OT: The New Rules for Driving in Calgary.

[feepa]

Originally Posted by LordMandeep

that is true for very big intersections, but there are still places that suffer that problem...

well - theres plently of 'smaller' intersections that have this as well - not easy to show with google maps though...

Alot of "older" intersections don't have this feature though - I guess thats one of the good things about being in a "newer" city.

(By newer I meant for the most part, constructed during the automobile age...)

[Champion3]

How about those people who all intersections with advanced left turns as dual-lane?

[mersar]

What @ Champion3?

As for the seperated left turn lanes, most newer intersections tend to have them, and even those that just had dedicated left turn lanes are fine by me. What I wish would be removed are the handful of intersections with *no* left turn lane (Centre St. N onto 16th Ave NW for instance) in which if one person wants to turn and doesn't make it before the opposing side gets the green, you've got a mess of people cutting everyone else off to try to make it through the green in the right lane.

[You Need A Thneed]

Hmmm, I think I must have had a brain fart. I see people stopping in merge lanes all the time. Sometimes, I wish I had a bag full of hammers - to throw at their cars.

The places that I alwasy think of where there are "yield" signs posted, but everyone merges are the cloverleaf ramps from 16th Ave Eastbound onto 36th and 52nd Northbound. Almost no one ever stops and yields there. I never even look at what traffic is coming before i pull into the lane, and then merge over.

[KrisYYC]

I've been in Calgary my whole life, and driving was a breeze in this city until every yahoo from every crappy town all over Canada decided to move here to make a quick buck. They have no idea how a freeway works, they are inconsiderate (if you let somebody in and they don't wave they are NOT originally from Calgary). Of course driving becomes more difficult as volume increases, but in my opinion it's not just the extra volume that's causing problems. Outside of major centres I think Canadians are some of the most clueless drivers in the industrialized world.

Kris

/rant

[jeffwhit]

bah,

Try driving in Saskatoon for a while. Everyone there learned to drive on an wheat field and it shows.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

Hmmm, I think I must have had a brain fart. I see people stopping in merge lanes all the time. Sometimes, I wish I had a bag full of hammers - to throw at their cars.

The places that I alwasy think of where there are "yield" signs posted, but everyone merges are the cloverleaf ramps from 16th Ave Eastbound onto 36th and 52nd Northbound. Almost no one ever stops and yields there. I never even look at what traffic is coming before i pull into the lane, and then merge over.

Yeah, one of the worst for me is going north on Crowchild just before crossing the river. That lane that comes up from (11th? 12th?) and is supposed to be a yield - damn near every car just plows on throughn without looking. I've nearly been sideswiped a dozen times or more in the past year. It's so bad that I always want a passenger who can look over for me - and have avoided more than one accident thanks to their warning.

It's especially bad coming home after a Flames game - the added alcohol means EVERYONE seems to ignore road signs.

[RAFS]

Try 205 on the Autobahn, and still getting passed! That's fast! Stupid rental car just wouldn't go any faster!!!! Anyhow, every single person in Canada should be forced to drive in Europe for a few weeks. That would teach them (especially those who insist on driving in the left lane). I've always said that in Europe (and even the US), they gear their highways to move people around efficiently. In Canada, it is the exact opposite. Why is there even one traffic light on the Trans Canada? WHY? And those European rules that prohibit semis on the highways on the weekends (unless you have a special permit), or fines for staying in the left lane, or fines for semi's passing cars, make driving there even more wonderful. We sure could learn a thing or two.

Calgary driving used to be great, I agree. When we moved there in '92, driving around Cowtown was like heaven. When we left in '05, it had turned to hell. And it ain't gettin' any better!

Man, I'm bitchy today.........

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by RAFS

Try 205 on the Autobahn, and still getting passed! That's fast! Stupid rental car just wouldn't go any faster!!!! Anyhow, every single person in Canada should be forced to drive in Europe for a few weeks. That would teach them (especially those who insist on driving in the left lane). I've always said that in Europe (and even the US), they gear their highways to move people around efficiently. In Canada, it is the exact opposite. Why is there even one traffic light on the Trans Canada? WHY? And those European rules that prohibit semis on the highways on the weekends (unless you have a special permit), or fines for staying in the left lane, or fines for semi's passing cars, make driving there even more wonderful. We sure could learn a thing or two.

Calgary driving used to be great, I agree. When we moved there in '92, driving around Cowtown was like heaven. When we left in '05, it had turned to hell. And it ain't gettin' any better!

Man, I'm bitchy today.........

I don't know why the city didn't route the transcanada to go the Mcknight/John Laurie route instead of 16th ave back in the 50's...

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by RAFS

Try 205 on the Autobahn, and still getting passed! That's fast! Stupid rental car just wouldn't go any faster!!!! Anyhow, every single person in Canada should be forced to drive in Europe for a few weeks. That would teach them (especially those who insist on driving in the left lane). I've always said that in Europe (and even the US), they gear their highways to move people around efficiently. In Canada, it is the exact opposite. Why is there even one traffic light on the Trans Canada? WHY? And those European rules that prohibit semis on the highways on the weekends (unless you have a special permit), or fines for staying in the left lane, or fines for semi's passing cars, make driving there even more wonderful. We sure could learn a thing or two.

This man speaks the truth! They definitely have things figured out over there better than us! The rules for trucks they have should be implemented on all 3 lane roads ASAP! How many times on the Deerfoot have you seen a truck in the far left lane slowing everything down? Right lane only and middle lane to pass, stay the hell out of the fast lane!

Also props on the 205km/h! I was hesitant to go any faster than the 180 I got our rental car up to!

[RAFS]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

This man speaks the truth! They definitely have things figured out over there better than us! The rules for trucks they have should be implemented on all 3 lane roads ASAP! How many times on the Deerfoot have you seen a truck in the far left lane slowing everything down? Right lane only and middle lane to pass, stay the hell out of the fast lane!

Also props on the 205km/h! I was hesitant to go any faster than the 180 I got our rental car up to!

Ya, we had a Toyota (go figure, in Germany and get a Toyota for a rental!), and I got it to 205. At that point, the car began to "shake" a bit more than I figure was healthy for it! Last time we were there, we got an Opel wagon. It only managed 192 (but there were 6 of us traveling in it). Next time, I gotta try to get an Audi (that's what the wife drives here - it keeps begging to go faster).

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by RAFS

Ya, we had a Toyota (go figure, in Germany and get a Toyota for a rental!), and I got it to 205. At that point, the car began to "shake" a bit more than I figure was healthy for it! Last time we were there, we got an Opel wagon. It only managed 192 (but there were 6 of us traveling in it). Next time, I gotta try to get an Audi (that's what the wife drives here - it keeps begging to go faster).

Awesome! We had the Audi station wagon two years ago, it sure had some go! I get braver every year we go on business and this last trip was a Mercedes wagon that I got up to the 180.

[The_Bachelor]

Originally Posted by jeffwhit

bah,

Try driving in Saskatoon for a while. Everyone there learned to drive on an wheat field and it shows.

I agree, having grown up in Stoon but lived in Calgary for the last 5, every time I go back it is still a noticeable adjustment in both speed (people there barely hit the speed limit, even on the 'freeways') and the sheer moronic driving and uber slow reaction times. I mean you find that everywhere as well but Calgary is not too bad comparatively.

That's what one of my biggest pet peeves is people that have such slow reaction times and just can't fathom how to predict ahead what's going to happen in situations. I'm always trying to predict how something is going to unfold and how to avoid it or get around it the fastest and safest possible way.

[lubicon]

It's really surprising that there is a difference between Calgary and Edmonton drivers (in general). I've lived in both cities and noticed a difference when we moved here from The Chuck. Drivers seem to be faster in Calgary that they are in Edmonton. It seems in Calgary nobody follows the speed limit if they can help it (except in playground zones ) while in Edmonton they seem to stick more to the speed limit and aren't quite as agressive. Not sure why there would be a difference but there is.

And drivers in general don't know how to merge/yield in both cities.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by lubicon

It seems in Calgary nobody follows the speed limit if they can help it

I find that too, except in the opposite direction - people here take forever to accelerate to the speed limit, and often don't get there.

Hooray for 90 on the Deerfoot!

[lubicon]

Originally Posted by freeweed

I find that too, except in the opposite direction - people here take forever to accelerate to the speed limit, and often don't get there.

Hooray for 90 on the Deerfoot!

I hear you on that one. It drives me nuts on Crowchild (going north) when someone is at 24th Ave and is in the left hand lane because they will be turning left at Stoney Trail in about 15km and they take forever to get up to 70km/h and that's where they max out. GET IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE YOUR MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mersar]

And once they get to the construction zone at Nosehill they dart into the right lane (which is either exit to Nosehill only, or closed ahead, depending on the day) which is pretty free flowing, and keep going 80 in the 50 zone and then decide 10' before the intersection that they need to merge back.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by mersar

And once they get to the construction zone at Nosehill they dart into the right lane (which is either exit to Nosehill only, or closed ahead, depending on the day) which is pretty free flowing, and keep going 80 in the 50 zone and then decide 10' before the intersection that they need to merge back.

Yeah, that's the other thing that kills me. Odds are if someone is doing 70 in an 80 zone, they'll keep doing 70 in the 50 construction zone.

I see this every time the Deerfoot is being repaired and there's a slowdown, and I ALWAYS see this on Crowchild. The same moron that's holding everyone up for the past 10km is suddenly blasting past everyone. Hey genius, the speed limit dropped by *30*. You might want to actually pay attention.

It's no wonder the fines in construction zones are so high here - people just do not respect them.

[guymez]

Originally Posted by RAFS

Try 205 on the Autobahn, and still getting passed! That's fast! Stupid rental car just wouldn't go any faster!!!! Anyhow, every single person in Canada should be forced to drive in Europe for a few weeks. That would teach them (especially those who insist on driving in the left lane). I've always said that in Europe (and even the US), they gear their highways to move people around efficiently. In Canada, it is the exact opposite. Why is there even one traffic light on the Trans Canada? WHY? And those European rules that prohibit semis on the highways on the weekends (unless you have a special permit), or fines for staying in the left lane, or fines for semi's passing cars, make driving there even more wonderful. We sure could learn a thing or two.

This is so true.
I was in Germany about 2 years ago and had the pleasure of driving the Autobahn. I honestly couldn't wipe the grin off of face.
What a dream driving experience. We were given a free upgrade to a Volvo sedan by the rental company. At the time I didn't think much of it until I had it cranked up to about 240. At 245 the car started to shake a little but even at 240 there were still BMW's, Audi's and Mercedes passing me with ease. The road was as smooth as glass and the drivers were all very attentive. I saw nobody putting on makeup, shaving or (saw this on Hwy #2) reading a novel.
People are paying attention to driving....just as it should be. Vehicles wanting to pass, went into the left lane, passed with authority, and then got back into the right (or centre) lane ASAP....no screwing around.
They should drop ship every Alberta driver into Germany for a month to learn how to really drive.

[0773|=\]

Pretty sure every city has it's fair share of bad drivers, but I definitely think Edmonton has less aggressive, worse-merging drivers than Calgary.

When it comes to merging, the worst drivers I've ever seen were between Abbotsford and Vancouver along the Trans Canada. They even get collector lanes out there to manage tighter weave zones along their cloverleaf ramps and there's still traffic that doesn't comprehend the 300 m of pavement beyond the last exit designed for traffic SPEEDING UP. Even the Gateway Project won't save their freeways if they don't deal with their worst drivers...