Pittsburgh driving (Denver: transportation, ranked, congested)

[captainmidnight]

Related letter to the editor regarding the Pittsburgh Left. Debate rages on in the letter's comments: Letter: The 'Pittsburgh left' isn't cute; it's dangerous - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The PL legalities and the Northeast/Midwest/etc classification of Pittsburgh will probably never be settled.

[gg]

Originally Posted by charisb

It happens to me almost every time I drive.

Wow, you must be the first car at a red-light often and in a very interesting area. I never see this in East Liberty or around the East End. There are almost always pedestrians crossing, so how would one do it? Run someone over? Name a few intersections this happens. I would like to see this old wives' tale.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

I have had cars nearly run me over as a pedestrian when they did a Pittsburgh Left right in front of me.

To clear up confusion: if you give permission for someone to do a left in front of you then that is not a Pittsburgh left. If you get caught in the middle of an intersection and have to turn after the light is red that is not a Pittsburgh Left.

If someone cuts off the oncoming lane by making a left after the light turns, that is a Pittsburgh Left.

Video example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAYD85kOP0Q

[Der Schwabe]

Originally Posted by gortonator

Well said. I'd rep you if I could. ... during my rental car ride from Dulles airport to DC in peak hour recently I experienced more aggressive and dumb driving than I have in Pittsburgh this year. There's some crazies out there, for sure, but really ....

Drivers here may be alternatively either timid and clueless or pointlessly aggressive, but in DC there is a solid block of downright confused and terrible drivers that are a serious hazard if you're not aware enough to avoid/stay away from them. By comparison, people here who don't know their way around tend to slow to a crawl, other traffic be damned, until they make a decision. Not saying either is better, but DC has some horrifyingly terrible (fast) drivers.

[charisb]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Wow, you must be the first car at a red-light often and in a very interesting area. I never see this in East Liberty or around the East End. There are almost always pedestrians crossing, so how would one do it? Run someone over? Name a few intersections this happens. I would like to see this old wives' tale.

Okay, I will name just a few: Fifth and Bigelow Blvd (there often are pedestrians and the turner doesn't care--they will just block oncoming traffic); Lilac and Beechwood; Monitor and Shady. No old wives here.
Your incredulity that it almost always happens to me is surpassed by mine that it has never happened to you, especially since you have probably driven here 30 years longer than I have.

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

I have had cars nearly run me over as a pedestrian when they did a Pittsburgh Left right in front of me.

To clear up confusion: if you give permission for someone to do a left in front of you then that is not a Pittsburgh left. If you get caught in the middle of an intersection and have to turn after the light is red that is not a Pittsburgh Left.

If someone cuts off the oncoming lane by making a left after the light turns, that is a Pittsburgh Left.

Exactly.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by doo dah

Do you think that, just maybe, it is the people who are moving here that are bringing their antagonisms with them? I know that is going against your heart-felt beliefs...oh noes, guess I am just another one of those mean, mean Pittsburghers...:tape :

People love to blame everybody else. People in most every larger city have poor driving habits. There are crazy people everywhere. Its not just limited to da 'burgh.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by erieguy

People love to blame everybody else. People in most every larger city have poor driving habits. There are crazy people everywhere. Its not just limited to da 'burgh.

No, but it's different bad driving issues in every town. Here in CO they don't do the Pittsburgh left, but many people run red lights, including making left turns on reds. You kind of have to know the rules of where you are.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Katiana

No, but it's different bad driving issues in every town. Here in CO they don't do the Pittsburgh left, but many people run red lights, including making left turns on reds. You kind of have to know the rules of where you are.

Yep...and those things don't change. Adapt or don't drive.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Katiana

No, but it's different bad driving issues in every town. Here in CO they don't do the Pittsburgh left, but many people run red lights, including making left turns on reds. You kind of have to know the rules of where you are.

I was in Colorado a few months ago and the driving there was a dozen times more pleasant than it is in Pittsburgh. I wasn't stressed out whatsoever driving there as opposed to how I dread getting on the road at rush hour here.

[erieguy]

It's interesting how many of the complaints, especially those from people that moved here, that where they came from was so much better. Crazy why one would move here with all these grass is greener comments. Driving, food, shopping, etc..., is always claimed to be better someplace else. And those that are local are always saying the grass is greener someplace else. Interesting for sure.