I was inspired by Heather’s post to talk about traffic and my general commute.
I have a couple so here goes…
1. I live past the middle school so every day I have to negotiate traffic in that area. I have my ways. This does not increase traffic in the area, but I see that a lot of parents drop their kids off at the middle school at the entrance… so they wait in line and drop them about 40 feet in front of the door. Seriously? Call me heartless or lazy but I am going to do what the other half do and stopping in the bike lane and making him walk the extra 100 feet to get to school. I can understand rain or cold or your kid has to carry a big project into school, but this was last week when it was not hot or cold. I can understand elementary school but middle school?
2. Stop lights. I think we should go lights at least at Country Trails and Quinlan Park. The problem at this time IMO is the indecision of what to do. So we go one car at a time and people go out of turn and it messes everything up. I say just go lights make it easier for people who aren’t paying attention and things would go faster. Of course that would mean that the lights were intelligent and used technology created decades ago… again an assumption I can’t make with the City of Austin traffic people.
3. Right turn from 620 onto 2222. Again I am assuming I have the City of Austin traffic people along with the wonderful police to thank for enforcing the law of no one in the right shoulder. Of course everyone disregards this rule and people start lining up way before we are “allowed” to. I saw the police enforce this rule for a couple of weeks about a year ago or so but never again. I guess there are more donut shops opened up for them troll.
4. Driving with cell phones. A co-worker of mine was riding his motorcycle following all traffic laws. A lady who was talking on her cell phone pulling out without paying attention to him onto 2222 and he was T-boned. Spent 3 months in a hospital. The ER doctor said he never saw more broken bones in one person in his life. He is currently coming to work in a wheelchair everyday. Don’t use a cell phone while driving and if you do at least use a blue tooth device… but even better just talk to your family/friends when you get home.
5. Morning Radio: I am not a big fan of Austin morning radio. I can stand the Bobby Bones Show, they are unoriginal but they don’t act like they are better than they are. They realize they are pretty lucky to be on the radio, but JB and Sandy has to be the worst, contrived crap, out of touch radio show in Austin. Just horrible, horrible radio. They think they speak for Austin and I hope they don’t. I just listen now to Adam Carolla’s Podcast on the way to work.
That is about it… rant over.
17 responses so far ↓
1 Poster formerly known as // May 11, 2009 at 9:45 am
The turn from 620 to 2222: the problem is that they didn’t think ahead and add another lane, until you get to the very end. I understand the frustration, but if you REALLY want to see a backup, eliinating the shoulder as a turn lane will get you one.
2 Stmbtsprgs // May 11, 2009 at 10:14 am
Agreed – a long right-turn lane from 620 to 2222 would help traffic enormously in the mornings. This problem will only continue to get worse as Steiner continues to grow. Who can we petition at Travis County and/or City of Austin? IMHO, this is more critical than stoplights in Steiner.
3 mreddy // May 11, 2009 at 10:44 am
On the 620 to 2222… I guess I was misunderstood on my point… I am all for people using it as a turn lane… I just don’t want this stupid charade of it being ” a ticket able offense” so take down the stupid sign that says don’t drive on the shoulder and never issue a ticket for someone doing it and remove the white lines “forbidding” it.
4 The Poster formerly known as Steiner Res // May 11, 2009 at 6:09 pm
MReddy –
I did misunderstand, and I agree with you
5 Victoria // May 11, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I love Bobby Bones!
6 Melissa // May 11, 2009 at 9:41 pm
For the record, my husband got a ticket for using the shoulder as a turn lane. Ridiculous.
7 Melissa // May 11, 2009 at 9:43 pm
And I completely agree about dropping the kids off. We live about 1/2 mile from SR Elementary, and I can’t telly you how many people on our street drop their kids off. WALK!!!! I understand if you have to go to work and can’t, but I know people who do it just because they’re lazy.
8 Bill // May 12, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I hate the bobby Bones show. All they do is play games all day. Come up with more original content please.
9 Bill // May 12, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I have a pet peeve about Steiner Ranch. I hate seeing the Common area sprinklers on all day when it has just rained 1-2 inches. It doesn’t happen that often but when it does it is annoying. Also when you leave for the day and a set of sprinklers is on and come home 8 hours later and they are still going. Seems like a waste of money.
10 Paolo // May 13, 2009 at 8:50 am
Hi Bill, I know it is not good anyway to waste water, but at least for the shared areas they use reclaimed water.
11 Chris // May 13, 2009 at 2:14 pm
I agree. I know that they use reclaimed water (which is great), but I can’t stand how much run-off ends up in the street. A serious re-adjustment is needed.
12 noname.pas // May 19, 2009 at 9:27 am
For morning radio, there’s real news on KUT. The other stations such as JB Sandy etc. are like listening to Beavis and Buttheads..
13 Stmbtsprgs // May 20, 2009 at 9:45 am
And the cops decided to raise some funds at the 620/2222 intersection today…
14 mreddy // May 20, 2009 at 9:58 am
I wonder if they read the blog and decided to do something… I wondered why 620 was backed up today all the way to the other entrance of Steiner Ranch. Thanks cops for hassling tax paying citizens trying to get to work to make more money which in turn pay for your job. Why don’t you go arrest some people that are comitting some real crimes instead of hassling people going to work.
15 Poster formerly known as // May 20, 2009 at 12:32 pm
The police were there on Tuesday as well — my daughter called to warn me on her way to school.
I agree — what a waste of time
16 Bill // May 21, 2009 at 10:07 pm
What a great daughter!
17 Poster formerly known as // May 22, 2009 at 2:47 pm
We’ve trained her well
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