In a supplement and extension of last week’s remarks about the idiocy of Pittsburgh’s drivers… I also have to question their basic reading comprehension and ability to recognize signs on the road.
I must report a massive win for Our Congregation.
But, first: Your obligatory back story. For years when The Campus was located south of the Liberty Tubes many of Us who rely on Port Authority would have to face the inevitable “Smithfield Wait” as idiots would clog up the intersection of Smithfield and Boulevard of the Allies. This, often during rush hour and other peak traffic times, would create the Sea of Exhaust as the line of buses would be viewable from my office window all the way down to 6th Avenue. One dreary winter day I decided to take a pilgrimage (please, do not confuse this with the Hajj) down to 6th, took a left and continued down 6th to Wood and then turning left again on to Wood. Wood was then backed up with buses all the way to halfway between 5th and Forbes.
Shit. This was on a Friday. People wanted to get home, out of the cold and start drinking the memories of the work week away. But they couldn’t. Why? Because of asshole drivers (which were recently called the most courteous) turning right and /or left on red and blocking the buses from making any forward progress.
Some bus drivers would attempt to subvert this behavior by pulling up only as far as they needed and hold back some of the flow from the Boulevard - which usually resulted in drivers attempting to pass the bus or pulling directly behind it and usually blocking traffic on the Boulevard - gridlock.
I, personally, wrote several letters over the years to the City, County and Port Authority - along with pictures - suggesting that during rush hour (4pm to 7pm) that the single lane of Smithfield south-bound between Boulevard and Fort Pitt be a HOV / Bus only lane in hopes that I may get home in timely manner and not be compelled to wait in the cold or rain as my bus was delayed by assholes.
It seems they finally were seen by someone or someone in a position of power finally had a moment of clarity or common sense and took some action.
They, took it one step further and made it Buses only, all the time last Thursday or Friday. Now, considering I work in this little, but heavily trafficked corridor of Smithfield it kind of sucks, but for the higher purpose it servers I am thankful.
Checking from the otherside of the street:
Lenny: George, what are these orange barriers? Are they for the rabbits, George?
George: No, Lenny, those are there to stop drivers from turning left.
Lenny: Shame, I thought they were for the rabbits. Wait, that guy just turned left and almost hit that guy. You said they couldn’t turn here, what if that guy walking was a rabbit and hit him?
note: there was someone who walked across the street, was almost hit and had to run to avoid this stupid-looking SUV. He is behind it in this picture - also take notice of the car all the way to the left:
because there they are!
However, I have yet to see one driver get pulled for turning here. Where are the officers that are so trigger happy to ticket drivers when it comes to any other part of the Smithfield Bus Lane? Perhaps they haven’t yet received the memo about the changes to this intersection.
With one of Our goals for 2008 finally out of the way, We can focus on getting the entire Bush Administration charged by the Hague for War Crimes. That is more of a 2009 goal as Congress doesn’t have the balls to Impeach Bush or Cheney.
It’s not very often I feel some sort of sympathy for the flying rats of nature. But having been shot with a blowgun during my teenage years, I can empathize with this fortunate little monster.
