniperbleu]

DC drivers are pretty bad, too. Probably because most of them are from MD or VA and don't know where they're going.

I remember when I drove up I-95 I encountered the worst drivers right around Fredericksburg, VA (halfway between Richmond and DC) and in Delaware. Everyone drove way too fast, way too close to each other. My guess is that traffic is so bad that once you get to F'burg you're just too angry to care what happens.

[Donnypipes]

Philly and Florida. Philly drivers with the driver's seat rolled back like a lounge chair and Florida drivers with tinted windows.

[rickford]

One thing you forgot to mention about Philly drivers: the horns! I think New York/ northern New Jersey drivers are the most aggressive- but Philly wins hands down for noise! I attribute this to all of the ONE LANE, one way streets, that are occupied as if they were two lanes. As people drift into the other lane, the subsequent honking is inevitable. But Philly drivers just don't beep their horns, they blare them!

One thing I love about Philly, particularly center city, is its walkability. But, I agree, walking on the side walks can be dangerous with all of the bikers! Timid bikers tend to stay off of the roads (and who can blame them?) and therfore ride on the sidewalks. Many of them think they are good at predicting the trajectory of pedestrians. But I have seen them get it wrong more than once and slam into the unsuspecting walker.

Between the bikers and horns, Philly should be high on the list for worst drivers...

And BTW, is anybody else utterly infuriated by the loud Harley motorcycles that rumble through the city (leaving a wake of frenzied car alarms) typically on warm afternoons when your windows are open???

To the [loud] Philly Harley owners: Please de-modify your muffler!

[john_starks]

Originally Posted by maf763

Ever spent time in Boston or NY?

i lived in manhattan. people paid attention when opening their car doors. otherwise, they'd be in the emergency room (with their car door stuck to them)

philly people swing the door open like its their driveway. and these roads are narrower than ny

[IZthe411]

Philly drivers are the best. Some people outside of the city cannot even parallel park, meaning you don't really know the dimensions of your car. As a Philly driver, I've been in situations where I've approached a seemingly narrow opening with my car and been able to make a judgement to pass through and not scratch or dent my car, not sit there in some frenzy, not knowing what to do. If anything, driving in Philly teaches you better instinct so you aren't on the victim side of some wreckless driver.

[namaw]

Originally Posted by maf763

Ever spent time in Boston or NY?

I've seen peds walk over cars who just wouldn't give them a break between. unbelieveable. NY. Although,
until I moved to Philly, I've never seen so many people run a red light 4 or 5 at a time. I Blame it on coming from a
small town. Bethlehem, PA

[IZthe411]

Originally Posted by Donnypipes

Philly and Florida. Philly drivers with the driver's seat rolled back like a lounge chair and Florida drivers with tinted windows.

Yessir, you ride low! I got a feeling eventually my back's going to pay for this practice