These intersections suck

"The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123" (mattp123)
07/12/2016 at 10:09 • Filed to: None

In fact this suburb sucks. Damn near ever intersection in this town is a turn left on green arrow only intersection. Every approach to the intersection is a race to get there before the light changes. But you miss. You end up sitting there for minutes, wasting time and gas, and pumping out more emissions into the air. Sure it is a 3 lane wide 40mph road, but you can see what’s coming for at least a quarter mile. Plenty of opportunities to turn and no pedestrians in sight as this is the suburbs. But don’t dare run the red as I’m sure there will be a typical suburban cop nearby waiting to write you up.

DISCUSSION (22)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:11

Every suburb sucks.

GTI Sprinks > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:12

After traveling in the UK, i find intersections like this are shit design when a roundabout will suffice perfectly.

functionoverfashion > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:15

Stoplights suck. In tight cities, I get it, there’s no other option. But I loathe stoplights like the one you’re describing. Rotaries/roundabouts are sooooooo much better when there’s space.

Cherry_man1 > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:17

In Olathe, Kansas we have a flashing yellow on roads like this in my suburb.

Justin Hughes > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:20

Would you rather have something like Kelley Square in Worcester, MA?

Kinja'd!!!

Chaos theory, plus lousy Massachusetts drivers. It’s amazing anyone gets out of here alive.

Urambo Tauro > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:23

These are ridiculous. I’ve been seeing signals in my area re-programmed like this. Some of them won’t even activate the protected left unless there’s a car already waiting at the intersection.

It’s like the planners got fed up with left-turn crashes and decided that responsible drivers shouldn’t be allowed to go either, not even when it’s clear. I enjoy protected left turns just as much as the next guy, but being forced to wait longer than I used to is frustrating.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Justin Hughes
07/12/2016 at 10:36

I feel like getting rid of those islands and some better striping would make that less intimidating.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Urambo Tauro
07/12/2016 at 10:40

To make matters worse, the one in the picture is only a 3 way intersection. So once you catch the red arrow, it might be a while before anybody approaches the intersection on the perpendicular street to change the lights.

Urambo Tauro > Justin Hughes
07/12/2016 at 10:55

It took me a minute to figure that picture out. Simplified, it’s really just a one-way street intersecting a two-way street, so that’s why there’s only one stop line (and probably a stop sign on that lamp-post).

The geometry and angles make it look really awkward, though. Seems like it would be helpful to post a yield sign on the island next to that white pickup truck.

Where have all the lightweights gone? > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:58

I know exactly where you are! If that’s near the Bloomingdale Golf Club, I feel your pain. That left turn signal is extremely short.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 10:59

You could waste less gas by turning the engine off while you wait...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Urambo Tauro
07/12/2016 at 11:01

If they were truly fed up with left-turn crashes, then they would have installed traffic circles instead of regular intersections like that.

In a traffic circle, you’re always turning right.... though curving to the left.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > functionoverfashion
07/12/2016 at 11:04

And if there’s one thing the suburbs have is lots of space. So there’s really no excuse... aside from trying to design things as cheaply as possible.

A properly designed roundabout can cost more to build... however there can be savings by negating the need for traffic lights in many cases.

Urambo Tauro > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
07/12/2016 at 11:04

I like traffic circles a lot. They’re starting to pop up here and there, but they haven’t really caught on in my area.

Textured Soy Protein > Justin Hughes
07/12/2016 at 11:32

I hate driving in Massachusetts, and generally hate Massachusetts, especially Boston, and the accents, and the attitudes, and the snobbishness, and the boorishness, and the accents.

My general opinion is fuck anyone who says the words “Tchowm Brady.”

But damn if the last time I visited Boston I didn’t say, “you know this city is actually rather nice and pretty and well kept and has that grand American city vibe to it.”

Still hate the accents though.

Justin Hughes > Urambo Tauro
07/12/2016 at 11:33

It’s Massachusetts. Yield signs are nothing more than a waste of perfectly good sheet metal.

Justin Hughes > Textured Soy Protein
07/12/2016 at 11:35

You’ll be pleased to know that despite being raised in the town of HAH-vuhd, I do not speak with a Boston accent. I can fake one pretty well, though - better than most Hollywood actors pretending to be from Boston.

Textured Soy Protein > Justin Hughes
07/12/2016 at 11:39

I’m really good at faking many accents but always struggle with BAAAHHHHSTON accents.

Justin Hughes > Textured Soy Protein
07/12/2016 at 11:49

You can always practice with our towns and cities.

Harvard = HAH-vuhd

Danvers = DYAN-viz

Worcester = WIS-tah

Revere = ra-VEAH

DynamicWeight > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/12/2016 at 12:11

Try living in the Bay Area; we have no intersections without red arrows. When I went away to school I didn’t even know what was going on. I had no idea it was possible to make a left turn without a green arrow.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Where have all the lightweights gone?
07/12/2016 at 15:57

You caught MattP123 in Oppomon Go!

Nauraushaun > The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123
07/14/2016 at 05:51

Damn near ever intersection in this town is a turn left on green arrow only intersection

Every intersection in Australia is this way. You can never pass through a red.

It’s not so bad