Is NoVA area THAT fast paced? (Arlington, Washington: home, train, cars)

[tsuric]

Saw some very bizarre incidents yesterday, all in one day....

1. Saw someone jump aside as a left turning car almost hit him, missing him by an inch. That car did not attempt to stop at all.

2. I saw a guy in a full suit complete with dress shoes running full speed down in Arlington. He was out of shape too and was in some big hurry. He was also talking on his phone while running full speed. Might I also mention that this was while it was almost 100 outside?

3. In the Washington Metro, a train going towards DC was just coming to a stop and it usually stops several feet in front of the Metro stairwell. Yet all 12 people who were behind ran for it anyway full speed and all of them tried to fight through the doors as they closed (even with running it closed just as the first guy reached it). They don't even realize that it is rush hour hence the next train is only 2 mins away. HAHAHA 2 mins out of your day and they were all up in arms.

I don't know but going THAT fast is bad for your health.... I mean at this point it seems bizarre, almost funny sometimes (except for #1 maybe)

I mean I've had my share of busy days before but I've never been THAT much in a hurry. I mean at that speed you'd run face first into a concrete wall before you even noticed one just MIGHT be there.

[CAVA1990]

Much of this hurriedness is the result of our grossly inadequate transportation infrastructure. I'm assuming the dude in the suit was running for a bus?

[ChristineVA]

Not limited to NoVA.

I was driving home from West Virginia on Monday. Still in West Virginia, doing 70 mph or more down the curvy mountain highway of I-68. The guy next to me couldn't stay in his lane all that well. As I passed him, my dad looked over into his vehicle--no hands on the wheel, texting on this phone AND smoking a cigarette. Doing about 75 mph. Scary stuff.

As for the Metro, man, you apparently have to be quick. I haven't ridden it regularly in years but I don't remember it being a problem.

Last week, my son went to a Nats game with a friend and her parents. They were getting on the Metro, the train had *just* arrived and the doors quickly shut separating them from the parents. My son said there was hardly any time to actual get on the train.

I think the other poster was correct--whenever an area gets transporation deficiencies, you start seeing all sorts of aggressive behavior.

[jillabean]

#1 is pretty scary. But my guess is if the car got within an inch of the person, the driver (for whatever reason) didn't see the pedestrian in the first place (and wouldn't know to stop).

Yesterday I had someone behind me honking a horn at me because I wouldn't turn left as oncoming rush hour traffic was zipping over an incline. The problem was I couldn't see cars until they crested at the top of the incline--at which point I couldn't turn without risk getting hit or at the very least making them slam on their breaks. The only way I could turn was wait for a green arrow or "turn blind" and pray I didn't get T-boned by a speeding car. It was not worth it to save a few minutes on a light cycle. But boy was he impatient with the honking.

[yamota]

lot of people round here LOVE leaning on that horn, even if they can see pedestrians crossing the street, they still love honking that thing

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by yamota

lot of people round here LOVE leaning on that horn, even if they can see pedestrians crossing the street, they still love honking that thing

"He who hesitates gets honked at."

[yamota]

He who smelt it, dealt it

[perries]

3. In the Washington Metro, a train going towards DC was just coming to a stop and it usually stops several feet in front of the Metro stairwell. Yet all 12 people who were behind ran for it anyway full speed and all of them tried to fight through the doors as they closed (even with running it closed just as the first guy reached it). They don't even realize that it is rush hour hence the next train is only 2 mins away. HAHAHA 2 mins out of your day and they were all up in arms.

Sounds like Rosslyn. One time our train stopped at Rosslyn, and this guy in the middle of the car jumped up and stampeded out, bowling people out of the way, practically before the door opened. It was like pro football in there, all of a sudden.

[Back to NE]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Much of this hurriedness is the result of our grossly inadequate transportation infrastructure. I'm assuming the dude in the suit was running for a bus?

This is not fair at all. We ain't Europe, but the DC area surely ranks among the best US cities for public trans... and I think are roads and highways aren't bad either, were just highly populated due to our relative success.

THe dude in the suit was probably late for an interview or meeting... and maybe he was just in shape.

[oneasterisk]

Originally Posted by Back to NE

THe dude in the suit was probably late for an interview or meeting... and maybe he was just in shape.

Or the bathroom...

I don't think NOVA is as fast paced as say NY.