Declining driving etiquette (Pittsburgh, Liberty: most dangerous, legal, bus)

[caroline2]

And most interstates are adequately designed to handle those speeds.

The point isn't the physics of it -- maybe it was even engineered/banked to handle speeds up to 90, 100mph. It's irrelevant, because I think few people are arguing that the danger is in the speed per se, the danger is in the lack of consistent driving norms introduced by people who feel entitled to ignore the law by significant amounts. No road, not even the German autobahn, is designed for people driving merely according to "their personal opinion".

[youngabe]

Originally Posted by ljhannah74

Ok, that's your opinion...but my question still remains...why do you want to go so fast! If it's because you need to get somewhere (such as work) on time, here's a simple solution...LEAVE EARLIER! Then you won't have to go so fast. That's what I do. And I get to work in under half an hour, not too bad at all!

The only reason it seems so slow is that everybody wants to go so fast!



75!!! Are you crazy!! Geeze, you need to slow down!

You are one of those drivers I hate!

What kind of vehicle do you drive? I can't even tell I'm doing 75 on a roadway that can handle it. Where do you drive? On 28 in the morning, the entire left lane is doing 75 or better. You acted like I don't go below 100 even on city streets. WHY do I want to go fast? WHY do you want to go slow? There are curvy two lane roads, such as Route 66 (Dime Road) out of Vandergrift towards Kittanning that are posted at 55 in some places and it's a two lane road. Meanwhile, you have a big, wide open, nicely paved Parkway that could handle higher speeds and the limit if 55. THAT is why it's stupid. And if "everybody" wants to go fast...does that tell you something?

And we're even, because you're one of the drivers I hate. Get out of the left lane, keep up with traffic, and don't act like you're shocked when someone is attached to your bumper in the left lane.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

We are coming from the east end of the city. So last night we were on the Blvd of the Allies to 579 to 279. I'm not sure exactly how to access the HOV from that area, but I have a feeling it would be more trouble than it is worth.

Hm. I come from all the way through Oakland (essentially Shadyside), but on 5th, so I keep going down 5th through Uptown and hang a right in the vicinity of the arena. It isn't quite as simple as inbound, this is true. You either have near the arena or over the 9th St Bridge from downtown. Well, or farther down near Heinz Field.

If you were strictly starting from Blvd of the Allies and not from central Oakland, Shadyside, etc., you might consider turning right on Craft, then left on 5th and following this route. Not during an event at the arena, perhaps. But given how still that traffic looks out there, and you can bypass everything that gets backed up including the McKnight off ramp (if that's where you exit), it could be worth it.

[greg42]

I always find the speed thing interesting, that bit about "just leave earlier". I doubt I'm alone in feeling I have a certain "normal" speed, and I don't particularly rev it up faster when trying to get to work on time, get to the airport on time or whatever. So leaving earlier does not equal going slower. My normal speed on the interstate is about 75 mph.

Speed limits are routinely posted at 75 mph in some states and even 80 mph in Texas on divided, interstate-type highways. The roads aren't built any differently. When traffic is light, visibility is good, etc. this is a perfectly safe speed.

Local roads, traffic lights, etc, etc, all create different environments that call for lower speeds.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by greg42

Hm. I come from all the way through Oakland (essentially Shadyside), but on 5th, so I keep going down 5th through Uptown and hang a right in the vicinity of the arena. It isn't quite as simple as inbound, this is true. You either have near the arena or over the 9th St Bridge from downtown. Well, or farther down near Heinz Field.

If you were strictly starting from Blvd of the Allies and not from central Oakland, Shadyside, etc., you might consider turning right on Craft, then left on 5th and following this route. Not during an event at the arena, perhaps. But given how still that traffic looks out there, and you can bypass everything that gets backed up including the McKnight off ramp (if that's where you exit), it could be worth it.

I know exactly where you are talking about now. And I've seen that on ramp. The reason we take the Blvd is to avoid the clogging of 5th Avenue through Oakland.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by ljhannah74

75!!! Are you crazy!! Geeze, you need to slow down!

You are one of those drivers I hate!

I have to believe, after reading your posts, that you are either here to strike a nerve with people, or you should just stay off of the roads, period.

I mentioned earlier that I always leave an hour before I'm supposed to be anywhere, and I drive anywhere from 61-70 mph on the Parkway East. I do that to stay with the flow of traffic, not to outrun anyone.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I know exactly where you are talking about now. And I've seen that on ramp. The reason we take the Blvd is to avoid the clogging of 5th Avenue through Oakland.

I think you've traded one problem for a worse one, really. The clogging of 5th has its ups and downs, worse some days than others. But at the time I usually head down it (just after 5pm) it's usually manageable. For a while it was much much worse while they were doing the Blvd construction. During that time, I took to going over to Baum, to Bigelow, down through Polish Hill, through the Strip to 9th St Bridge and HOV. Sounds ridiculous, but it's a path of very little resistance especially with no lights on Smallman. I'm convinced the HOV more than makes up for the 5th Ave traffic. (I don't start from a good spot to get on the Blvd anyway.)

During the last few Pens games I took Centre straight through the Hill District, then cut up over to Bedford Ave before reaching Crawford so as to avoid any arena congestion. (The HOV entrance is on Bedford.) The natives will shudder. It's DAYTIME people! LOL

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by greg42

I always find the speed thing interesting, that bit about "just leave earlier". I doubt I'm alone in feeling I have a certain "normal" speed, and I don't particularly rev it up faster when trying to get to work on time, get to the airport on time or whatever. So leaving earlier does not equal going slower. My normal speed on the interstate is about 75 mph.

Speed limits are routinely posted at 75 mph in some states and even 80 mph in Texas on divided, interstate-type highways. The roads aren't built any differently. When traffic is light, visibility is good, etc. this is a perfectly safe speed.

Local roads, traffic lights, etc, etc, all create different environments that call for lower speeds.

My family all lives in Cincinnati, so I regularly drive I79 to I70 back and forth. I don't usually drive more than 10mph over the limit, but 55mph on an empty stretch of road is ridiculous. The thing that makes the limit doable on 79 is that I've never seen a state trooper set a speed trap. I know that they just did one near Carnegie a few weeks ago, but it's nothing like Ohio, where as soon as you cross the border you see troopers with their radar guns right away and often.

[ljhannah74]

Originally Posted by youngabe

What kind of vehicle do you drive? I can't even tell I'm doing 75 on a roadway that can handle it. Where do you drive? On 28 in the morning, the entire left lane is doing 75 or better. You acted like I don't go below 100 even on city streets.

I did not say such a thing.

WHY do I want to go fast? WHY do you want to go slow? There are curvy two lane roads, such as Route 66 (Dime Road) out of Vandergrift towards Kittanning that are posted at 55 in some places and it's a two lane road. Meanwhile, you have a big, wide open, nicely paved Parkway that could handle higher speeds and the limit if 55. THAT is why it's stupid.

The point is that your personal opinion of what speed is safe doesn't matter..it is what it is. The safe speed is determine by engineers. If you think it's stupid, that's too bad...you are under obligation to obey the limit...if you don't you're breaking the law.

And if "everybody" wants to go fast...does that tell you something?

Yeah, it tells me that everyone is in a hurry to get where they're going and that they don't care about breaking the law. There is nothing wrong with crusing at 55 on the parkway in the right hand lane.

And remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare...slow and steady wins the race. I know it's not a race, but it does prove a point...that it is best to drive at a slower, but steady, pace.

And we're even, because you're one of the drivers I hate. Get out of the left lane, keep up with traffic, and don't act like you're shocked when someone is attached to your bumper in the left lane.

Again, I mentioned that even in the right lane, I get tailgated. I do stay out of the left lane.

[youngabe]

Originally Posted by ljhannah74

I did not say such a thing.



The point is that your personal opinion of what speed is safe doesn't matter..it is what it is. The safe speed is determine by engineers. If you think it's stupid, that's too bad...you are under obligation to obey the limit...if you don't you're breaking the law.



Yeah, it tells me that everyone is in a hurry to get where they're going and that they don't care about breaking the law. There is nothing wrong with crusing at 55 on the parkway in the right hand lane.

And remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare...slow and steady wins the race. I know it's not a race, but it does prove a point...that it is best to drive at a slower, but steady, pace.



Again, I mentioned that even in the right lane, I get tailgated. I do stay out of the left lane.

I don't agree with you, you don't agree with me, I think your points suck, you think mine suck. There, we're even.