I can't stand people from Maryland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had stayed away from this thread because I don't hate *people* from Maryland, of course, although as a pedestrian in the city I find I have daily conflicts with MD-tagged drivers declining to respect my right of way in crosswalks without lights.

I'm from Maryland and I will give you this one. I can't STAND the cross-walks without lights. They make no sense to me. I'm already looking to the side of the road instead of overhead for the stop lights. I have to be aware of the rush hour traffic flows - no left turn here between certain times, lane changes directions depending on the time of the day and the parking restrictions depending on the time of day. So wait, is it the time when people can park in the right lane so I should stay middle lane - assuming there is a left lane that is in use for the rush hour traffic? And then just for sh&*ts and giggles you throw in a pedestrian crosswalk not at a light. I am trying desperately not to hit another car and respect the normal pedestrian right away when you are trying to turn left or right at a light and then we have the random crosswalk where at any given moment while I am going up to 30 MPH I should be prepared for someone to stroll out in the street with not a care in the world well within their rights and I need to hit the breaks .... without signs everywhere warning me to slow down, drop the speed limit due to pedestrian crosswalk. Even better when this is done at night. Oh and don't forgot I have to be looking to the side and not in front of me for the lights. Perhaps if I was used to this from birth, it would seem normal. I would almost prefer the person just boldly cross not in a crosswalk - so there is that hesitancy - do I have it to get across - ahh, I see that person in the middle of the street, let me slow down in case they dart in front of me - than the M*(&^^ not at a light, not a sign to slow down in sight - cross-walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had stayed away from this thread because I don't hate *people* from Maryland, of course, although as a pedestrian in the city I find I have daily conflicts with MD-tagged drivers declining to respect my right of way in crosswalks without lights.

I'm from Maryland and I will give you this one. I can't STAND the cross-walks without lights. They make no sense to me. I'm already looking to the side of the road instead of overhead for the stop lights. I have to be aware of the rush hour traffic flows - no left turn here between certain times, lane changes directions depending on the time of the day and the parking restrictions depending on the time of day. So wait, is it the time when people can park in the right lane so I should stay middle lane - assuming there is a left lane that is in use for the rush hour traffic? And then just for sh&*ts and giggles you throw in a pedestrian crosswalk not at a light. I am trying desperately not to hit another car and respect the normal pedestrian right away when you are trying to turn left or right at a light and then we have the random crosswalk where at any given moment while I am going up to 30 MPH I should be prepared for someone to stroll out in the street with not a care in the world well within their rights and I need to hit the breaks .... without signs everywhere warning me to slow down, drop the speed limit due to pedestrian crosswalk. Even better when this is done at night. Oh and don't forgot I have to be looking to the side and not in front of me for the lights. Perhaps if I was used to this from birth, it would seem normal. I would almost prefer the person just boldly cross not in a crosswalk - so there is that hesitancy - do I have it to get across - ahh, I see that person in the middle of the street, let me slow down in case they dart in front of me - than the M*(&^^ not at a light, not a sign to slow down in sight - cross-walk.

We have crosswalks on just about every corner in some neighborhoods, and between corners on longer blocks. That's the deal. It's part of a well-designed pedestrian experience, which is the priority in planning a city. We must have people able to cross safely at conveniently frequent intervals, but we should not have to pay for (or, in historic areas especially) look at a light every few hundred feet. You just have to proceed slowly and cautiously and be aware that pedestrians are likely at every corner. (I say corner because I don't support jaywalking, personally.) I don't think you're supposed to be going even 30 MPH-- isn't the citywide maximum speed limit 25 for just this reason? We do have a few ill-conceived roads laid out to be commuter thoroughfares left over as a legacy of mid-20th century car culture, but most streets in NW DC are not intended for uninterrupted driving. You just don't get to do that here because pedestrians always have the right of way unless it's a corner where the light says we don't.

If it's too confusing, take Metro.

[Anonymous]

The speed limit in DC is 25 mph unless posted otherwise, such as on Connecticut and Wisconsin and other avenues which are 30-35. These do have lots of crosswalks without lights and I suspect situations like these are what PP is talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The speed limit in DC is 25 mph unless posted otherwise, such as on Connecticut and Wisconsin and other avenues which are 30-35. These do have lots of crosswalks without lights and I suspect situations like these are what PP is talking about.

Nevertheless, until she's north of, say, Porter St., on Connecticut Ave., and maybe Irving St. on 16th St., she should proceed as if she's anticipating pedestrians on every corner. We're not thrown into the mix at the end, we're there from the beginning and probably the first things you need to take into your consciousness. If it's all too much stimulation, take Metro.

I wouldn't hold my breath for pedestrians on most of Wisconsin Ave. above Georgetown. She can probably do what she wants there, and is unlikely to find my family at any rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And to the ladies who drive big cars because they think they are intimidating others...your car does not scare me. It's the fact that a suburban soccer Mom who is on the cell phone while driving, is operating the vehicle. Because honestly, most of them cannot drive at all!

It's less that the car is big and more that it is OLD that makes people get out of the way...and it does work. I drove a nice little luxury SUV for years and people would speed up when I put on my blinker to get over, now that I drive an old clunky one people don't try this crap with me--my car does not look like a soccer mom car--it looks more like something someone who lives in the woods and only comes out once a year for supplies would drive.

You must be so proud. Have you accessorized with shotgun racks and a hound dawg?

No, but, that's a good idea!

And I am proud of a lot of things--I'm awesome! I love me, I don't care in the least that you don't like me because I drive an old car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But there is no correlation between being rich and being able to drive behemoths safely. And I'm assuming that if you live in Bethesda, you're probably trim and petite - not a good match for a Suburban.

Bethesda = trim and petite! So, that's the secret? I just have to move to Bethesda and I'll be trim and petite. Thanks for letting me in on this, I'm off to contact a real estate agent!

People drive like crap everywhere--can we put this one to bed and go back to debating whether or not drinking one glass of whine while pregnant will prevent our kids from getting into Sidwell Friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But there is no correlation between being rich and being able to drive behemoths safely. And I'm assuming that if you live in Bethesda, you're probably trim and petite - not a good match for a Suburban.

Bethesda = trim and petite! So, that's the secret? I just have to move to Bethesda and I'll be trim and petite. Thanks for letting me in on this, I'm off to contact a real estate agent!

People drive like crap everywhere--can we put this one to bed and go back to debating whether or not drinking one glass of whine while pregnant will prevent our kids from getting into Sidwell Friends?

If you drink a glass of whine while pregnant, your kids might come out annoying the hell out of the admissions officers (and anyone else). Even if it can be bottled, just say no-- pleeeeeeaaaaaaase?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And to the ladies who drive big cars because they think they are intimidating others...your car does not scare me. It's the fact that a suburban soccer Mom who is on the cell phone while driving, is operating the vehicle. Because honestly, most of them cannot drive at all!

It's less that the car is big and more that it is OLD that makes people get out of the way...and it does work. I drove a nice little luxury SUV for years and people would speed up when I put on my blinker to get over, now that I drive an old clunky one people don't try this crap with me--my car does not look like a soccer mom car--it looks more like something someone who lives in the woods and only comes out once a year for supplies would drive.

You must be so proud. Have you accessorized with shotgun racks and a hound dawg?

No, but, that's a good idea!

And I am proud of a lot of things--I'm awesome! I love me, I don't care in the least that you don't like me because I drive an old car.

Hey- when I drive (which is fortunately infrequently) I drive a 1998 Honda Civic, so no stones cast for that reason. I just wonder how it is that you're perceiving virtue in the appearance of backwoodsiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The speed limit in DC is 25 mph unless posted otherwise, such as on Connecticut and Wisconsin and other avenues which are 30-35. These do have lots of crosswalks without lights and I suspect situations like these are what PP is talking about.

I'm the PP and yes, talking about the CT Ave commute into the city I used to do. I'm from NYC and I have to say do you think these crosswalks not at a light and to "drive thru the whole city as if it is the pediatrian can cross at any time at the block" would fly there??? Exactly. Put a freakin light - so pedestrian can cross at X time, then cars can drive at X time! I think my chances of being run over in NY are less than on CT Ave in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And to the ladies who drive big cars because they think they are intimidating others...your car does not scare me. It's the fact that a suburban soccer Mom who is on the cell phone while driving, is operating the vehicle. Because honestly, most of them cannot drive at all!

It's less that the car is big and more that it is OLD that makes people get out of the way...and it does work. I drove a nice little luxury SUV for years and people would speed up when I put on my blinker to get over, now that I drive an old clunky one people don't try this crap with me--my car does not look like a soccer mom car--it looks more like something someone who lives in the woods and only comes out once a year for supplies would drive.

You must be so proud. Have you accessorized with shotgun racks and a hound dawg?

No, but, that's a good idea!

And I am proud of a lot of things--I'm awesome! I love me, I don't care in the least that you don't like me because I drive an old car.

Hey- when I drive (which is fortunately infrequently) I drive a 1998 Honda Civic, so no stones cast for that reason. I just wonder how it is that you're perceiving virtue in the appearance of backwoodsiness.

It's not virtue, it's just that when I go to get over, people don't try to speed up and run me off the road and people don't cut me off anymore either. The only change I have made is switching cars from something that looks like I wouldn't want it to get hit to something that looks like I could care less if it gets hit (it's also big, so I'm sure that helps too). So, like it or not, I feel safer now.

Are you perceiving vitrue in the fact that you "infrequently" drive, or are you just confessing that you don't have enough experience to weigh in on a discussion about driving?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in MD but don't find the bad, aggressive, asshole drivers until I enter the Bethesda/Rockville area. The worst is these little women driving sasquatch sized SUVs that are so large they can hardly see over the dashboard and they don't seem to have enough upper body strength to actually turn the massive steering wheel. Some how they seem to think they should try holding a mobile phone up to their ears while barely being able to operate the vehicle.

You obviously wouldn't know - my massive Suburban has power steering of course. You should test drive one sometime. I love it! And it fits all our kids! Oh I forgot, that means I'm rich too, right?

yes - There is a correlation between the number of kids you have and your income level.

So considering you have a pricey Suburban (with power steering) that can fit 5 kids, you're obviously rich.

But there is no correlation between being rich and being able to drive behemoths safely. And I'm assuming that if you live in Bethesda, you're probably trim and petite - not a good match for a Suburban.

The correlation is actually reverse for the general population at large, e.g., more kids=lower education level attained and lower income.

Smart ppl stay in school longer, marry later, in the workforce longer before procreating.

Smart people would have understood the sarcasm in the post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I must be roundly hated - I've lived in DC, Virginia, MD AND Minnesota. Oh and to top it all off I drive a BMW. Seriously.

Do you send your kids to private school and/or have a nanny? Do you spank? Do you ask people how much stuff cost or where they got it? These are all important considerations when condemning someone to the lower circles of hell.

But she BF her kids so she is only in the middle circles of hell.

[Anonymous]

You know who I can't stand? Those people with noses. With all that breathing in and out all the time...and the nose blowing. Seriously, c'mon! How much air does one person need? Such assholes.

[Anonymous]

After driving in New York, Maryland is a pleasure to me.

[Anonymous]

Try driving in Virginia, because Virginia Is For Lovers!!