Why are some drivers in portland so angry (Wilsonville: appointed, live in)

[Yankeemama]

I enjoy driving in Portland Metro since it is very easy to get around and find parking. I haven't noticed rude drivers but after driving in Boston, well that's a different world. I def wouldn't call Portlanders angry drivers, for sure.

[jjpop]

Originally Posted by davemess10

There are actually highways here with a 65 speed limit????


I have found there are a lot more of both extremes of driving here. People either going 45 in a 55 or 70 in a 55, but not a lot of people going 55-60. Lots of changes of speed as well (you know the old "I'll pass you and then slow down a bunch").

I think the thing that has gotten me most though is the lack of merging skill. Seems like no one EVER wants to use a blinker, they just assume that you should let them in. That and the Kamikaze 3 lane change, I have to get off at this exit but totally wasn't prepared moves that people will make (JUST GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT, or go around the block and try again). I've seen people almost come to a stop on the highway trying to do this, as well as stopping downtown traffic because they didn't know where they needed to turn. Just admit you missed the turn and go a street down.

This comment, plus 1 MILLION!!!

I still can't figure out why people here in Portland don't know about the blinker thing. Particularly where two lanes merge to one, and it's obvious that the right lane is the one that is ending. The right-laners just start to move into the left lane as if the left-laners are the ones who should be watching out for them. Then they get upset (and I've seen this literally dozens of times) because the left-laners didn't just let them in.

Also, I see negative comments about So Cal drivers on these boards a lot, and I really don't get it. They are the best drivers in the world, IMO, because they know the rules of the road and don't assume that everybody's looking out for them. They stay to the right if they are going slower, and use their blinkers when they merge or change lanes. Bottom line: if everyone followed the rules of the road and some minimal amount of courtesy we could all get to our destinations alot faster.

One more thing: at a 4-way stop, the person who got there first goes first. So if you obviously got to the intersection before me, don't wait for me to come to a complete stop then wave me on to go first because I'm just gonna sit there. Just follow the rules of the road!

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by jjpop

Also, I see negative comments about So Cal drivers on these boards a lot, and I really don't get it. They are the best drivers in the world, IMO, .................

The Germans might argue with that (Autobahn fatality rate no higher than that of our Interstate system):


YouTube - ‪The Autobahn - The German Highway‬‏

[haggardhouseelf]

OMG, I know what you mean about the four-way stops in Oregon. I've never seen anything like it in all the places we've lived. The waving and "You Go ahead..." , " No, really, YOU go, I'll wait..." , "Oh, no, I insist!*wave-wave*" until the third or fourth person waiting at the stop watching these goofballs finally loses it and goes on ahead, messing up the system even further, or pissing the formerly overly nice waving "you go" people off. lol Quite entertaining to watch, really, so long as you're not in any kind of hurry to get anywhere.

Now that is one thing I will comiserate about with regards to driving in Oregon!

[Dual Citizen CA-OR]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

My experience is totally the opposite.
It seems like before the mid '80's, being polite was the norm.
It has gotten worse and worse ever since.





I know why.

I’ll take a guess, does it involve Oregonian’s favorite whipping boy?

[pdxMIKEpdx]

It's all those dad-gum self-centered Californians and other clueless transplants moving here and bringing all their nasty bad habits with them.


Is that what you meant by "whipping boy"?




Graph of Portland's population over time:

[Dual Citizen CA-OR]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

It's all those dad-gum self-centered Californians and other clueless transplants moving here and bringing all their nasty bad habits with them.


Is that what you meant by "whipping boy"?...

No need to be politically correct by mentioning “other clueless transplants”, I know you were only thinking about Californians, the root of all of Oregon’s problems.

[Bluesmama]

Originally Posted by Dual Citizen CA-OR

No need to be politically correct by mentioning “other clueless transplants”, I know you were only thinking about Californians, the root of all of Oregon’s problems.

Oregon wouldn't have become such a liberal state without the Californians.

And that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

[shaun007miller]

I have enjoyed reading this thread. The traffic in Portland is bad due to simply having bad drivers. Drivers that seem to drive slow in the left lane do this because of the lack of freeway options in the city. Portland is one of the poorest cities when it comes to how the freeway system was designed. I-5 is N & S. I-205 actually serves no purpose what so ever. It is a glorified bypass. Portland's congested traffic is simply solved by making 205 a loop around the entire city and by adding another hwy that runs E and W. I would like everyone to look at the freeway system in Kansas City and try to imagine that in Portland. The traffic in Portland is mainly due to the city governments unwillingness to evolve with time over the last 30 years.

[hose111]

Originally Posted by shaun007miller

I have enjoyed reading this thread. The traffic in Portland is bad due to simply having bad drivers. Drivers that seem to drive slow in the left lane do this because of the lack of freeway options in the city. Portland is one of the poorest cities when it comes to how the freeway system was designed. I-5 is N & S. I-205 actually serves no purpose what so ever. It is a glorified bypass. Portland's congested traffic is simply solved by making 205 a loop around the entire city and by adding another hwy that runs E and W. I would like everyone to look at the freeway system in Kansas City and try to imagine that in Portland. The traffic in Portland is mainly due to the city governments unwillingness to evolve with time over the last 30 years.

I agree...KS and a number of other cities have such a loop.

But with regards to E/W, I like 84 (and 26). What were you meaning by your comment?