I always check my GPS before leaving home to go to work.
When I get out of my job at the end of the day, I check it again before heading home.
About 260 miles a week, I'd like to make those miles be over as quickly as possible, ya know?
Tonight GPS sent me via I-205 instead of the usual I-5 route.
It's really not much of a difference time-wise, but it's interesting to me that the mix of vehicles is different. When I take I-5, the mix is Audi, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes. I always see at least three Rivians, too. (Tell me you're stupid about money without saying it)
Lots of Toyotas, too, which is what I drive. A few semis.
Taking the 205 I see a lot more semi trucks. VWs, Hyundai, Nissan. (Again, tell me you're stupid about money without saying it)
And something I find interesting, a LOT of Cletus/Billy Bob/Billy Joe/Jim Bob clones driving their GIGANTIC Suburban Testosterone Tanks.
Haha...gender-affirming pickups.
No real figures or percentages or anything scientific. Just personal observation.
Also, the diagram I made for you on Wednesday about the three lanes and what they're for? Different on 205. Right lane, slow. The travelers are prone to swerving into center lane when vehicles are merging onto the freeway. Apparently no one understands the idea of getting up to speed before entering the road (hint, that's why the merge lanes are so long) and the people in the right lane are unable to regulate their speed if it becomes necessary.
Center lane, staggered traffic. A clump of three or four vehicles just sort of puttering along, then a long space in front of them. Also prone to swerving into one lane or another without signaling intent and without clear purpose.
Left lane, not much crime, too slow. And for some reason, unable to pick a damn speed. Drives me insane. I actually would almost rather sit on I-5 for an extra 20 minutes it's so aggravating to take the 205.
When it's almost time to get to the split to take 84, it's sometimes difficult to get into the right lane.
I particularly love turning on my turn signal, and seeing the person behind me to the right speed up.
It's so gratifying.
Especially when they ignore my turn signal and speed up even more and cut in front of me.
Goddamn idiots.
It surprises me that we don't hear about more road rage incidents.
I don't flip people off or honk the car horn or any of the usual things, but I do carry on a constant monologue.
"Yeah, dickhead, I left that space for you."
Or, "It's the long pedal on the right. You put your fuckin' foot on it, then you press it and like MAGIC your CAR SPEEDS UP!!! Look at you go, you magnificent moron!"
I listen to music. I shift uncomfortably because my knees hurt and so does my left foot and my right ankle. Usually by the time I get home I need to pee.
I do love my job. I love the company I'm working for. They really are different than the others. I wouldn't mind them opening programs in the schools on this side of town, though. The commute is definitely my least-favorite part of the job.
:::snort::: Gender-affirming pickup.
Sometimes I crack me up.
When I went to Texas (which was twenty-two years ago, so my experience may be out of date), one of the things that surprised me was that people there drove a lot less assholishly than people here in Oregon. Then I remembered that in Texas it's always rather likely that the other driver has a gun in his car. There's a lot more incentive to not piss people off too much.
ReplyDeleteWhen I look for temp jobs now, my #1 criterion is that the job be close to where I live. The traffic around here is ridiculous. I'm not going to spend half an hour each way sitting in a car. That's an hour a day of wasted time I wouldn't even get paid for.
Those giant pickup trucks are just ridiculous. Makes me want to see gasoline go up to ten bucks a gallon just to make them squeal.
I can't imagine driving something that big. And quite often they're so aggressive. I would not be surprised if possible firearms are a cause of more polite drivers in TX.
DeleteI don't have a car right now and it's probably a good thing because I get so mad at the dumb people on the roads.
ReplyDeleteEvery other one is nuts. Gahhh.
DeleteRecently at our usual Sunday group VFW breakfast, I explained shouting and swearing at idiot drivers was holistic. Long stares and a few snorts. My explanation that relieving stress at the moment it occurs prevents buildup and leaves you calm and serene. Some agreed with me; others, not so much.
ReplyDeleteGood to have it explained. Haha. I yell a lot. Rarely gesture or hit the horn. Wouldn't do any good anyway.
DeleteCommutes are the worst. I am glad you are making the best of it by entertaining us with a wonderful blog post. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteStill at work as I write. Hope afternoon commute is better than the one I had on the way here. It is apparently 'no one needs a license' day. Sheesh.
DeleteDriving isn't fun. Even though most cars have cruise control it makes no sense the pace on the interstate isn't smoother.
ReplyDeletePeople are just not great at driving sometimes, I guess. Never learned the proper way in the first place, then there are dash mounts so they can play with their phones. And people in general are really inconsiderate. I don't know if they are aware that they're driving several tons of death machine. It seems like maybe they're not aware.
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