"and 100 more" (nth256)
09/11/2015 at 11:59 • Filed to: None
0
7|
"and 100 more" (nth256)
09/11/2015 at 11:59 • Filed to: None | 0
| 7 |
When Austin residents use the term “MoPac”, it’s generally done with a facial expression reserved for the moment one realizes they’ve taken a swig of expired milk. That being said, it is one of the main arteries carrying traffic north-south thru the center of Austin, and like many Americans’ arteries, it’s generally in a congested state.
I spend a lot of time on MoPac. I live in one of the northernmost extremities of Austin, and I work in one of the southernmost extremities of Austin, which adds up to a long commute most days. If I leave home on-time, I can plan on an hour-long slog, starting down 183, and picking up MoPac to continue southbound along the west side of town. MoPac has been in the midst of a widening project for more than a couple months now, and while no lanes were lost when they added in a stretch of jersey barriers along the left lane, traffic is still as it was (and as it will always be, according to most Austinites, who claim that added lanes will not alleviate the congestion).
But there are times of day where, if you can fudge your work schedule, you can enjoy a crowded-yet-fast-moving pace down these highways, with minimal slowdowns. Today was one such day for me, and as I swung up and over the raised connector between 183 and MoPac, I looked out to see the typically large three-row configuration, all moving about 30mph - good times!
I ride the onramp down, merge left to exit the merge lane, and I’m now in the #1 lane of MoPac, pacing traffic ahead of me, leaving a gap ahead as a good boy does.
Lane #2 to the left has an empty pocket ahead. Do I take it? Traffic ahead in lane #1 seems to be gently slowing down, though no clear indications of panic ahead, so sure, let’s move. Blinker on, check my blind spot -empty!- and concurrently I begin to drift to the leftward into the empty lane.
Unbeknownst to me, something happened ahead while I was looking away which caused a panic stop in the cars ahead of me in lane #1, and when I looked up, I was mere inches from clipping the Chevy Equinox on his driver-side rear with my passenger-side front. Had I hit him at the pace I was moving, it would’ve devastated both our cars, the car ahead of him, and likely between three and five cars behind me, possibly more as the neverending chain of cars were forced to halt.
But today I was lucky.
I followed all the rules of the road, and yet had I decided to merge only a split second later, I may not have been writing this today. It scary to consider how easily things could go wrong at times.
In fact, it occurs to me now that I was more in-control during a late-night session bombing down Spicewood Springs Road last night, than I was this morning on my daily grind to the office.
I don’t have had any divine provenance, nor any above-average driving skill to thank. No, it was dumb fucking luck that saved my ass today. And I hate relying on luck to get me down the road.
Berang
> and 100 more
09/11/2015 at 12:12 |
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I have a game for mopac called “if I have to stop I will hate you forever”.
This usually means letting the car ahead get a few lengths ahead while I creep up in 1st. If I have to stop, I then hate them forever. For some reason a lot of people seem to prefer to move a little, stop, wait, then move a little, then stop, and wait some more - rather than just creep along without ever stopping. Blows my fucking mind.
I had a truck pass me on the right, using the merging lane, so they could get ahead of me - and then immediately stop. I hate them forever.
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and 100 more
> Berang
09/11/2015 at 12:19 |
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I think many of us play this subconsciously, but I’m not going to be able to stop myself from playing it consciously from now on. That’s hilarious, man.
ttyymmnn
> and 100 more
09/11/2015 at 12:28 |
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Not only did they add the barriers, they narrowed the lanes significantly to accomodate the new “managed” (read: toll) lanes. The new lanes may help a bit, but as soon as you hit Cesar Chavez that extra lane will disappear and we’ll be back to merging and the line of cars will stretch up to the Domain. I don’t commute, but my wife does, from Pflugerville-area to UT. I don’t envy her.
RallyWrench
> Berang
09/11/2015 at 12:34 |
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I play this game in Bay Area traffic. Lots of people are hated forever.
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Berang
> RallyWrench
09/11/2015 at 12:40 |
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I’m starting to believe that if everybody drove manual, traffic jams would cease to exist. People would realize that pulling right up to the bumper of a stopped car - doesn’t make that car go, it just makes you stop. And then you have to get into neutral and start all over again.
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RallyWrench
> Berang
09/11/2015 at 13:09 |
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True. It’s so much easier to creep along in 1st gear at idle. Everyone complains that manuals are hard in traffic, but they aren’t if you drive with a little forethought. People are just stupid and inconsiderate.
Richtofen, Baron von Pickup
> Berang
09/11/2015 at 14:09 |
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Don’t you understand? You’re supposed to hurry up snd get your nose up the ass of the fella in front of you.
I take 130 all the way around Austin if I can, or come in on 290. I35 is the corridor of satan.