One of our busiest non-stoplight intersections has had 22 fender benders, instead of 26 T-Bones before the roundabout was put in.
From what I have seen - the #1 reason is failure to yield - I've seen way too many drivers (in Woodbury a lot still drive SUVs) that FLY into and out of the roundabout like its just a speed bump. You gotta slow down and look to the left BEFORE you get in the circle.
At least now they cannot blow the intersection at 50+ MPH; you have to slow down to probably about 40 just to make the turn. A lot are still speeding - you can see skid marks all over next to the yield signs - a sign they are not slowing down ahead of time.
But round abouts are amazing from a delivery person stand point of view.. nothing's worse than waiting at stoplights or signs for some jerk face to inch forward then stop and look at you and repeat this cycle.. at least with round abouts, there is a flow, assuming the fact that ppl know how to use them.
I can see clearly three different generations of Drivers in Woodbury -
1) Suburban Parents / Yuppies - Always "Rushing" - got places to go - gotta stick to the 'schedule' - Always driving SUV's and vans that can hold at least seven people. They will blow a red light to make soccer practice on a rare occasion. Waaaaaaay too many of this kind in town, in my opinion.
2) Retirees - Got money, drive big cars, don't know how to handle these fancy SUV's. Drive slow, respect traffic laws, but slam on the brakes if anything surprises them - even if they are on ice or the middle of a roundabout.
3) Teenagers - Don't know all the rules, violates as many as possible to see if they get caught. Easy to hear/spot because of bad exhaust and thumping stereos - a few are spotted during the day, but most wait until nightfall to drag race. Most go to indoor shopping malls like Maplewood, so not as many lurk around here.
Compared to Europe - our roundabouts are child's play. Over time we will learn to use them properly and they will be a benefit.
My biggest fear now is the baby boomers that are going senile are going to be on the roads waaay past their primes. Be prepared for sudden stops - everywhere - and don't tailgate too close!
I am a suburban parent. I drive a big SUV. If I blow a traffic light it is because I wasn't paying attention. Again. I drive slow. I respect traffic laws give or take <5 miles per hour. I have a pretty loud but rarely thumping stereo. I won't drag race, but if I notice that you have been threading your way up the traffic lanes, you won't be passing me and I will piss you off.
I think mostly I relate to the retiree crowd. What a wuss I've become. Yet so young and beautiful... :cool:
I notice that you have been threading your way up the traffic lanes, you won't be passing me and I will piss you off.
You do the casual lane change into the passing lane to slow down a speeder too, eh? I LOVE DOING THAT! If they are real dorks about it, you slow down and pin them behind you and a semi. As long as you are not holding up several vehicles behind them, LET THEM SQUIRM.
Seriously, though - we have A LOT of "Soccer Mom' type vehicles in Woodbury - and you can tell a lot of them drive sloppy when they're distracted (mostly because of cell phones).
A quick confession: I am nasty hazardous when I have to answer a cell phone in a moving vehicle. It means I have to take my knee off the steering wheel and put down my egg mcMuffin to reach around with the opposite hand to pull it out of my pocket. Almost spill my Starbucks every time!
Just yesterday, I was late to meet a friend at the movies, and was putting my make-up on in the car as I drove on the highway, a car pulled in front of me in the passing lane, slowed down, and wouldn't budge above 55 mph!!
I had to slam on my brakes, and I very nearly poked my eye out with my mascara brush.
I have a 30+ mile commute to work, albeit heading eastbound into Cheeseland and away from rush hour traffic. Still, I've got lots of stories about crap that happens.
Does anyone else have a long commute to work?
With the accident scenes we feel compelled to take photos of, and the fact most of us know how to drive, do you think we should start a "Road Rage" thread, for any and all events that happen on four wheels? Positive or negative?
Wow! Thanks for the reminder...I'm in for sure but don't know the team layout. Coolers, are we mixing teams..keeping the same teams? I just wanna do the hunt. :litesmile:
Yep, I commute 40-miles one way to work, from the western burbs up to Shoreview... Luck has it that traffic is typically going the opposite direction each way so usually it is a breeze.
Tearing up the mess at 81 and 169 in Osseo, that is going to goof things up for me until as the sign say 2011!! Sheesh
I was there with my gf last night, got some good pictures that I'll post when she emails them to me. I can't believe they painted the haunted house red! The new bazaar is cool, although it would have been better if they had kept the ground as dirt instead of filling it with concrete.
She has not met last years state fair bfg or this year's taste of MN bfg - yet. :sillygrin: She's leaving Wednesday for school in Boston so unfortunately she won't be able to take part in AW's 24 hour hunt. We will be at the fair again tomorrow if anyone wants to meet her, we're volunteering at the DFL donut booth from 6-midnight but we probably will be at the fair a few hours earlier to hang around.
I got picked to volunteer at the VIP delegate party on Sun 8/31 for the Republican convention! I can't believe I got through all the background checks with all the DFL stuff I've done.
First one to catch my eye is 15% off at the St. Joe's. gift shop.
Another that might be of interest is the custom chocolates on Larpenteur. A couple of the women I worked with at the State got some of those chocolates when I was leaving. Good stuff.
The Safari gift store at Como Zoo and Conservatory, Cardinal Corner on S. Robert, some pizza places, liquor stores, the outlet stores at North Branch all might be interesting.
Yes they are diverting cars still. They go across the street now instead of down the block. They musta hired their own security guys too because I havn't seen the cops there anymore. I just drove by so I don't know how long they wait.
Pampered Chef
Plan to attend an exciting evening
Filled full of fun, food, friends and fancy
Tuesday August 26, 2008
6:30pm
Hosted by:
Kathy Reynolds
1221 Belair Circle
Roseville, MN. 55113
651-283-0908
Directions & RSVP
Bring a friend for a bonus gift!!
I have to work today.
One of our busiest non-stoplight intersections has had 22 fender benders, instead of 26 T-Bones before the roundabout was put in.
From what I have seen - the #1 reason is failure to yield - I've seen way too many drivers (in Woodbury a lot still drive SUVs) that FLY into and out of the roundabout like its just a speed bump. You gotta slow down and look to the left BEFORE you get in the circle.
At least now they cannot blow the intersection at 50+ MPH; you have to slow down to probably about 40 just to make the turn. A lot are still speeding - you can see skid marks all over next to the yield signs - a sign they are not slowing down ahead of time.
1) Suburban Parents / Yuppies - Always "Rushing" - got places to go - gotta stick to the 'schedule' - Always driving SUV's and vans that can hold at least seven people. They will blow a red light to make soccer practice on a rare occasion. Waaaaaaay too many of this kind in town, in my opinion.
2) Retirees - Got money, drive big cars, don't know how to handle these fancy SUV's. Drive slow, respect traffic laws, but slam on the brakes if anything surprises them - even if they are on ice or the middle of a roundabout.
3) Teenagers - Don't know all the rules, violates as many as possible to see if they get caught. Easy to hear/spot because of bad exhaust and thumping stereos - a few are spotted during the day, but most wait until nightfall to drag race. Most go to indoor shopping malls like Maplewood, so not as many lurk around here.
Compared to Europe - our roundabouts are child's play. Over time we will learn to use them properly and they will be a benefit.
My biggest fear now is the baby boomers that are going senile are going to be on the roads waaay past their primes. Be prepared for sudden stops - everywhere - and don't tailgate too close!
I think mostly I relate to the retiree crowd. What a wuss I've become. Yet so young and beautiful... :cool:
You do the casual lane change into the passing lane to slow down a speeder too, eh? I LOVE DOING THAT! If they are real dorks about it, you slow down and pin them behind you and a semi. As long as you are not holding up several vehicles behind them, LET THEM SQUIRM.
Seriously, though - we have A LOT of "Soccer Mom' type vehicles in Woodbury - and you can tell a lot of them drive sloppy when they're distracted (mostly because of cell phones).
A quick confession: I am nasty hazardous when I have to answer a cell phone in a moving vehicle. It means I have to take my knee off the steering wheel and put down my egg mcMuffin to reach around with the opposite hand to pull it out of my pocket. Almost spill my Starbucks every time!
Just yesterday, I was late to meet a friend at the movies, and was putting my make-up on in the car as I drove on the highway, a car pulled in front of me in the passing lane, slowed down, and wouldn't budge above 55 mph!!
I had to slam on my brakes, and I very nearly poked my eye out with my mascara brush.
:wink:
Does anyone else have a long commute to work?
With the accident scenes we feel compelled to take photos of, and the fact most of us know how to drive, do you think we should start a "Road Rage" thread, for any and all events that happen on four wheels? Positive or negative?
Wow! Thanks for the reminder...I'm in for sure but don't know the team layout. Coolers, are we mixing teams..keeping the same teams? I just wanna do the hunt. :litesmile:
1, 2, 3
of these...
22.5 inch covers...
free??
anybody have one they want to get rid of..
I just want the covers...and the grills inside of them...
doesn't need to be a weber...just want the cover of any that are that large.
I would throw the rest away :wink:
but if you know somebody that wants to dump there's please please let me know...
thank you
if you know what I mean!! lol
I am hosting cars at the Blue fox Tonight Come out hang out and talk to me for A Few if anyone gets time!!!
This?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rMcRJVY1-0
Kitch do you still have some of that cooking spray I need some for my shovel this year the stuff I put on 3 years ago is finely wearing off!!! lol
I've got 2 a hold of 2 of them so far..
"E.T. Phone Home"
Tearing up the mess at 81 and 169 in Osseo, that is going to goof things up for me until as the sign say 2011!! Sheesh
about as redneck as you'll get..
but what i've heard about these they are the best you can get...
I'm figuring part of the reason I want to make 3 or 4 of them is by the last one I have it "down"
how did today come so quickly? :frown:
they painted the haunted house?!!?!
is this the same gf as before? :sheepish:
but has she met the state fair bfg or the treasure hunting bfg?
or the discin' bfg? or the harrietisland bfg?
will she hunt with you during the 24 AW hunt?
 :wink: :cool:
COUPONS
Another that might be of interest is the custom chocolates on Larpenteur. A couple of the women I worked with at the State got some of those chocolates when I was leaving. Good stuff.
The Safari gift store at Como Zoo and Conservatory, Cardinal Corner on S. Robert, some pizza places, liquor stores, the outlet stores at North Branch all might be interesting.
Say - has anyone tried to get into Sonic lately? Are the still diverting cars away from the driveway or what?
Seriously though, congrats.
http://www.legacy.com/twincities/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=116080201