Rush Hour Traffic Rant

[sunset]

I spent a decade in Los Angeles and traffic is bad. While Des Moines isn't in the same league, the two lane (each way) interstates in Omaha/DM can become pretty frustrating. It doesn't take much to stop traffic when you only have two lanes instead of five.

 

[ajk4st8]

You are that person going 5 mph below the speed limit in the left lane of the interstate at 7:55 aren't you?

Actually no... I FLY down the road from Ankeny to Ames. I just don't care if I can't go 80. I dont worry about quickly hopping in the right lane just to go around 2 cars and then luckily pulling right in front of someone to get back in the left.

Also, why do people who pass on the right think I want them to pull right in front of me when Im already close enough to the car ahead of me? I left braking distance from the car ahead of me for a reason, it was not for you to drive in it.

 

[Phaedrus]

I kinda lose the context of this thread considering that there are no stoplights on the "road system" in this area.

Yeah, we had some serious "gridlock" here today, as well. I got behind an old tractor going 30 on the sort of two lane road I take to work, and it took me 20 minutes, instead of the normal 15 to get to work.

 

[isufbcurt]

Ok, I have a beef today because this was the 2nd time this week I was stuck in rush hour traffic in downtown Des Moines. For some reason Principal Financial had some semi backing into a dock at one of their buildings on 8th street near Locust. Well yesterday traffic was backed up clear from there to the viaduct bridge past Mulberry for the 2nd time this week just past 5pm because they were blocking the road trying to get that rig backed in. And it wasn't like it was one of these 2 minutes and 2 or 3 shots at backing it in, nearly 10 minutes and probably at least 10 backing up pulling up backing up again. The lights were turning green but at least 5 green lights or more before anyone could advance down the street because of that stupid truck. Principal or some tennent in their 801 Grand building is bad about having a morning delivery during rush hour too sometimes that blocks 9th street around 8am ocassionally.

Would love to see the city of Des Moines put a ban on large delivery trucks downtown between 7-9am and 4-6pm as not only is it an inconveinence but not the safest thing either to be blocking 3 lanes of traffic while they try to manuver around in a tight spot and back into a loading dock. The smaller trucks like UPS, FedEx, etc. don't bother me, they usually don't deliver during those times anyways and those that do keep out of the way but the big semis or smaller truck and trailer outfits are a real pain some days when you are trying to get to and from work.

You chose to work downtown now deal with it. Those delivery drivers have just as much right as you do to be out doing their job. If their schedule puts them downtown when you are getting off then tough crap. Everyone in Des Moines thinks they are some very important person and needs to get where they are going and no one else has any rights, well get over it.

 

[cydswipe]

You chose to work downtown now deal with it. Those delivery drivers have just as much right as you do to be out doing their job. If their schedule puts them downtown when you are getting off then tough crap. Everyone in Des Moines thinks they are some very important person and needs to get where they are going and no one else has any rights, well get over it.

Yeah! What he said! Now move back to Iowa City! :wink: