| Author |
Message |
    
Tom Kerns
Supporter
Username: Tom_kerns
Post Number: 313
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 2:12 pm: |     |
Rarely do I post in Soapbox, but have a need to rant! As I was trying to pull my car out of my parking spot last night after getting off the train over a DOZEN cars went by before someone was courteous enough to let me out. Let me explain. I was parked in a diagonal space on Dunnell down near the south pedestrian tunnel. I got in my car at about 6:15 and put my car in reverse (and before anyone asks, my backup lights do work) and waited. And waited. Now, when I say the cars went by, that’s almost a lie. They inched by, because as you know there is a friggin’ stop sign at the end of the street. Where the hell did you people thinking you were going to get to by not letting me out of the space…another 10 feet???
I usually don’t “inch out” because I don’t want to be rude or obnoxious, but this got my Irish up. Do you know that when I began to inch out 2 cars actually went around my car to prevent me from getting in front of them to WAIT IN LINE AT THE STOP SIGN!!
Before you post the usual comments about SUVs and cell phone yacking drivers, rest assured that these were drivers of all makes and models, big and small, young and old, male and female (not sure if anyone was on a cell phone though), and the person who finally let me pull out was driving an SUV. That may have been because I was pulled out far enough the SUV couldn’t go around me, but nonetheless. Also, before anyone posts about those NJ drivers lets not forget that a large part of Maplewood is now transplanted New Yorkers, so it’s a good bet that at least a few of these drivers didn’t learn their driving etiquette in NJ.
Now, since I live a few houses up from CHS on Parker I could tell you many stories of trying to pull out of my driveway right before school begins in the morning, but you get my point.
OK, feel better
Thanks
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Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 10269
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 2:18 pm: | |
I have to say very few people stop to let people back into a public road, although I see your point. I usually drive an econobox to the station and have given up the diagnol spots because about 90% of the time there is an SUV or van next to me and I can't see if it safe to back out. |
tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 4198
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 2:21 pm: | |
Of course those same people, if they saw you in a spot on Maplewood Ave. on a Saturday morning, would stop for you -- and wait long enough for cars to back up to Jefferson!
Getting out of my driveway can be tough, too; the stop marker on the road is worn down and most drivers consider it optional anyway. I sometimes amuse myself by pretending I don't see them and backing out very quickly to make them think I'm going to "accidentally" ram into them. It's fun to see how fast they can shift into reverse. |
Oldstone
Citizen
Username: Rogers4317
Post Number: 504
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 2:27 pm: | |
tom kerns, that is my same pet peeve with backing out of those spaces. i have had people honk at me trying to back out, swerve around me backing out, pull right up to within inches of me as i've backed out...of course, then i take my sweet time inching MY way to the stop sign. what the hell is wrong with people? seems like you can't take the NYC out of people, even once they've moved to maplewood. |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 2854
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 2:44 pm: | |
Same problem for those of us who walk to the train. Crossing Dunnell to or from the train station is dangerous at any hour--people are so busy to drop off or pick up someone that they do not yield to pedestrians, even in the cross walk. The other day a large woman in an even larger SUV almost ran me over, and when I raised my arms in protest, she flipped me off and then rolled down her window to reinforce it verbally. My kids, who were with me, thought she was funny, in an insane way. |
Cleve Dark
Citizen
Username: Clevedark
Post Number: 254
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 3:52 pm: | |
Oh god, this reminds me of the time I had my left blinker on to make a left into my driveway, and some jerk behind me passed me on THE LEFT!!! |
Tom Kerns
Supporter
Username: Tom_kerns
Post Number: 314
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:01 pm: | |
Tom
Having picked up my daughter at your house, and dropped yours off, more than a few times over the years I know what you mean about your driveway. You must be a patient man.
TK |
Ms. Cooper
Citizen
Username: Ms_cooper
Post Number: 43
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:16 pm: | |
AND
Drivers making left-hand turns off of Maplewood Ave. into the train station parking lot behind a slow stream of cars also going into the lot creating a horizontal road block on MW Ave. I sat for several minutes last night waiting, waiting, waiting. We should have a "don't block the box" rule... |
The Libertarian
Citizen
Username: Local_1_crew
Post Number: 1330
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:25 pm: | |
this from a town full of people who dont know how to use thier turn signals |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5126
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 4:26 pm: | |
I suspect most of them know how to use them, they just choose not to. |
Spare_o
Supporter
Username: Spare_o
Post Number: 343
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 8:42 pm: | |
Is common courtesy lost? In my opinion, yes.
It's the really simple stuff that gets me...people in cars or walking on sidewalks that cut you off to get wherever they are going a nanosecond before you. Drivers who don't get the "ever other" procedure for merging in traffic. Someone who can't hold a door for another. Cashiers or others in direct contact with the public in retail who can't be bothered to acknowledge your existence never mind a please, thank you or have a good day. In those situations I love to say all those niceties in the hopes that maybe they will be jostled out of whatever world they are in to realize their lack of common courtesty (although I know this is a hopeless campaign). I'm sure if I drove more I would have more to be incensed about.
OK...rant over.
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2202
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, January 13, 2006 - 11:38 pm: | |
Spare_o,
I completely agree. The big things have always been there. There are always (and have always been) people who will be discourteous. There will always been self centered morons.
But I do feel like the little things show it's more societal these days. Yes, there are definitely still people who hold doors, or will let you merge, or will take the time to actually say thank you or please.
I often go out of my way to say thank you or to say something nice or unexpected. It always (always) takes people aback. I either get strange looks, or stammered half-responses.
I used to say "You're welcome" to people for whom I held the door, or did some other courteous thing, and who did not say Thanks. But I gave up for two reasons. First, they never learn. And second, I felt like I was being preachy.
While there is little else I can say "The good old says" about, that is one thing I do miss. |
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