Do you wave back when someone let's you change lanes in traffic? (Austin: construction, gated)

[jobert]

Originally Posted by umaboshi

I'll have to second the notion that this isn't an austin only thing.

It isn't an Austin only thing, but it's part of the culture.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Why does that make you angry? Because you didn't get what you wanted?

Perhaps because it's rude and not in line with the "drive friendly" attitude that we were used to for so long? The whole, "Oh, my God, if I let someone in I'll be a whole car length further back and the world will end!" attitude that's sadly becoming more common here.

I can remember clearly when if there was a line of traffic going very slowly and someone waiting to enter the roadway, it was a given that people would pause and gesture them in, or if traffic was moving onto the freeway and someone needed to merge into the entrance lane that someone would slow just enough to allow them to do so.

It's possible that the woman in question saw a hazard that the poster did not, but the description sounds like traffic was barely moving, if at all, if there was time to ask to be allowed in and be refused, and that makes that scenario much less likely.

Now, if the poster rushed up to the front in an empty lane past a long line of traffic that was merging into one lane, while others merged further back, appropriately, as soon as the "lane ends, merge" sign appeared, and then asked to cut in in front of everyone else, that would be another matter and the rudeness would be on her side.

Hard to know without more details - Lillibelle, care to provide them?

[Dr.Mom]

Originally Posted by umaboshi

I'll have to second the notion that this isn't an austin only thing. Up (and over) gere in PDX, this waving is quite common. I'd also have to say that the left and right coasts are pretty wide swaths of land to lump into one bucket...

Yup, I remember my Mom doing "the wave" in MA when I was little. It took me forever to understand that the people weren't friends of hers who she was waving to. I'd always ask, "Who's that?" I still do it in PA today and many (not all) drivers here do the wave too. I promise I'll wave if we ever get to Austin!

[G Grasshopper]

Yes, I wave, and also did it when I was in California. It is common there, too.

[jobert]

I have noticed that small towns up NE (Oswego, Northampton, etc.) are more friendly to pedestrians, though. It was a given that peds had the ROW.

[sinking]

Originally Posted by jobert

I have noticed that small towns up NE (Oswego, Northampton, etc.) are more friendly to pedestrians, though. It was a given that peds had the ROW.

Yes. I lived in a town 35 miles west of Northampton. I can at least attest that in western MA pedestrians had the right of way. When walking around in town in Northampton or Amherst you could pretty much dip your toes in the sidewalk without even looking both ways and feel confident that drivers would stop.

[Lillibelle]

I was heading east on 6th and trying to get onto Mopac. I realized I was in the go straight only lane (I don't go this way often) and I needed to get one lane over so that I could get onto Mopac instead. The woman was in some giant SUV thing and just would not let me in. No imminent danger, traffic moving fairly slowly. Seemed irritated I would deign to ask. So yes, I was mad I did not get what I wanted from someone clearly having a me moment.

[CptnRn]

I have lived all over the Western half of the US and found that friendly wave to be more of a Texas thing. As is pulling over onto the shoulder to make it easier for someone to pass you if you are driving slower. I remember when Texas had "Drive Friendly" signs where highways entered the state. I did not notice one last time I returned to the state.

[N. Olikee]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I have lived all over the Western half of the US and found that friendly wave to be more of a Texas thing. As is pulling over onto the shoulder to make it easier for someone to pass you if you are driving slower. I remember when Texas had "Drive Friendly" signs where highways entered the state. I did not notice one last time I returned to the state.

The waving is also common in the Midwest, but pulling over to let others pass is more uniquely Texan I think. I remember those "Drive Friendly" signs!

[Jink]

I was under the impression that it was a flat-out Southern thing..