Do you think that your move to Rochester was a good one?

[lovebrentwood]

I moved FROM Rochester to Raleigh 16 years ago. I'm always telling my Southern husband how the drivers in Rochester are MUCH better than they are here. The Raleigh drivers ALL drive as you describe below... it made me laugh. And they never use their turn signals, either.

Originally Posted by JoaniB

Moved in September to Canandaigua.
But...I have driven in about 8 foreign countries and DC, NYC, LA, Atlanta...and it's NEVER been this bad:
1. people here feel passing on the right at high speeds in deep snow is a good idea (I lived in Cleveland, I 'get' snow btw)
2. people also seem to feel that no headlights in rain, snow and at dusk and dawn is acceptable
3. people like to crawl up extremely close behind you IN HORRIBLE WEATHER: maybe they don't teach physics here...the one about 'a body (read: car or here, pickup truck) in motion tends to STAY in motion...I am having flashbacks to a rear-ender from 1990 since moving here!

[juppiter]

Visiting my parents in Albany this week, and...

GOD YES! I HATE IT HERE! lol.

Seriously, though... Wishing, hoping, praying that I can get a job (or keep the job I have now) in Rochester after college.

I moved FROM Rochester to Raleigh 16 years ago. I'm always telling my Southern husband how the drivers in Rochester are MUCH better than they are here. The Raleigh drivers ALL drive as you describe below... it made me laugh. And they never use their turn signals, either.

GOTTA say I disagree here though ;-) I take 390 to work (Scottsville Rd. exit on 390 to Winton Rd. exit on 590). In Albany I'm like scared to drive... OK OK ****ing pass me going 90 mph. In Rochester I swear to God I'm like the alpha male going 65. LOL! And I dunno if it's just me or if this is custom, but... it's pretty clear. Left lane= passing. Middle lane=driving. Right lane= exiting. Other 390 drivers don't seem to grasp this.

[mycrows]

Originally Posted by JoaniB

But...I have driven in about 8 foreign countries and DC, NYC, LA, Atlanta...and it's NEVER been this bad:
1. people here feel passing on the right at high speeds in deep snow is a good idea (I lived in Cleveland, I 'get' snow btw)
2. people also seem to feel that no headlights in rain, snow and at dusk and dawn is acceptable
3. people like to crawl up extremely close behind you IN HORRIBLE WEATHER: maybe they don't teach physics here...the one about 'a body (read: car or here, pickup truck) in motion tends to STAY in motion...I am having flashbacks to a rear-ender from 1990 since moving here!

This is an inaccurate description of Rochester traffic. It's relatively tame all things considered. But I've only driven in 7 foreign countries (if you count Cleveland) so wtf do I know, right?

By the way, you might think this is nuts, but if you're going slow in the left lane people are gonna pass you on the right. That's just the way it is no matter the weather. Of course they would never do that in LA or NYC, right? Drivers there always stay 2 car lengths behind you politely waiting for you to merge right.

[JoaniB]

But in NYC, where I just was days ago, people are PREDICTABLY awful and impolite drivers; you can count on 'em practically taking the paint off your car as you merge into the Lincoln tunnel, for example.

However they do take fair turns merging--after nearly removing the paint, of course.

But in Rochester, my experience is that drivers are ERRATICALLY awful. You can't count on my-turn-your-turn merges; you can't count on left lane passers being the fast ones, etc. So you can't ever relax for a second; someone will do something not only stupid and dangerous--but unexpected.

So it's that erratic stuff that has me white-knuckled. If drivers here were more predictable in their awfulness I could relax and drive like I was in DC or NYC or Atlanta!

I'm adjusting and just can't WAIT for the motorcycles to show up in a few weeks!!!

JoaniB

[mycrows]

Originally Posted by JoaniB

But in NYC, where I just was days ago, people are PREDICTABLY awful and impolite drivers; you can count on 'em practically taking the paint off your car as you merge into the Lincoln tunnel, for example.

However they do take fair turns merging--after nearly removing the paint, of course.

But in Rochester, my experience is that drivers are ERRATICALLY awful. You can't count on my-turn-your-turn merges; you can't count on left lane passers being the fast ones, etc. So you can't ever relax for a second; someone will do something not only stupid and dangerous--but unexpected.

So it's that erratic stuff that has me white-knuckled. If drivers here were more predictable in their awfulness I could relax and drive like I was in DC or NYC or Atlanta!

I'm adjusting and just can't WAIT for the motorcycles to show up in a few weeks!!!

JoaniB

Ah I see where you're coming from now.

I'm still MUCH more calm when I drive in Rochester than NYC

On the other hand the worst accident I've ever been in was on south ave in Rochester. Really dumb move by a young girl in her parent's car. And I don't even live in Rochester (my family does). So I guess I should be agreeing with you!

[RITRich]

Ahh the similar stories. I ended up getting a degree from RIT (duh!), spend 6 of my best years in Rochester doing that. And then for some strange reason I made the rash decision to go elsewhere, because I thought the grass was greener on the other side. Quit my job too.

One year, one disapointing New England town, and one massive lay-off later...and now I'm looking to move back there again.

Admitedly its psychological. There's plenty of other places just as good as Rochester. But there's a connection there. its about what makes you feel comfortable. Plus...you can't beat the prices in Rochester. Or the people. Personally I'd be hard pressed to find a place that has such great "balance" as the Park Ave area for example (I'm not a suburbs person, but neither a big city mess person either)

So yes moving back to Rochester is a good idea. Now if only I can manage to do it soon. The market for engineers there has gooten a little "lean", same as everywhere else. But I'm sure if I keep looking in time something will pop up. At least I realised my "mistake" pretty soon.

As for the drivers, I have not seen better and more polite drivers anywhere else in the country I have been. Admitedly, I havn't been to a lot of places. I know I used to complain about them when I was there too. But they were mostly 18 year old college kids anyway. Compared to new England drivers they are...angels.

[smalltownusa]

Drive from Yonkers to Manhattan...now there is a ride......75-80 mph touching bumpers and jumping lanes....son lives down there and when visiting, he drives and scares the be-jesus outa me!!!!!

And all I get, as I gripe the handle of the back door, feeling like I'm on an amusement ride that spins and weaves and dips, is "Mom, I'm keeping up with traffic otherwise, they will run us off the road..."

Rochester driving? Can do it with my eyes closed, figuratively speaking!