How to Deal with Traffic (or How I Do it)

"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo) 07/17/2015 at 11:00 • Filed to: Traffic, How To

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I started a new job two weeks ago and now have to drive through the city to get to and from the office. This is a new concept for me as my commute for the past 4 years has been 15 minutes, tops, so a 30+ mile jaunt on Boston’s packed highways was more than a slight deviation. The good news is that I have not gone insane (yet) due to my efforts in distracting myself from noticing that I am wasting away in bumper to bumper traffic. How have I done this? I am glad you asked!

Windows Down, Music Up!

If it’s nice out (recent trends have been terrific), I prefer the windows down. This gets annoying in stop and go traffic, I’ll admit, so sometimes the windows have to go up. However, if there’s some movement on the road I would rather have the air flowing through the windows than the AC. I’m also a fan of (decently) loud music, which brings me to...

Car-aoke!

I shamelessly rock out in the car without traffic so I figured I might as well go for broke and put on a show. My commute has been an opportunity for me to expand my musical horizons by streaming Pandora, Google Music and Prime Music stations. Some songs are winners, some songs are losers, but it is different from my usual rotation of radio stations playing the same stuff. The key here is the deviation from the norm. Suddenly, I’m not aware of how many songs I’ve listened to because I don’t know every single one...I am just left with the feeling that music can create.

Be Observant

I have a friend who is researching new cars. I’ve been using my time surrounded by other vehicles to do research based on his automotive preferences. How many Crosstreks have I seen? How does it look in person? What color is best? How has it handled that massive series of potholes between exits 30 and 31? You should be aware of your surroundings anyways (never know when you’ll see a guy in a Fusion try to get past an 18 wheeler and get his driver side wheel well rearranged) so this just takes your observations a step further. I’ve noticed a couple i3’s (never saw one on the road before), another FoST(!), plenty of WRX and STIs, a 60s(?) Camaro, Audis galore, an old Celica, Teslas, etc. Nothing special really but I’m keeping my eyes open. The best laugh was a JK Unlimited with the roof and doors removed driven by a guy in a suit. He started reevaluating his decision when huddling as close to the dash as possible while it was raining. Point is, you never know what will show up!

Learn Something! (Edit: Thanks for the reminder 64mali!)

Use the time to fresh up on your Spanish (like that VW commercial). There are plenty of apps you can use, I’m sure, or “tapes” to follow along with. Same goes for “books on tape” (though careful with Peterotica). I’m contemplating this option in preparation for any major trips in my future...gotta learn the local languages!

Make “Friends”

I’ve seen the same Scion xD every other day on my commute (need to fix that dent, btw). The black FoST has shown up a couple times as well. They are now my commute buddies.

Make the Most of the Manual

Ughhh...a manual transmission in traffic is the worst! Meh. It’s not bad, actually. The gears don’t get confused so I find I can take advantage of lane changes a lot easier. I enjoy areas where traffic opens up to the actual speed limit by leaving it in a lower gear and just winding it out. Puts a little smile on my face. But where can I actually open it up? You’ll know when you...

Look for Patterns

I am still figuring out the intricacies of certain areas but over time you’ll know what lane is the most efficient to bypass a major exit that tends to back up or easiest to make that long sweeping curve that people tend to drift over the lane markers on. I found certain exits I can take that will bring me to a familiar area I can get home from. This may not be faster but the perception is that I’m moving and therefore doing better than the traffic I left. Slowly but surely you can solve the problem that is traffic!

Well...maybe not solve but become somewhat proficient in maneuvering your city’s lanes.

Relax

I have a short fuse when it comes to, well, life. I can’t stand inefficiency, ineptitude or perceived asshattedness so I was very concerned about my well-being during my commute. Turns out the commute is relatively good for me because I can force myself to go with the flow. I throw it in a low gear, idle along without touching a pedal, rock out to whatever song I know, look around and think to myself “not bad today.”

Overall, take it easy. If you try to force your way through traffic and carry an aggressive style you will likely blow up a lot easier. Also, you could ignite some nutcase, get in an collision or cause a collision. My first day of work featured a 1 hour complete stop due to a med-evac and the overwhelming concern from the people around me was “I hope everyone is ok.” Nobody wants anything bad to happen, so take it easy. You’ll get where you’re going...

...eventually.

This is how I am currently and plan on surviving traffic during my commute. The easiest way to survive traffic is to avoid it but not everyone can. If you have to do something, do it in a way that is enjoyable to you. Let me know if you have any tips and tricks to make the commute tolerable.

EL_ULY > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:08

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S80!!!!

Vimto > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:08

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DAT S80. I’d rather own that, especially if its a V8, than the super cars in the picture.

CalzoneGolem > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:09

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I do a lot of thinking on my commute. About what’s happening, what I want to happen, what needs to happen you know ... life.

thebigbossyboss > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:11

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Yup. I recently left downtown Toronto at 4:00 pm headed over 500 kms to Ottawa. I was still in edge of traffic by about 6:30 pm, but I just relaxed. Going home is always easier because usually you don’t have a specific time you have to get there.

By the way I did this in July in a manual, in a car with No A/C I am a glutton for punishment but don’t mind it really.

Rainbow > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:12

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I make “friends,” too! There’s a stanced Evo whose owner actually lives just a few houses down, and I see him all the time, sometimes an hour away from home. We’ve never talked to each other or anything, but it’s weird that we always end up in the same place.

Also, the bright blue 370Z that drives like an asshole. He’s friends with the Evo guy, I think, but I’ve never seen them together outside of my neighborhood. He shows up from time to time, and I hate him, but he’s still my traffic buddy.

thebigbossyboss > CalzoneGolem 07/17/2015 at 11:12

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I do that too, sometimes I just drive with the radio off.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:14

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Second, third, fourth and fifth “Look for patterns”.

On one stretch I go through every day, I have the choice of express or collector lanes. At first glance, the express lanes always look more congested. However, they move steadily, if slowly. The collectors lanes have several on-ramps past my entry, but no more transfers to express until they split off to form another branch of the highway, and it’s only 2 lanes wide. Every day I see people freaking out over the traffic in express and making last-minute dives for collectors. I almost invariably pass them when they get stuck at the last transfer where everybody is desperately trying to get back onto express.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Rainbow 07/17/2015 at 11:17

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There is a shortcut I take in bad traffic. If I left on time, I usually see a black taco coming the other way.

Regularity is cool, therefore I’m not. :)

Justin Hughes > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:17

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Though I don’t venture into Boston (I live and work in MetroWest), I’ve come to rely on Waze to help me predict traffic patterns and find alternate routes. I mainly stick to back roads, but even there it’s successfully diverted me around construction in Sudbury Center, and introduced me to some fun new twisties I didn’t know about in the process.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:29

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This is me. Perfectly.

I have a short fuse when it comes to, well, life. I can’t stand inefficiency, ineptitude or perceived asshattedness so I was very concerned about my well-being during my commute. Turns out the commute is relatively good for me because I can force myself to go with the flow. I throw it in a low gear, idle along without touching a pedal, rock out to whatever song I know, look around and think to myself “not bad today.”

Overall, take it easy. If you try to force your way through traffic and carry an aggressive style you will likely blow up a lot easier. Also, you could ignite some nutcase, get in an collision or cause a collision. My first day of work featured a 1 hour complete stop due to a med-evac and the overwhelming concern from the people around me was “I hope everyone is ok.” Nobody wants anything bad to happen, so take it easy. You’ll get where you’re going...

...eventually.

Alex B > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:30

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Getting off of Long Island yesterday was literally hell. I mainly just looked at all the cars... Looking for something interesting.

Alex B > Vimto 07/17/2015 at 11:31

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That goal sounds attainable.

Tareim - V8 powered > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 11:39

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Make “Friends”

I’ve seen the same Scion xD every other day on my commute (need to fix that dent, btw). The black FoST has shown up a couple times as well. They are now my commute buddies.

Sounds like stalker behaviour when explained like that lol but I can relate

Tareim - V8 powered > Tareim - V8 powered 07/17/2015 at 12:15

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My post got kinjad I can relate as I normally see the same cars on my commute home particularly a nice clean DC5 teggy

Cigarette Butt Plug > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:52

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Here is my answer. Buy a bike, use the HOV lanes, have fun, save time.

obueso > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:52

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The only obvious answer to improve your commute is to take all your money out of retirement and buy a new S Class and let DISTRONIC Plus do all the work for you.

Brought To You By > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:53

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One of my buddies wasn’t my buddy because I’d always have my sub kicking around them, and they used to give me dirty looks. Well, my tint dirty looks, considering they couldn’t actually see my face behind it. After the first few months, just normal sub kickage, I realized the person hated it, so I’d make a point to try my hardest to be near them in traffic every day.

If I ever saw hem with a flat, or broken down, I would’ve stop to help them and leave the music on. Luckily, for them, that was never the case.

550F2 > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:54

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Learn to play the harmonica. Flirt. That should keep you occupied for a few months.

T off the New > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:56

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I have a traffic nemesis. Blue Subaru Forester, Yes, I’m sorry you were tailgating me and I unleashed a monsoon of windshield spray over a month ago... People can really hold grudges

I do have a traffic friend though, this guy in a great sounding Audi S4 plays in traffic with me occasionally - exhaust sounds are like bird calls for traffic

Hooker > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:56

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Originally from the Boston area. Where are you driving from/to? Just curious. I live in NC now and drove a 45 mile commute daily for 3 years. That got old real quick. Sometimes it would take me 45 mins. Other times, 2.5 hours. Usually, the longest times were on the way home when I most wanted to be off the road. However, your points here are well, on point.

Pending Approval > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:57

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Let me show you how gifs work.

Pending Approval > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:57

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learn2gifnoob

NomadicRecluse > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 12:59

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How is, “Resigning yourself to getting to work at 6am to beat traffic” not on the list?

Avoid the entire debacle.

Maxxuman > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 12:59

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Really?

I suspect the mescaline.

The Old Man from Scene 24 > Tareim - V8 powered 07/17/2015 at 13:00

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There used to be a silver CLS that would get onto I-75 at the same entrance ramp as I do. He would move into the right lane and hit the FTL switch. I’d tuck in behind him, about 100 yards back, and keep one eye on the rear view mirror for the cops.

I haven’t seen him in almost a year.

Maxxuman > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:01

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Ah, so you’re THAT GUY.

sp33der > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:01

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Summer commuting in Boston is not bad relative to the school year. Wait until the week of Labor Day when every K-12 school is back in session and every college around has started it’s classes as well. It’s hell again for those first 2-3 weeks as there is no discernable pattern or consistency in traffic flow, just lots of gridlock everywhere. Dunno what happens after that 1st 2-3 weeks but it gets into a better rhythm eventually. So by the time you think you’ve got it figured out back to school traffic will throw a wrench in that.

sdmikev > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:04

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Part of my negotiation when I get a new job is to tell them that I’m an early bird and will want to be there before 7 in the office. And outta there before 4. I’ll do whatever needs to be done later if necessary, but it will be from my house over VPN. I cannot deal with rush hour traffic, man..

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Maxxuman 07/17/2015 at 13:04

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Exactly like that one.

dannyzabolotny > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:04

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I mostly just look for BMW’s in my commutes. Yesterday was particularly awesome, I saw a yellow E39 M5 (super rare!), an M6, an M3, an E46 M3, an E38, and an E39 or two. I also see newer non-M BMW’s, but they’re so common here that I hardly pay attention to them. If I had a dollar for every 328i I’ve seen on the road, I’d have enough for another E39. I saw a red E39 M5 today which was awesome. So much temptation.

facw > Cigarette Butt Plug 07/17/2015 at 13:04

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Boston has too few HOV lanes and too much snow for that to be a great plan there.

willmederski > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:05

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

in stop+go traffic i like to play a game where i leave it in 2nd and try to never actually have to brake, using engine break and foresight.

i let the car in front of me creep ahead 30-40 yds, and then i’ll slowly start accelerating (helps with mpg too), watching the cars ahead and timing it so that i’m keeping a constant speed while they are all stopping and starting.

it’s both a method for eliminating the slinky-effect stop+go for everyone behind your and can be a beautiful art when you nail it just right.

and then fucker cuts in front of you and ruins the flow... :/

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Maxxuman 07/17/2015 at 13:05

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So am I. Got sumthin’ t’ say ‘bout it? huh? HUH!?

RexSeven > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:05

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I live in fly over country. I drive 52 miles to work and 52 miles home almost every day. Almost all is two lane rural highway...some even advertises itself as “Scenic Byway”. Unless snow slows the world, it takes me 58 to 60 minutes everyday. I go to work before the heavy traffic is out and I get home before they return again. I’d like my drive even more if gas wasn’t so expensive. I see all sorts of wildlife from fox and coyotes to deer (never have hit one) and birds galore. I like to drive and I like my drive especially. I see farmers out making hay, planting, harvesting, you name it. Rolling hills of pasture with beef cattle. They look delicious in the morning sun. I don’t see any road rage. Thankfully city folk hate rural life so they will never come here and ruin it. (JK - we have dicks out here too).

JimSlade > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:06

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Last two jobs I lived 8 miles from work and 6 miles from work. Now I live 55 miles from the office. That drive can take anywhere from 50 miles to 1:50 depending on traffic, car pool lane, etc.

I like to look at the cars and spot ones that are rare, (50th anniversary Mustang today, but not white, red/maroon)

I like to listen to music (and poorly sing if the right embarrassing song comes on)

I like to talk on speaker phone to family and friends.

I like to break up the drive by getting a coffee or something for the road.

That is how I survive...

Jalop - Jim Is An Herb - shit > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:07

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You’ve only been doing this for 2 weeks. Great tips, and it’s a lot of what I do too.

HOWEVER...

...I’d be curious to read a post from you on this commute in, say, 6-12 months. I suspect the tone might be, shall we say, slightly different :)

Dolemite > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:07

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I don’t have commute buddies, I have commute enemies.

Maxxuman > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 13:08

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YEAH, MATTER OF FACT I DO

palmofnapalm > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:09

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Please don’t blast loud music in traffic with the windows down. The last thing everyone else needs is to be stuck right beside you, forced to listen to your (somehow invariable shitty) music, crawling at two mph for 20 miles.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:10

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Normally, I’m pretty calm on the roads and can just let traffic roll off my back.

That being said, there are times when I just wish I had a battering ram for the people with their heads up their collective asses. The people that park in the left lane going slower than everyone else. Or the people with their noses buried in their phones. Or the people that hit their brakes every 10 seconds when there’s no one slowing down in front of them.

Some days it just gets really old and the thought of having a tank is quite appealing.

willmederski > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 13:11

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you sir, are intelligent.

and i fear that the collective rage that could be avoided if people just paid attention / had some patience is one of the more serious ailments to our society.

i’m typically on two wheels and could tell you the location of potholes on the roads i frequent. just wish people took driving a little more seriously, considering not only how much time we spend doing it, but how many people are killed doing it.

Gt3-ted > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:13

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Those aren’t your buddies they are your competitors .

....... And right now school is out so the traffic into Boston is light and easy. In September it starts to get serious. By November it gets cut throat...... And then the snow comes!!!!!

BigEgyptian1 > willmederski 07/17/2015 at 13:16

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I do the exact same thing :highfive:

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > willmederski 07/17/2015 at 13:16

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Unfortunately not so much as that comment may have made me seem... I try to stay calm but people piss me off and I can easily degenerate into a bit of a rager. Those on two wheels make me uncomfortable and I give them wide berth, so you at least are safe around me :)

ZippyTheSlug > willmederski 07/17/2015 at 13:17

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and then fucker cuts in front of you and ruins the flow... :/

this. all the dumbassess and their slush boxes don’t care that you’re leaving room so you don’t have to clutch every 10 feet. NO THAT SPACE ISN’T FOR YOU! IT’S SO MY LEFT LEG DOESN’T OUT-HUGE MY RIGHT!.

/rant

I hoon, therefore I am > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 13:19

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What are express and collector lanes? I’m going to guess left and HOV, respectively?

Monsterajr > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:20

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For the last two years my commute had been a relatively short distance of 24-28 miles (depending on route taken) but time wise its been as short as 40 minutes or upto a nightmare friday ride home of 2+ hrs. So my rules of engagement were as follows:

1. At home while having breakfast watch the news for obvious traffic issues reported.

2.Getting in the car, Googlemaps and a TomTom GPS w/traffic for directions and showing traffic spots to help you understand where trouble is or seems to be developing.

3. I’m able to filter out the traffic aggravation if I’m listening to something interesting so once under way, tune to Howard Stern... (or what ever favorite talker you like). . Occasionally check traffic on Sirius if you live in an area covered or listen to your local AM radio news station for more info.

4. Ultimately, be ZEN about the whole thing knowing that eventually a cold beer awaits your arrival and there really are worse things in life than sitting in traffic.

I’m back on the LIRR commuting into NYC now, so as long as my train and connecting subway are working I sit back and listen to podcasts, read or listen to music and nap.

kounga999 > Vimto 07/17/2015 at 13:21

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Pretty sure that’s a lambo dude.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > I hoon, therefore I am 07/17/2015 at 13:26

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Only found on wider highways. Collectors are those you enter or exit from, the ramps from the city streets all go to collectors. Express is separated from these, and you have a transfer to collector lanes every 3-4 exits. In theory this keeps slower traffic such as those getting off at the next exit or those who just got on in one set of lanes, and those who will be staying on longer in another. Think of it like you would a train: the express skips stations, and the commuters (collector lanes) stop at every station.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 07/17/2015 at 13:30

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Agreed. Also, agreed. Did I mention agreed?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Hooker 07/17/2015 at 13:31

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This is all I could see... sorry.

ILoveMyWRX > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:32

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Look for patterns

This! I always do this and it makes the drive much smoother if you know where the choke points are and when to change lanes. I’ve tested as best as I can and I’ve noticed if I don’t make any lane changes it can take 10-20 minutes longer in my commute. Some days the pattern doesn’t hold so it’s good to be observant and know when to alter your pattern as well.

I also make it a point to be courteous when it makes sense. I mean, if the light is red up ahead and someone is stuck needing to exit a plaza then I’ll let them go. If the light’s green and they are in lala land I’m not going to hold up traffic to wait for them to jump in.

phydeaux > willmederski 07/17/2015 at 13:38

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I’m using four wheels, and I also know where the potholes on my frequent routes are. I’ll be sure to adjust ever so slightly to avoid the major hit, yet still remain in my lane. I’ve seen some in my rearview mirror make a sudden adjustment when they realize what is happening.

I’ve also been working on zipper merging, yet not being the asshole that is darting to the end of the lane. I don’t force my way into the next lane, and if someone feels that they need to cut me off, then by all means, go for it. I’m not saving more than maybe 5 seconds by being in front of them, and if that’s what they needed to make themselves happier/more smug/better adjusted, then I’m happy to help out. ;)

RWD_Volvo > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:39

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I’ve noticed a couple i3’s (never saw one on the road before)

I’ve probably seen one of them before on 495, cause really, how many i3s can there be in Eastern Mass :D

The worst part of commuting on 495 is the rare occasions I do hit traffic are infuriating. Or Friday afternoon if I take the Pike out to Worcester...

Sir HoonsAlot > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:40

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Windows down and music up is what I do anytime I go somewhere. I also love cool car spotting in traffic

craigsider > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:44

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Haha um I’ll take my commute from Southern NH to Canton over driving through the city.... I like it when my car actually moves :P

McLarry > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:45

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Good attempts at staying positive, but as you say you’re only two weeks in. You’ll become defeated and soulless like the rest of us eventually...

cazzyodo > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 13:46

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I always keep an eye on cars to see when or if I’ll pass them.

I consider them checkpoints.

64Mali > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:47

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I would have suggested back roads but you are doomed if in downtown. Otherwise books on tape or radio plays really help for long commutes. I deal with RT3 /RT2 traffic every AM so I know your pain.

cazzyodo > Hooker 07/17/2015 at 13:48

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I’m going from the South Shore to the North Shore. Commute will be shortened when my current lease is up.

I was always the guy laughing as I drove by traffic build ups...now, someone is likely laughing at me.

H4N5 GRU83R > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:49

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7 jobs later and commutes ranging from 3-50 miles, my solution has always been get in early, get out early . I have yet to find a better solution when you must drive.

Look again > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:49

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How to deal with Boston traffic: 1. Point your car south or west; 2. Drive until you reach a state that knows how to layout, build and maintain roads; 3; Enjoy.

My heart weeps for you trying to find patterns in a roadway designed by cattle (litterally they turned cow paths into roads). The place where one lane roads going opposite directions meet headon, where the lanes in the intersections do not line up so you have to jokey for positon at every red light, where they shut down major roads a the drop of a hat for a festival or walk and where lanes just disappear in the middle of a curve or intersection.

Figuring out patterns in Boston is a matter of survival, not an option.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:49

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Likewise. I’m a bit of a shortcut hunter, too, and I use them to judge whether or not it was worthwhile.

64Mali > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:50

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I think that is one of the worst commutes. Where in the North Shore? I lived there for a few years. Now I’m West 495 (by a hair)

cazzyodo > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 07/17/2015 at 13:51

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Things that grind my gears:

left lane hogs

people texting while driving (your head is down, i see you)

people using speaker phone by holding it NEXT TO THEIR FACE

people smoking in cars

people throwing cigarettes out the window

people using the HOV lane by themselves (Boston doesn’t really watch the lanes north of the city)

people using the breakdown lane when it isn’t allowed

people using exit lanes to skip traffic then dive back in

There’s more but I don’t feel like going on. Clearly I’m lucky to have remained relatively stable during my commutes.

Octavian > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:51

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I love that you used the word “collision” instead of accident. LOVE IT!

Other than that, nice article.

cazzyodo > Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car 07/17/2015 at 13:53

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That’s good...it’s been a process for me. The process continues in a couple hours.

cazzyodo > 64Mali 07/17/2015 at 13:54

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That’s something I forgot to add to the end of this...”Learn something”. Meant to say pick up a book on tape or language app. Thanks for the reminder!

cazzyodo > McLarry 07/17/2015 at 13:54

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I refuse to become “ONE OF US!”

cazzyodo > willmederski 07/17/2015 at 13:55

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Yup. I actually end up in 1st a lot as it turns out and mosey along at 5mph haha.

red014 > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 13:56

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I like the patterns comment. On my commute (I495, also in MA) there are always more people in the left lane and fewer in the right, so when traffic starts to back up for the usual congestion, get to the right. I can usually pass 30+ cars that were stuck in the left lane. Then slowly work your way back to the left as traffic lets up, since people in the right don’t usually accelerate as quickly (usually full of heavier trucks with poor acceleration to begin with).

But your best recommendation is to just relax. Learn to laugh at all the people stressing out to cut each other off. You can be one of those people and arrive at work pissed off and 2 minutes earlier at best, or you can arrive with a smile on your face 2 minutes after.

cazzyodo > Pending Approval 07/17/2015 at 13:56

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Didn’t want a small gif to throw off the formatting Kinja would eventually eat.

Octavian > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 13:57

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The collector lanes (in Toronto anyway) are also a solution to building bridges over large highways. In some stretches, the 401 highway in Toronto is 16-20 lanes wide. Bridges over the highway have to have support points in places other than the middle, so every 3-4 lanes. This causes an issue if there was no physical separation between express and collector lanes (big concrete pole in the middle of the road).

Look again > sp33der 07/17/2015 at 13:57

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Not to mention all of the trucks that get stuck on Storrow during the college move in days, because one of Boston’s major arteries has an 10 ft height limit.

cazzyodo > Cigarette Butt Plug 07/17/2015 at 13:57

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I have a bike...just doesn’t run right now. HOV lanes from south to north are too far away for me to access and north to south are only marginally better than normal lanes. Also, snow 6 months out of the year haha.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Octavian 07/17/2015 at 14:02

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On the sublect of Toronto highways, the ramp(s) from 401 east to 400 north are retarded. 1 single f*cking lane off collectors, and another from express. It defeats the purpose of having the collectors lanes there in the first place, which is to keep the exiting traffic out of everyone’s way. Instead it backs up both sets of lanes. There should be ONE set of THREE lanes from COLLECTORS, not this other crap.

Ad_absurdum_per_aspera > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:12

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T off the New > Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! 07/17/2015 at 14:14

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I know how you feel...

GT86Sheppard > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:16

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I don’t know how you people do the commute from Boston at 5pm gig. I commute from westwood to Braintree and that alone takes 40 mins (11 miles). Hey look its 2:15pm and the Rt 3 split is already shit.

wiffleballtony > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:19

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I usually check Google traffic to sew which route is the clearest. Cue the music and go. Sometimes it’s clear sometimes it’s a parking lot. Your tips are spot on.

wiffleballtony > H4N5 GRU83R 07/17/2015 at 14:23

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Oddly where I live the opposite is better. To beat traffic early you better be out the door before 530 am. However leaving at 9 am is much better.

cazzyodo > GT86Sheppard 07/17/2015 at 14:25

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I purposely haven’t looked at traffic yet...

For me, it takes anywhere from 40-75 minutes so far. Guessing today will be the 75 mark.

StuntmanDan > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:26

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I used to commute in LA and my 12 miles on the freeways occasionally took up to 40 minutes. All of these are good pointers. Life was good when I bought my manual car, it became fun learning the way traffic moved. I figured out that I could jump off at one exit, take a couple nice bends and jump back onto the freeway. When there was nobody else I would make up time, when there were slow cars at worst I would be right back where I was after a fun curvy bit.

kckempf > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:28

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I take a series of back roads with no stoplights rather than the main road, which is packed, to get across my small city. It always bugs me when I get stuck behind a slow driver on the back roads. I understand that not everybody wants to drive fast, but there is already a slow option available! Take route 7 and I guarantee you won’t be forced to drive fast.

deekster_caddy > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:30

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My 12 mile daily jaunt around Boston can take anywhere from 15 to 65 minutes. Friday afternoons are the worst. Friday mornings are the best. Other days are totally random hit and miss. What road are you on? I’ll keep an eye out for an Oppo sticker!

cazzyodo > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:30

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Let the mental preparation begin. 2:30pm.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Pending Approval 07/17/2015 at 14:30

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Obligatory.

Don’t lie, you know it’s true.

cazzyodo > deekster_caddy 07/17/2015 at 14:32

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I take 93N basically the entire way up to 133. Look for a red FoST...I am 95% certain I’m the only one on the South Shore.

Ger > CalzoneGolem 07/17/2015 at 14:38

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cazzyodo > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 07/17/2015 at 14:39

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It’s a legitimate tactic.

cazzyodo > 64Mali 07/17/2015 at 14:40

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Tewksbury/Andover area. Not technically north shore, more just North haha. The real pain is from Somerville to Quincy, but I tend to get off at South Boston and go back roads from there.

kckempf > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:40

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Also, I lived in Somerville and worked in Watertown for 4 years, and I avoided any need to venture to Northshore or Southshore if I could. It really is the worst traffic, either direction. Storrow Drive was preferable.

cazzyodo > kckempf 07/17/2015 at 14:41

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You know it’s bad when Storrow is preferable.

64Mali > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:45

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Yeah that is a hike. I had to go from Westford to Braintree for a while, that was rough. And anytime going through Somerville is awful.

kckempf > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:50

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Storrow somehow moved just fine in the mornings, but the feeder ramp to it from Cambridge was hell so I eventually found a few alternate paths, each of which was also hell: through Arlington and Belmont, or through Harvard Square.

cazzyodo > 64Mali 07/17/2015 at 14:51

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They just tore up some lanes along the bridge, too, so you get some speedbumps along the way -_-

Stuck on 128 > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:53

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Two weeks, you’re a n00b at this.

I’m almost year 4 on my South Shore to Woburn driving commute. Some days will make you want to curl up into a fetal position. Today could be one of them. I've had several 2.5 hour commutes that will turn your face white.

Back roads to South Shore? Morrissey can completely own you along with Newport Ave.

Good luck rookie.

64Mali > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:54

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You mean wheel benders.... RT3 has been torn up for paving so I spend 90% of my morning commute on that rumble road, I feel like the car is gonna vibrate apart.

cazzyodo > 64Mali 07/17/2015 at 14:57

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I failed to notice the bridge joints at first and almost hit my head off the ceiling. Jesus H. Christ they made them gradual enough to save the car but sudden enough to break your tailbone.

64Mali > cazzyodo 07/17/2015 at 14:59

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Hitting those in my Suburban means you spend the next mile bouncing as if your on rough seas. It can make you seasick.