You may not know this about the AB but I have a little problem with traffic. This may come as a surprise to you that such a calm, serene person such as myself could get himself worked up about something so inconsequential as driving in a car, merrily down the road. Sherwood Park is a particular focal point. If you have read some of my early posts, I have a 'FEW ISSUES' with the traffic/driving situation that exists in our fair Hamlet.
A couple of new situations have arisen the past weeks (in Strathcona County, or as I call it; the County of Strathcona - why exactly did that change?) that have sent me into a new state of frustration and bewilderment concerning the level of stupidity that seems to come out of whatever planning and; I guess careful thought, about how to make this County's roads move traffic more smoothly.
The first things that drives me crazy is the putting of traffic lights, two miles south of Walmart. Granted, it was needed, but it was needed ten years ago. Why now? The traffic at that corner is in a word, dangerous. To cross the Whitemud, involves you literally taking your life in your hands. The traffic from both the east and west is steady. MDW and I decided long, long ago that we would not risk our lives crossing there, choosing to travel one or two miles east to cross. Imagine all the miles, gas, and time that has been wasted. Now they make lights. Not only are there lights at this corner, but they widened the intersection to allow cars to stop and then merge. Holy Fuck! If you have driven in the past ten years you will know that NO ONE knows how to merge. It is a case of everyone bullying people out of their way, so they can go where they want. Now we have a corner with a light and a merge lane after the turn. I have already seen dozen of times in which people pull up, stop, wait, wait, wait, and when the light turns green, turn right. It was much faster before, when there was no light, because people were not confused by the situation. Let us not forget that most people driving are fucking morons, who can not look at a situation and correctly do the suitable manoeuvre that is required. THEY ARE TOO STUPID! So they have put lights to increase traffic flow and it works exactly the opposite. Fucking brilliant.
Now the light is fine. It certainly isn't fair and equitable, but you do get a chance. albeit slim. In the mornings, the light last, and I have timed it; 4 seconds. But is is an improvement. In the afternoon, it is 7 seconds. This I can't complain about, because we get a chance.
Yesterday, as I drove MDW to her last Christmas concert, a new sign has been put up, citing a change of speed on the road going south towards the Whitemud. The new speed limit is 60 km, down from 70 km. I have long wondered why this road is 70 km, when all the other roads in the county, including roads closest to this road remain 80 km. There are no more roads leading into sub divisions on this road, than others. In fact this road has several turning lanes created. So why the fuck was this road 70 km and others remaining 80 km? Now, half way to the Whitemud, they have lowered it again to 60 km. Why? For what fucking reason did they do this? They will answer "Oh, cars have to slow down for the lights". Really? What the fuck did they do before, when it was a stop sign? How has a light made any difference to the speed. When there was a stop sign, YOU HAD TO STOP. Now, you don't have to stop, in fact you may just breeze right on through or turn. It makes no sense to lower the speed limit. Someone please explain this to me.
Another raging case of stupidity occurs at the soon to be defunct Colchester School. The road travelling west to the school has always been 80 km. They have put two new speed limits within fifty metres of each other. You travel west at 80 km and suddenly the limit goes to 60 km and then twenty metres later it drops to 50 km. WTF? I don't know how you are supposed to achieve those speeds within the distances they put it up. So why the fuck do it? It is ridiculous. Who is the fucking rocket scientist that decided to do this. These signs are on the north side of the road and the signs on the south side have be mowed over by the snow removal operators, so I guess I could drive as fast as I want on that side of the road.
Ahhhhhh! And and Larry Bird once said on Christmas Day to the Atlanta Hawks bench as he ran by on his way to scoring 60 on them, ; "Merry Fucking Christmas"
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