« winning and competition | Main | leavin' on a jet plane »
November 05, 2006
teetering on the precipice and toying with death (a.k.a. driving in Boston)
I've already complained about the T, but the foibles of public transportation here are nothing, absolutely NOTHING, compared to the idiocy and recklessness of the drivers here. Whenever I want to change lanes, about 90% of the time no one will let me over, amd the other 10% of the time it's usually a "OK, I guess I'll let you over just this ONCE." I don't think the term "defensive driving" is even remotely on anyone's minds here. When someone is trying to get over into your lane, and they are using their turn signal, and there is enough room for them to get over, wouldn't you slow down a little so they could get over? Not so here! No, the rule here is to speed up! Unless, of course, someone is accidentally getting off at the wrong exit somewhere in the Big Dig and they swerve over and whoever is in that lane decides to COME TO A COMPLETE STOP so that the swerving car can get in front of them. THEN it seems to be okay to let the guy over. Never mind the cars behind you that must ALSO come to a complete stop, potentially causing a ten-car pileup.
All of this is to say that, when I am driving around Boston, I automatically assume that everyone else out there is stupid, and usually I am right.
| By heiders | 04:29 PM
Comments
Boston driving has only three rules and 1 corollary:
1. Drive at a moderate pace because someone ahead of you is probably executing a six point turn across four lanes of crowded traffic
1a. Recognize that you to will do this someday
2. Respect should be shown for any good, aggressive move that infringes on normal traffic laws
3. Be friendly to all drivers except for those who hesitate. No mercy should be shown for hesitation. Feel free to use the horn liberally on someone who hesitates.
And that's it. The rules are grossly unfair to people new to Boston since the city does not have a street system that makes sense. Most new drivers, then, hesitate when looking for a turn or feeling lost. This is when other drivers jump on them. In those cases, it is best to drive fast in one direction until you arrive at a T station. At that point you should park your car and take the T to wherever you were going.
Posted by: jb at November 5, 2006 07:02 PM
Those rules can also be applied without too much translation to the streets of downtown Toronto.
Posted by: funke at November 7, 2006 08:05 AM
Excellent rules, JB. I think I've learned them for the most part.
I knew I was getting into the spirit of Boston when I drove down the wrong side of the road for a few hundred feet coming out of the gas station so that I could get out. And, unsurprisingly, no one honked. People really do only honk if you hesitate, or if you stop for anyone else.
I would suggest two other rules (or at least tips):
* Avoid 90 and 93 whenever possible.
* Your car probably has more clearance and a better turning radius than you think it does. When in doubt, give it a try.
Posted by: Evan Donovan at November 7, 2006 11:02 PM
