I just remembered another time a distracted cop made me unhappy.
There is a weird intersection that leads in from a right bend, then you must go north or south at lights, and there are 2 left turn and 1 right turn lane. It also sucks as there is another light to the south (left) that often backs up into this one.
At least sometimes, the intersection was under construction so everytime I went through (once a week sometimes, sometimes not) I would get blindsided by “surprise the middle lane for left turn is closed!” Or “psyc! The middle lane is for right only and the right lane is closed!” Whatever, but you didn’t get to know that until you came around the bend.
So I’m coming slowly around the bend, and there is already a lineup in the leftmost lane. Is this because the centre is closed? Because the centre is the only left lane? Because Toronto traffic? Who knows?!?
So I round the corner and it’s because the centre lane is for right turning today and the right is closed right at the intersection. So I immediately start to look for a friendly soul to let me in. Low! A cop car, leaving a full car length of room ahead of them! I approach slowly and merge in. Sadly I’m a truck so my butt is sticking out slightly, but because the right lane is totally closed ahead there is 1 3/4 lanes to get around me. I wave a thank you at the cop.
Oops.
The cop rolls down her window and squeezes in along side my angle, blocking the bike ‘lane’ or whatever space was there before the temp barrier for construction.
I get a dressing down, how I’m cutting her off, blocking the other lane and I should line up like everyone else (I don’t point out that 3 cars have gone around me and are now signalling and butting in while blocking right turn traffic.)
I passive aggressively say “sorry, I guess you were distracted and that’s why you left the space!” And as soon as the car ahead gave me an inch I weaslesd back out and into the centre lane. I wait for the people butting in to get out of the way and I make a right, make a left into a lot and turn around and pull out. And as I drive through the intersection I can see her still 2 cars back from being able to turn. So from then on I just did that if I got caught in the wrong lane.
And to the officer I say: if you don’t want people to think you are being a thoughtful driver, pay some fucking attention. Also maybe pull over one of the countless asshats who were blocking traffic and forcing their way in? So strange you didn’t bother doing that as I’m sure if you WERE WATCHING you would have noticed many…
We are on the same page.
Just don’t anybody get their hopes up.
I just remembered another time a distracted cop made me unhappy.
There is a weird intersection that leads in from a right bend, then you must go north or south at lights, and there are 2 left turn and 1 right turn lane. It also sucks as there is another light to the south (left) that often backs up into this one.
At least sometimes, the intersection was under construction so everytime I went through (once a week sometimes, sometimes not) I would get blindsided by “surprise the middle lane for left turn is closed!” Or “psyc! The middle lane is for right only and the right lane is closed!” Whatever, but you didn’t get to know that until you came around the bend.
So I’m coming slowly around the bend, and there is already a lineup in the leftmost lane. Is this because the centre is closed? Because the centre is the only left lane? Because Toronto traffic? Who knows?!?
So I round the corner and it’s because the centre lane is for right turning today and the right is closed right at the intersection. So I immediately start to look for a friendly soul to let me in. Low! A cop car, leaving a full car length of room ahead of them! I approach slowly and merge in. Sadly I’m a truck so my butt is sticking out slightly, but because the right lane is totally closed ahead there is 1 3/4 lanes to get around me. I wave a thank you at the cop.
Oops.
The cop rolls down her window and squeezes in along side my angle, blocking the bike ‘lane’ or whatever space was there before the temp barrier for construction.
I get a dressing down, how I’m cutting her off, blocking the other lane and I should line up like everyone else (I don’t point out that 3 cars have gone around me and are now signalling and butting in while blocking right turn traffic.)
I passive aggressively say “sorry, I guess you were distracted and that’s why you left the space!” And as soon as the car ahead gave me an inch I weaslesd back out and into the centre lane. I wait for the people butting in to get out of the way and I make a right, make a left into a lot and turn around and pull out. And as I drive through the intersection I can see her still 2 cars back from being able to turn. So from then on I just did that if I got caught in the wrong lane.
And to the officer I say: if you don’t want people to think you are being a thoughtful driver, pay some fucking attention. Also maybe pull over one of the countless asshats who were blocking traffic and forcing their way in? So strange you didn’t bother doing that as I’m sure if you WERE WATCHING you would have noticed many…
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk.