I am not an expert. It is true that I have never been in an accident while driving and that I have no tickets... but I am not an expert. However, I feel like I can give a few pointers to driver's in Tulsa at large that I thought of while reading the road rage thread. So here we go:
1) You are not in charge of speed enforcement, please stay in the appropriate lane.
2) Appropriate Lanes:
On a three lane highway slower traffic should be in the middle lane if NOT merging or exiting. Fast traffic and passing traffic in the left lane. Whenever possible, serve the right most lane for merging traffic and people who slow down way before an exit ramp.
3) On and off of highways:
When exiting a highway, there is usually no need to break before exiting the highway. In the rare instance that this is required, please inconvenience yourself instead of everyone else by decelerating more rapidly than usual AFTER indicating your exit by use of your blinker.
If a merge lane is provided upon exiting a highway, such as onto 71st, or from the BA onto Harvard - you do NOT have to stop. You do NOT have to stop. Keep moving and merge into traffic. Yield sign means use caution, not stop.
Even more importantly, when merging DO NOT STOP. If you stop it makes it much more difficult to actually merge AND requires everyone behind you to stop. When you finally do manage to merge you will likely hinder traffic behind you. On ramps are provided to allow you to get up to highway speed and merge as easily as possible. Whenever you can, do so and avoid stopping.
4) Blinker's are supposed to tell people that you are going to turn. They are not effective if you flip them on AS you are turning, nor are they automatic. Use of blinkers allows other people to anticipate your actions and take proper measures to avoid an accident and keep traffic flow smooth.
5) Turning:
First, you are allowed to turn right at a red light unless otherwise marked and are actually encouraged to do so. Apparently less known is the fact that you can turn left from a one way onto another one way. Both tactics speed traffic flow.
Another important idea is near lane turning. When turning onto a four lane road you are suppose to turn into the NEAREST lane possible. This will allow traffic from the opposite direction to turn at the same time, provided both parties turn into their respective near lane at the same time.
When turning at a stop light or a stop sign, it is appropriate for you to proceed INTO the intersection while waiting for cross traffic to clear. In such a way you will be able to complete your turn as soon as traffic clears without having to proceed into the intersection first. At a red light, if you are in the intersection waiting to turn and the light begins to turn; the proper and LEGAL thing for you to do is to wait for cross traffic to stop and complete your turn (thus not blocking traffic in any direction).
6) Four way stops.
These are not as complex as you might fear. At a stop there are two axis, the N axis (for North and South) and the W (for East and West). The car that is there first, gets to go first. If two cars on the same axis arrive at the same time they can proceed together. Any car going straight has right of way over a turning car on the same axis.
If two cars arrive at the same time on different axis you are to YIELD TO THE RIGHT. The car on the right gets to go first. If, as is common, there are multiple cars waiting on all axis it is a turn based system. Axis N gets to go from both directions at the same time, and then Axis W gets to go from both axis at the same time – always remembering that the car going straight proceeds unimpeded.
While polite, sitting and waiving each other on does not aid traffic flow. Follow the rules and just go when its your turn.
7) Roundabouts.
There are 3 real roundabouts in Tulsa that I know of, however, there are other divides at intersections within neighborhoods that serve as mini roundabouts. The basic rule at any intersection is you have to turn right no matter where you want to end up. You have to turn right at the Bartlett fountain and go all the way around if you want to end up facing to the left of your starting position.
All other traffic rules apply. Just turn right.
8) Driving downtown:
First a very helpful hint: In downtown Tulsa the lights are actually timed correctly. At about 20 mph you will make the light. Faster than that and you will stop at every light.
When driving downtown keep in mind that many people are lost. Still more people are looking for somewhere to park. And yet others are stopped to make deliveries and such. Be advised that lane lines and parking spaces are more like suggestions in a downtown area and you should be prepared to improvise when needed to keep traffic moving. Sorry, the rules are not firm – but that's the way things are in a downtown area.
9) Shooting – it is rarely, if ever, appropriate to shoot at a person or thing from your vehicle nor to shoot AT vehicles at any time. This should go without saying, but alas...
10) Purpose.
The purpose of driving is to get you to a destination. It is not to eat, do your hair, pluck eye brows, shave, sexual activities, or talk on the phone. If and when doing these things interferes with your or another's intended purpose of driving – that is to say getting to a destination, then you need to cease said activity. I don't care if you do it, so long as it does not impede the purpose.
11) Rubber Neck
Rubber Necking refers to people who slow down and risk more accidents by gawking at accidents that have already occured (often in the other lane). Don't do this. Keep driving. You can glance and see what you can see as you drive by and please slow down or stop if not doing so is dangerous. But when the accident is on the other side of a divided highway never, ever, slow down to look at it. I hate you.
12) Bicycles.
You are not a car. I appreciate that rules allow you to operate on the roads under normal traffic laws. However, I remind you again that you are not a car. If you are not capable of going the stated speed limit please get the over so I may pass. Thanks for saving the world, but don't slow me down while you do it. This rule applies to biker Foxes as well as cycling Santas.
13) Emergency Vehicles.
It is our duty and the law to get out of the way of emergency vehicles. However, this does not always entail stopping right where you are. It is best to get over to the right and THEN stop. At intersections it works well if everyone in fact just stops so the cop/ambulance/limo with Bob Stoops can just go around the traffic at the intersection – HOWEVER, if you see a problem develop and the vehicle can not get through, you may have to turn right just to clear a lane. Go ahead, make the sacrifice.
Also worth noting, if an emergency vehicle is not on the same street, turning onto your street, or on the other side of a divided road/highway – you don't have to get over. Continuing down the BA West will not impede an East Bound ambulance in any way. For that matter, on the freeway just get over, don't stop.
14) Traffic is waiting 2 hours to go from exit 14A to exit 14B in Houston, not your 25 minute 30 mile drive in to Tulsa from Owasso.
And 15) Not a rule, but as a matter of personal preference: I don't care if your child is an honor student, a soccer player, or if your kid can beat up mine. Nor do I care to hear your Honda from 6 blocks away because you spent $1K taking off a perfectly good tailpipe. For that matter, don't spend money on rims, stereos, and paint until your car runs right. I don't want to hear you ***** about gas prices as you fill up your suburban. No, you probably don't NEED to drive a truck. Playing Mariachi music loudly does not make me think you're cool, nor any other music for that matter. If your car is blowing enough smoke that I think it is on fire, I may ram you off the road for the safety of other drivers. Fake bullet holes aren't cool. If you went to the same school as me, please don't put our alumni plates on a 1987 K-car. I can read that, but I can't back up because I'm stopped at a light. Wear your seatbelt so it doesn't cost so much to fix you when you crash. Young people: you can't drive. Old People: you can't drive. Please sit up when you drive, lie down when you get home. I'll stop now.
Wow. Common sense. How refreshing. Too bad the morons that need to see this won't.
(http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/characters/character0229.gif)(http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/characters/character0229.gif)(http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/characters/character0229.gif)
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Quote from Cannon Fodder..."I have never been in an accident while driving..."
I can't wait to run into you...tell me where you will be driving so I can aim for your car...
someone that stops to merge onto a freeway...ive been behind a couple of these knuckledraggers a few times now. it would be funny if it werent so dangerous.
What a great post..
quote:
Originally posted by recyclemichael
I can't wait to run into you...tell me where you will be driving so I can aim for your car...
Now play nice! I drive a white Ford Crown Victory marked "POLICE" (Property of Life Insurance Committee Executive) that for some reason came with lights on the roof. Ram away. [:P]
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Ram away.
How did you know I drive a Dodge Ram pickup truck?
quote:
Originally posted by grahambino
someone that stops to merge onto a freeway...ive been behind a couple of these knuckledraggers a few times now. it would be funny if it werent so dangerous.
The entrance ramp just before Lewis onto eastbound BA. I count on it at least twice a week. They speed up to get to the top of the ramp, I slow to allow them in, then they slow to a freaking crawl.
I feel like taking cast-off boiler tubes and welding them to the front and right side of my truck in a fashion like a cattle catcher on a steam locomotive to deal with these idiots.
CF-
Item 16: When driving on a four lane turnpike, or highway, the left lane is for passing only, not to pull out and be a turd that backs up traffic or speeds up and rams other cars into the tail pipe of the slow-poke in front of them in the right lane.
Flashing high beams from the vehicle behind you in the fast lane means get over, flashing high beams from the vehicle you just passed in the right lane means it's safe to merge back to the right lane where you belong. [:(!][:(!]
Item 17: Just because you have seen Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon bump draft on TV doesn't mean you can do it on streets or highways.
Item 18: Don't cut me off with two inches to spare, remember what that cattle catcher is for on the front of my truck.
And finally, when did BMW, Mercedes, and Lexus quit equipping their cars with turn signals?
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
I am not an expert.
12) Bicycles.
You are not a car. I appreciate that rules allow you to operate on the roads under normal traffic laws. However, I remind you again that you are not a car. If you are not capable of going the stated speed limit please get the over so I may pass. Thanks for saving the world, but don�t slow me down while you do it. This rule applies to biker Foxes as well as cycling Santas.
In the same vein, why don't you just signal LEFT, change lanes, and pass in the adjacent lane? I don't seem to have a problem with either the biker foxes and the cycling Santas on the Broken Arrow Expressway. In fact, I kinda enjoy the break from the routine of sitting endlessly in a long line of cars in front of me on Memorial.
Seeing Santa blast down the BA, with his arms raised high, with all manner of cars, trucks, and 18-wheelers rolling thunder all over the place is nothing short of AMAZING! How does Santa do it? Amazing, just amazing!
Everybody can see Santa a mile away in front of them. Before I even get close, I've changed lanes. You know Santa's NOT gonna go any faster and he's NOT giving up his lane.
What really pisses me off are the dumb idiots who go right up behind him, stuck behind him, and expect ME to give them room to pull out in front of me. If you are too stupid to change lanes early and get stuck behind Santa, you probably deserve to wet your pants while waiting too long for your turn to change lanes.
What's your problem? Do you own the road just because you have four wheels, instead of two? Sounds to me you are the one who needs Driver's Ed 101.
12) Bicycles.
"You are not a car. I appreciate that rules allow you to operate on the roads under normal traffic laws. However, I remind you again that you are not a car. If you are not capable of going the stated speed limit please get the over so I may pass. Thanks for saving the world, but don't slow me down while you do it. This rule applies to biker Foxes as well as cycling Santas."
Aww, I feel your pain. Meanwhile, you can watch my fat, black-spandex clad donkey until it's SAFE to pass since we both know it's the overtaking motorist's responsibility to do so safely. So you wait until the on-coming lane is clear, then pass with at least 3 feet of separation between us. That's not difficult. Crisis averted.
Move along, move along. Nothing to see here.
LMAO- good post.
Great post!
Until I went to college, I hadn't spent much time in OKC...so imagine my surprise/disgust, when I realized that almost EVERYONE there stops at the end of entrance ramps. It's a maddening epidemic, at least it was from 1994-1999.
Also, I think the turn signal is greatly under appreciated. On my way to work down 15th, i usually get stuck behind people at Lewis and Utica who think that they don't have to turn their turn signals on to make that left turn until the light turns green, so you are stuck sitting behind them, usually through an entire light cycle.
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
12) Bicycles.
"You are not a car. I appreciate that rules allow you to operate on the roads under normal traffic laws. However, I remind you again that you are not a car. If you are not capable of going the stated speed limit please get the over so I may pass. Thanks for saving the world, but don't slow me down while you do it. This rule applies to biker Foxes as well as cycling Santas."
Aww, I feel your pain. Meanwhile, you can watch my fat, black-spandex clad donkey until it's SAFE to pass since we both know it's the overtaking motorist's responsibility to do so safely. So you wait until the on-coming lane is clear, then pass with at least 3 feet of separation between us. That's not difficult. Crisis averted.
Move along, move along. Nothing to see here.
On this I agree with Ed....
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
Great post!
Until I went to college, I hadn't spent much time in OKC...so imagine my surprise/disgust, when I realized that almost EVERYONE there stops at the end of entrance ramps. It's a maddening epidemic, at least it was from 1994-1999.
Also, I think the turn signal is greatly under appreciated. On my way to work down 15th, i usually get stuck behind people at Lewis and Utica who think that they don't have to turn their turn signals on to make that left turn until the light turns green, so you are stuck sitting behind them, usually through an entire light cycle.
I don't get the idea of the "ambush" left turn signal at stop lights w/o left turn lanes. Why keep it a secret to the last second and bottle up people behind you?
The other pisser is the folks who pull up to an intersection with a no left turn sign clearly displayed, then act as if they are blind and deaf as the cars behind them honk to move along instead of attempting an illegal left turn.
jambalyajoe, Ed W, Breadburner, Biker Foxes and Paul Taes:
I am capable of seeing the amusement of seeing a cycling Santa in July that will dance naked for $1. It amuses me. Even though his most common performance place is my commuter route near the BA on Harvard, it is still more amusing that frustrating. It fact, this entire post was meant to be more amusing than serious.
However, my point still stands. While I understand and stated that cyclists have rights on the road, it would be courteous to try and avoid slowing down traffic. I biked to law school, work, or the bar building many, many days for 3+ years... so I feel your pain when people are bing jerks. However, more often than not I took side streets so as to not slow traffic down on Harvard and/or get myself killed.
and I have never seen Biker Fox cause any sort of trouble in traffic, I have just never had a chance to bring him up in a post before so I had to take the opportunity.
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=bikerfox&search=Search
http://www.bikerfox.com/
be afraid, be very afraid. [;)]
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
and I have never seen Biker Fox cause any sort of trouble in traffic, I have just never had a chance to bring him up in a post before so I had to take the opportunity.
http://youtube.com/results?search_query=bikerfox&search=Search
http://www.bikerfox.com/
It seems the reason why Biker Fox doesn't seem to cause "trouble" in traffic is because he is in VIOLATION of the traffic laws. Whenever I see him, he's riding AGAINST traffic, on the sidewalk, or on the median. All violations of Tulsa Ordinance and the State Statutes.
Santa seems to be causing "trouble," because he is OBEYING the law, riding WITH traffic. In all seriousness, C-Fodder, why don't YOU simply SLOW down? If you guys haven't figure it out, the greens are timed for 25mph, NOT 45.
You know, courtesy and respect works BOTH ways. Give respect. GET respect. Support yer local Santa. SLOW DOWN.
If Santa's cycling techniques are so dangerous, wouldn't he have been run over a long time ago? When was the last time Santa made the six o'clock news for either CAUSING a crash or being in a crash? NEVER.
Really, the REAL problems are IGNORANT motorists simply annoyed at being detained behind some fat guy in red for all of TEN whole seconds, abusing 911, and equally IGNORANT cops like you, who blow their overtime and day off, just to bust Santa for not having his hands on the handlebars as he's trying to dry out his armpits.
Who gets the first trip to the County MORGUE after a duel between a bicycle and Hummer? If there had been ANY serious disrespect of the traffic laws on Santa's part, X-mas would have been CANCELLED a LONG time ago.
Perhaps you posted in jest. But, NOBODY's laughing when IGNORANT views come from COPS. With ALL due respect, Santa has NO more obligation, at whatever speed he choose, to stay off any GIVEN roadway than you do.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
jambalyajoe, Ed W, Breadburner, Biker Foxes and Paul Taes:I
jambalyajoe and Paul Tay are the same person...
Note from admin: Yup
quote:
Originally posted by recyclemichael
jambalyajoe and Paul Tay are the same person...
Yep. Guess who the REAL fat guy is? Remember, respect and courtesy works BOTH ways. Give respect. GET respect.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
Even more importantly, when merging DO NOT STOP. If you stop it makes it much more difficult to actually merge AND requires everyone behind you to stop. When you finally do manage to merge you will likely hinder traffic behind you. On ramps are provided to allow you to get up to highway speed and merge as easily as possible. Whenever you can, do so and avoid stopping.
I've always felt uncomfortable with the westbound BA onramp on 21st across from Borders. That one is a hit or miss with me. I avoid that onramp as much as possible.
The eastbound onramp next to the bookstore parking lot is a different story. It gives you plenty of length to hit highway speed by the time you merge.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
The other pisser is the folks who pull up to an intersection with a no left turn sign clearly displayed, then act as if they are blind and deaf as the cars behind them honk to move along instead of attempting an illegal left turn.
Haha! I saw that yesterday on the way home on 15th & Lewis. This vehicle was stopped in the intersection try to make a left turn, when that No Left Turn sign was visible. I heard the truck behind him honk. As I passed them from the opposite direction, the lady that was honking was flipping him off. She looked like she was going to kill someone. LOL!
Good post, cannon_fodder.
Here's a story for ya.....I was sitting on the deck at the Bru House about 3 weeks back anyway I turn around and look at the intersection, North bound traffic...An idiot had exited his vehicle at the light and approached Santa and tried to punch him...Santa did one of the best head and shoulder fakes I have seen....In the mean time the punchers truck takes off down Peoria,with the puncher chasing it...heh....He had forgotten to put his truck in park before attempting to give Santa a knuckle sandwhich.....Chalk on up for Santa...It made my weekend....
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
Here's a story for ya.....I was sitting on the deck at the Bru House about 3 weeks back anyway I turn around and look at the intersection, North bound traffic...An idiot had exited his vehicle at the light and approached Santa and tried to punch him...Santa did one of the best head and shoulder fakes I have seen....In the mean time the punchers truck takes off down Peoria,with the puncher chasing it...heh....He had forgotten to put his truck in park before attempting to give Santa a knuckle sandwhich.....Chalk on up for Santa...It made my weekend....
Good grief. Don't we ALREADY have ENOUGH violence on the 6 o'clock NEWS? Do motorists BELIEVE in X-Mas ANYMORE? I give UP.
So, Tulsa is lucky enough to have the FAT guy in red biking around loose because North Pole melted from global warming.
Hey, wait just a minute. You were at the Bru House? Well, that explains EVERYTHING! You were DRUNK.
Next time you guys see an UNIDENTIFIED bicycling object, aka Santa, pull over, stop, and call 585-5571. You are WAY too sloshed to be driving and TPD Santa Task Force can't be far behind!
Sorry...I was not drunk......
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
Sorry...I was not drunk......
Right. That's what they all say! Tell it to the JUDGE! But, it was a funny story. Thanks for sharing.
quote:
Originally posted by SkratchySeal
Haha! I saw that yesterday on the way home on 15th & Lewis. This vehicle was stopped in the intersection try to make a left turn, when that No Left Turn sign was visible. I heard the truck behind him honk. As I passed them from the opposite direction, the lady that was honking was flipping him off. She looked like she was going to kill someone. LOL!
Exact intersection I was talking about, latest I saw was Monday night, east-bound lanes. I was in the right lane and heard the 2nd car in line honking at a white SUV doing the blind/deaf thing trying to turn north on Lewis.
cannon_fodder wrote:
"While I understand and stated that cyclists have rights on the road, it would be courteous to try and avoid slowing down traffic. I biked to law school, work, or the bar building many, many days for 3+ years... so I feel your pain when people are bing jerks. However, more often than not I took side streets so as to not slow traffic down on Harvard and/or get myself killed."
I didn't take the original post too seriously. But let's be clear about courtesy and safety. Most lanes in the area are too narrow for a cyclist to share safely side-by-side with a motor vehicle. The cyclist is safer if he rides in the right hand tire track rather than over against the fog line. Riding far to the right encourages motorists to 'squeeze by' the slow-moving cyclist. But when he's further to the left, they must wait and pass when it's safe.
Courtesy is nice, but it shouldn't trump safety. Nothing in the law obligates any road user to do something he knows is unsafe. So if you overtake some big guy grinding along uphill and into the wind, and he's riding in the right hand tire track, it could just possibly be me. It's true that I am not a car. I just weigh about the same.
So THAT'S what that funny stick is for on the left side of my steering wheel column....
quote:
Even more importantly, when merging DO NOT STOP. If you stop it makes it much more difficult to actually merge AND requires everyone behind you to stop. When you finally do manage to merge you will likely hinder traffic behind you. On ramps are provided to allow you to get up to highway speed and merge as easily as possible. Whenever you can, do so and avoid stopping.
I wish they had thought of this at the Westbound on-ramp to I-44 from the BA Eastbound. Half-of-the-time, I can make it, but the other half of the time, the traffic won't allow you to merge.
quote:
Originally posted by jambalyajoe
quote:
Originally posted by Breadburner
Sorry...I was not drunk......
Right. That's what they all say! Tell it to the JUDGE! But, it was a funny story. Thanks for sharing.
Tell what to the judge....?
Blinkers are not always wise to use. Drivers will offten try and cut you off, or turn in front of you, or speed up so as you can't change lanes if you signal- sometimes it's best to just change lanes without using the blinkers, and make your move before they can block you in. Thus, Sometimes it's best not to use blinkers. The key word here is "Sometimes". It depends on the driving conditions. or so it seems to me.
quote:
Originally posted by sauerkraut
Blinkers are not always wise to use. Drivers will offten try and cut you off, or turn in front of you, or speed up so as you can't change lanes if you signal- sometimes it's best to just change lanes without using the blinkers, and make your move before they can block you in. Thus, Sometimes it's best not to use blinkers. The key word here is "Sometimes". It depends on the driving conditions. or so it seems to me.
If you are that close to the proximity of another vehicle in the lane you desire to move to in that you could be cut off using your blinker, you are obviously too close. If you need to change lanes and the only way to do it is cut someone else off or force your way in, that situation can be alleviated by knowing your route and being in the right lane to begin with.
I can't stand people who don't signal their intentions-its nothing but rude.
If someone has already posted this, please forgive me....(I did not write this, I am just passing it on.)
DRIVING IN TULSA
If your Tulsa map is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one. If you're in Broken Arrow and your map is one day old, then it is already obsolete.
Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Tulsa has its own version of traffic rules.
All directions start with "Get on Memorial" which has no beginning and no end. Everything in Tulsa is "just off Memorial".
The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10. The evening rush hour is from 3 to 7. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.
If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot. When you are the first one on the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid crashing with all the drivers running the red light in cross-traffic.
Construction in I-44 is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment.
All unexpected or strange sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we're in Jenks."
If someone actually has a turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect.
All old ladies with blue har in Mercedes have the right of way. PERIOD.
I-44 is called the Skelly Bypass. No one has ever figured out what it bypasses. State Highway 51 is either the Broken Arrow Expressway or the Keystone Expressway, depending on which way you're headed. US64 comes up Memorial from Bixby, joins 169 for a few miles, and then heads west with SH 51 towards Sand Springs.
Maps of Tulsa show an Interstate 444 in downtown Tulsa. If you find it let us know. The alleged I-444 is half of the inner-dispersal loop, wich is not for the faint of heart.
Highway 169 in rush hour is the Tulsa equivalent of NASCAR. Just shut up and draft like the rest of us.
If asking directions along North Utica or in west Tulsa, you must have knowledge of Spanish. If you're on 21st Street, Mandarin Chinese or Vietnamese will be your best bet. If you stop to ask directions on Pine or Peoria, you better be armed.
The minimum acceptable speed on the Broken Arrow Expressway is 85. Anything less is considered downright sissy.
If it's 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend. If it's 10 degrees and snowing, it's homecoming at TU. If it's rained 6 inches in the last hour, and it is Spring, it's opening day for the Drillers. If it is Fall, the Tulsa State Fair is going on.
All amusement parks, stadiums, arenas, race tracks, airports, etc., are conveniently located as far away from EVERTYHING as possible so as to allow for ample parking on grassy areas.
With these simple rules in mind, you are now ready to drive in Tulsa.
Please try to keep up.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
quote:
Originally posted by grahambino
someone that stops to merge onto a freeway...ive been behind a couple of these knuckledraggers a few times now. it would be funny if it werent so dangerous.
The entrance ramp just before Lewis onto eastbound BA. I count on it at least twice a week. They speed up to get to the top of the ramp, I slow to allow them in, then they slow to a freaking crawl.
I feel like taking cast-off boiler tubes and welding them to the front and right side of my truck in a fashion like a cattle catcher on a steam locomotive to deal with these idiots.
Of course Conan, the real question is why are you even the right lane at all when approaching an on-ramp?? It's always better to never wander into that lane unless you're planning to exit at the very next exit, in which case it's still better to stay one lane over until it's clear of merging traffic from the onramp.
My BIGGEST pet peeve is folks who "cruise" in the right lane around the city's highway system leaving folks in the merge lane to either SLAM on their brakes to avoid an accident or throttle it mercilessly to get ahead of them. While I can usually throttle it without any problem, most older drivers when faced with a decision to hit a concrete wall or some idiot who is blocking the right lane will STOP before killing them and their passengers lol.
Speaking of which, why is it dumptrucks move all the way over to the passing lane and crawl at 55-60 on 169? It doesn't matter if it makes it easier for them to allow traffic to merge, at least stay no farther than the middle lane. Leave the passing lanes to the cars.
Here (//%22http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/v2/_a/drive-like-a-cop/20070522141809990001%22) are some driving tips from AOL on 'How to Drive Like a Cop.'
quote:
Originally posted by tim huntzinger
Here (//%22http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/v2/_a/drive-like-a-cop/20070522141809990001%22) are some driving tips from AOL on 'How to Drive Like a Cop.'
Where's the one on 'How to Lie Like a Cop'?
Radar wrote:
I-44 is called the Skelly Bypass. No one has ever figured out what it bypasses.
<end clip>
Not to act like a smart*ss, but I do know why it's called that.
I-44 once was called Skelly Drive. It bypassed City Route 66, which was 11th Street and Southwest Boulevard for many years. Skelly was simply a faster way for cross-country travelers to go through town.
Thus ends your local history lesson for the day. [:D]
quote:
Originally posted by bacjz00
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
quote:
Originally posted by grahambino
someone that stops to merge onto a freeway...ive been behind a couple of these knuckledraggers a few times now. it would be funny if it werent so dangerous.
The entrance ramp just before Lewis onto eastbound BA. I count on it at least twice a week. They speed up to get to the top of the ramp, I slow to allow them in, then they slow to a freaking crawl.
I feel like taking cast-off boiler tubes and welding them to the front and right side of my truck in a fashion like a cattle catcher on a steam locomotive to deal with these idiots.
Of course Conan, the real question is why are you even the right lane at all when approaching an on-ramp?? It's always better to never wander into that lane unless you're planning to exit at the very next exit, in which case it's still better to stay one lane over until it's clear of merging traffic from the onramp.
My BIGGEST pet peeve is folks who "cruise" in the right lane around the city's highway system leaving folks in the merge lane to either SLAM on their brakes to avoid an accident or throttle it mercilessly to get ahead of them. While I can usually throttle it without any problem, most older drivers when faced with a decision to hit a concrete wall or some idiot who is blocking the right lane will STOP before killing them and their passengers lol.
The real answer is that I exit off on 15th- that nice little sweeping 90 degree exit where drunks frequently wind up in the back yard of the house off the point of the exit. If you aren't in the right lane by the Lewis entrance, chances are, you won't get off for 15th, especially at rush hour.
Then, you've got that freaky merge on/off lane over the 15th St. bridge.
You brought to mind another driving peeve is people in the right lane who won't slow a little or get over a lane when there is room to do so as a courtesy to people coming up the ramp to merge on the highway. I understand if there is someone in the next lane over- either speed up or slow down to let the merging traffic in.
I'm kind of sad Paul missed out on the part of my post where I said he amused me. Then he called me ignorant. I feel the need to point out that I have seen him debate in public before and the label of ignorant from someone who opens with a "biking while Asian" joke just isnt that threatening.
For that matter, the minimum speed limit on the BA is 45mph. You aren't that fast... so don't start preaching about ordinances.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
quote:
Originally posted by bacjz00
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Originally posted by Conan71
quote:
Originally posted by grahambino
someone that stops to merge onto a freeway...ive been behind a couple of these knuckledraggers a few times now. it would be funny if it werent so dangerous.
The entrance ramp just before Lewis onto eastbound BA. I count on it at least twice a week. They speed up to get to the top of the ramp, I slow to allow them in, then they slow to a freaking crawl.
I feel like taking cast-off boiler tubes and welding them to the front and right side of my truck in a fashion like a cattle catcher on a steam locomotive to deal with these idiots.
Of course Conan, the real question is why are you even the right lane at all when approaching an on-ramp?? It's always better to never wander into that lane unless you're planning to exit at the very next exit, in which case it's still better to stay one lane over until it's clear of merging traffic from the onramp.
My BIGGEST pet peeve is folks who "cruise" in the right lane around the city's highway system leaving folks in the merge lane to either SLAM on their brakes to avoid an accident or throttle it mercilessly to get ahead of them. While I can usually throttle it without any problem, most older drivers when faced with a decision to hit a concrete wall or some idiot who is blocking the right lane will STOP before killing them and their passengers lol.
The real answer is that I exit off on 15th- that nice little sweeping 90 degree exit where drunks frequently wind up in the back yard of the house off the point of the exit. If you aren't in the right lane by the Lewis entrance, chances are, you won't get off for 15th, especially at rush hour.
Then, you've got that freaky merge on/off lane over the 15th St. bridge.
You brought to mind another driving peeve is people in the right lane who won't slow a little or get over a lane when there is room to do so as a courtesy to people coming up the ramp to merge on the highway. I understand if there is someone in the next lane over- either speed up or slow down to let the merging traffic in.
They used to teach in driving school that the traffic entering a freeway is supposed to merge by matching approach speed with freeway speed then moving into an available "slot". If the existing traffic slows down or speeds up to allow entrance, while the merging vehicle is also speeding up/slowing down you have a more difficult time succeeding as well as causing a ripple of brake lights on the freeway. Is that no longer the common thought?
Of course it doesn't work if a selfish driver in the slow lane doesn't move over when he can (considerate behavior is inversely proportionate to the size of the city. But even though the entrance ramp looks short on all these approaches, the shoulder is still available should you have difficulty finding your slot. Why should existing traffic at 65mph on the BA have to make room for some slow wit who thinks he can pull in at 40mph? Or worse yet just stop?
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Originally posted by cannon_fodder
For that matter, the minimum speed limit on the BA is 45mph. You aren't that fast... so don't start preaching about ordinances.
In all of Oklahoma, it's legal to ride a bicycle on the shoulder of a limited access road unless it's posted to exclude pedestrians, bicyclists, motor scooters, and horse-drawn vehicles. The only roads that do this (that I'm aware of, anyway) are the turnpikes.
That said, I've ridden along a few limited access roads. It's unpleasantly noisy and the shoulder is sometimes covered with debris. I generally avoid them.
Paul, though, despite his notoriety, generally rides legally. He's deliberately trying to snarl traffic, and he does so within the law. That's what drives the cops absolutely nuts.
quote:
Originally posted by daddys little squirt
They used to teach in driving school that the traffic entering a freeway is supposed to merge by matching approach speed with freeway speed then moving into an available "slot". If the existing traffic slows down or speeds up to allow entrance, while the merging vehicle is also speeding up/slowing down you have a more difficult time succeeding as well as causing a ripple of brake lights on the freeway. Is that no longer the common thought?
Of course it doesn't work if a selfish driver in the slow lane doesn't move over when he can (considerate behavior is inversely proportionate to the size of the city. But even though the entrance ramp looks short on all these approaches, the shoulder is still available should you have difficulty finding your slot. Why should existing traffic at 65mph on the BA have to make room for some slow wit who thinks he can pull in at 40mph? Or worse yet just stop?
The shoulder is no substitute for an actual entrance ramp. They're full of junk you don't want to be driving over at 50 mph.
There's a reason interstates are required to have entrance ramps of a certain length and room to merge. Merging on the BA will never be safe or easy unless it's upgraded to interstate standards.
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
Paul, though, despite his notoriety, generally rides legally. He's deliberately trying to snarl traffic, and he does so within the law. That's what drives the cops absolutely nuts.
What kind of ***-whacker does that?
I guess I did not realize it was legal to ride a bike on a freeway shoulder in Oklahoma. I know you can not along an Interstate, but I guess the BA is not an Interstate. Hmm, maybe it is common sense that dictates no bicycles within 3 feet of 70 mph traffic.
Where is Darwin when we need him? [;)]
A year or two ago, a cyclist was hit along US169 as he rode south from Owasso. It was after midnight (if I remember right) and he was riding without lights. Dumb. Very dumb.
And years back, a competitor in the Race Across America was killed by a hit and run motorist along I-40. His following vehicle had some sort of problem and he was alone. They never found the person responsible. RAAM changed the rules to require a following vehicle at all times.
But with that said, commuter cyclists have the lowest crash rates of all cyclists, possibly because they're accustomed to being in traffic regularly. As I said before, I'd rather not ride along high-speed corridors because it's noisy and stressful. I find daily bicycle commuting to be very relaxing.