The Bangor Mall's invisible stop signs (shop, farm, cars)

[CoastalMaineiac]

What technology are they using to make stop signs that everyone else can see, but I apparently cannot. I'm talking about the entrances from Stillwater Avenue to the Mall, which form T intersections with the ring road that surrounds the mall. Ever since I started driving, I've always seen two stop signs for the ring road, but I have never seen any for the roads that connect from Stillwater to the ring road.

I can't even see them on Google maps. But they must be there, because any time I go into the mall area, the person in front of me inevitably stops and treats the intersection that looks to me like a two-way stop as though it were an all-way stop. Either that, or people look right at me, see me coming, and pull out in front of me as though they expect I am supposed to stop. So what kind of mysterious gadget do I need in order to see these invisible stop signs that everyone else but me is able to see?

[Brodels]

This happens to me every time I go to the mall, and it's really frustrating. I'm not afraid to use the horn when people just stop in the middle of the road for no good reason.

[jeremywolf81]

Sounds like typical Maine driver behavior. People complain about the Mass folks that visit but I'll take them any day over Mainers who interpret a green light as "stop and look around for a while just to be sure" and lane markers as suggestions.

[Submariner]

I only visit the mall maybe once a year. So I do not deal with Mall ring road much. However at the Stillwater off-ramp from I-95, I routinely see people who decide to park their car when the light turns green. With 10 cars behind them waiting, people will freeze when the light turns green. It is a turn-only lane, the light is an arrow showing which way you have decided to turn. There is no reason for a long discussion or reading a map. All they need to do is release the brakes, turn the steering wheel to roll through the intersection. But it seems that half of the times I go through that intersection, the lead car will decide they would rather sit parked instead of driving their car, when we get a green light.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

They are waiting until all four lanes are clear of traffic so they can duck across and get a burger at Wendy's.

[EmK999]

I think a lot of people stop because it used to be a 4-way stop (habits die hard here- how many people still call it "Doug's" or "Shop 'n Save"?!) and because it wouldn't be unusual if it was. I'd guess it's habit for some and monkey-see-monkey-do for others.

[Maineac]

Funny. I remember when it was the Davis farm and all you had to worry about was the herd of cows that would come running at you thinking you were going to feed them.

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by Maineac

Funny. I remember when it was the Davis farm and all you had to worry about was the herd of cows that would come running at you thinking you were going to feed them.

I grew up five miles from there. It was much more civilized back then. Now it's just a mess.

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by CoastalMaineiac

What technology are they using to make stop signs that everyone else can see, but I apparently cannot. I'm talking about the entrances from Stillwater Avenue to the Mall, which form T intersections with the ring road that surrounds the mall. Ever since I started driving, I've always seen two stop signs for the ring road, but I have never seen any for the roads that connect from Stillwater to the ring road.

I can't even see them on Google maps. But they must be there, because any time I go into the mall area, the person in front of me inevitably stops and treats the intersection that looks to me like a two-way stop as though it were an all-way stop. Either that, or people look right at me, see me coming, and pull out in front of me as though they expect I am supposed to stop. So what kind of mysterious gadget do I need in order to see these invisible stop signs that everyone else but me is able to see?

There aren't any stop signs when you are entering the mall from Stillwater Avenue. This, I always surmised, was a means to facilitate the flow of traffic so as to prevent traffic from backing up on Stillwater Ave.

In the early years (before Stillwater Ave. became the 4 lane mess it is now) there were stop signs.

Maybe people are recalling the early years, or it would seem like there should be a sign there. I don't know.

[mainegrl2011]

to the OP.... quit your gripin'