OT - Austin traffic
Stan, it's in my top three subjects to complain about around here. The local government(s) have suffered from rectocranial inversion for more than a decade on the subject. It's a side effect of the dominant enviro-political junta's desire to limit growth - I call it the inverse Field of Dreams plan. "If you don't build it, they won't come." It ain't working.
Three things to remember about Austin roads:
1) Every road has three (or more) names. Learn them all.
US 183 is Ed Bluestein, is Anderson Lane, is Research Blvd, etc. (Corollary: the names aren't pronounced as they're spelled, either. "Manchaca" sounds like "man-shack." "Manor" is "may-nor.")
2) "Loops" don't.
Loop 360 and Loop 1 run North/South, but never circle back to meet themselves. (Corollary: Airport Blvd doesn't go to the airport anymore - the *new* airport is a rebuilt Air Force base.)
3) Don't believe the cardinal directions on the signs. My favorite example is where US 183 N/S (aka Research Blvd) meets Loop 1 N/S (aka MoPac Expwy) in a 90-degree highway interchange, complete with exit ramps. US 290 to the east of Austin meets I-35 on the north side of town, doglegs south along it, then leaves Austin to the west on the south edge of town.
One important right-of-way rule to remember:
Regardless of any applicable traffic laws ... if your vehicle is larger, older, or has more dents, you HAVE the right of way. (This explains the bubble of empty road space surrounding old ranch pickups.)
Welcome - I wish we could have linked up. PM me if you'll be here next week.
- Mitch |
