Where do they come from?

[socwkbiker]

Ok, this is a general question for the general population. All summer long the traffic was mild, even light during the work week. Then the first day of school starts and suddenly there is all of this backed up, stop and go traffic on the city highways. I know that the kids were out of school, but I can't believe that that many people had 3 months of vacation. And don't tell me it's teachers, because by the time I'm going to work, 7:30, those soldiers are already preparing for their students in the classroom.

So where the hell do all of these people come from???? It drives me crazy because even the HOV commuter lane is full and filled with stop and go traffic. WTH??? Someone please! Enlighten me!

[burkazoid]

They come out of the woodwork, dude. Try living in a college town like I do, when the population your town basically almost doubles over the course of a week, and you've close to twenty thousand new freshman and transfers taking up the streets, the restaurants, the stores, et al. At least I have to be at work at 7AM, so I miss the worst of the traffic.

[cactusjack]

We have a similar problem here. In a couple of months, the snowbirds will be starting their annual migration from Canada, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan and other cold climates. That means a few hundred thousand (I'm not exaggerating) extra vehicles with drivers who have slow reflexes, bad eyesight and hearing, and act as if driving a Cadillac or Buick gives them ownership of the road. It also increases waits at hospitals, stores, and restaurants (although not after about 6:30PM, go figure). Add to that a major university (ASU) and its attendant traffic, and it can be messy.

I'm sure the Floridians can relate.

[skeeter]

Summer they sleep in. Now parents and grandparents are taking kids to school and picking them up.

[unwind2]

Summer they sleep in. Now parents and grandparents are taking kids to school and picking them up.

Maybe they were sleeping in with the kids. Now that they have to get up and take them to school maybe they have a new sense of freedom whilst kid in school and go out riding, shopping, restaurant besides McDonalds'. :-/

[01nomad]

Traffic Jam?? What's That?? OH, That's why I don't live in Chicago anymore. I think it has something to do with this thing called werk. Sometimes we have fishing boat jams here.

[ringadingh]

We have the same traffic here the first day of school. A lot of people who get 4 weeks vacation help lighten the traffic loads in July and August.

Kids can't, won't, aren't allowed to walk to school anymore.

[jussmatt]

They come out of the woodwork, dude. Try living in a college town like I do, when the population your town basically almost doubles over the course of a week, and you've close to twenty thousand new freshman and transfers taking up the streets, the restaurants, the stores, et al. At least I have to be at work at 7AM, so I miss the worst of the traffic.

+1 To That!!!!! Working in College Station is a trip!! Started the job in early July..... About mid Aug it started to get a little more crouded.... First of Sept... that place is PACKED!!! And don't even think about driving through town where there's a Football Game in town!!!!

[blowndodge]

Complaining about traffic to someone who lives in southern cal is moot bro.... DEAL WITH IT!

[doctorgski]

In Ft. Myers, Florida, after the 1st of January, the cars you see w/o a driver (see the tops of heads and knuckles on the wheel) goes up about 1000%.. And to make it worse... their not in a smart car or something small, it's usually a Town car or a Roadmaster. Believe me, defensive driving is NOT overrated !

[cactusjack]

In Ft. Myers, Florida, after the 1st of January, the cars you see w/o a driver (see the tops of heads and knuckles on the wheel) goes up about 1000%.. And to make it worse... their not in a smart car or something small, it's usually a Town car or a Roadmaster. Believe me, defensive driving is NOT overrated !

We call those "phantom drivers" here. From behind, the car apppears to be operating itself.

[rooster1]

http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/>I noticed the same with traffic where I live. It has definitely increased all day in the day time hours. http://s2.images.proboards.com/angry.gif:(" title=">:(" border="0"/>

[skeeter]

In Ft. Myers, Florida, after the 1st of January, the cars you see w/o a driver (see the tops of heads and knuckles on the wheel) goes up about 1000%.. And to make it worse... their not in a smart car or something small, it's usually a Town car or a Roadmaster. Believe me, defensive driving is NOT overrated !

We call those "phantom drivers" here. From behind, the car apppears to be operating itself.

I call them Q-Tips! Don't remember where I heard that.

[bebop]

Yep, It's a puzzlement fer sure. I can understand the rush hour problem once school starts but it seems to last longer than usual - like from 6:00am to 7:00pm. What are all those people doing in the middle of the day? Doesn't anybody work? And don't they find that just driving around all day in their cars gets expensive with gas prices the way they are???

Cheers!

[cactusjack]

I often eat lunch at a Chipotle restaurant near my office. It happens to be at a large mall, near the 24-screen megatheater complex. There's times I go there to eat, and the parking lot is full at 11:00am. The theaters are packed! Don't these people have anything better to do? I sort of expect it if some blockbuster movie has just opened, like The Dark Knight or something, but this is just kind of a random occurrence, could be any day Monday-Friday.

[blowndodge]

Yep, by the time you whimps are in your 70's your going to be sitting on the porch bitching and moaning. I can see it now!!

[landman]

i guess i don't understand! what is trafic ? maybe that is one of the reason i love wyoming!!

[cactusjack]

i guess i don't understand! what is trafic ? maybe that is one of the reason i love wyoming!!

I wish I didn't know what it was, either.

[formikec]

Kids can't, won't, aren't allowed to walk to school anymore.

Not only that, it amazes how many kids don't/won't ride the bus anymore as well. Seems it just isn't safe to ride the school bus anymore.

[formikec]

In Ft. Myers, Florida, after the 1st of January, the cars you see w/o a driver (see the tops of heads and knuckles on the wheel) goes up about 1000%.. And to make it worse... their not in a smart car or something small, it's usually a Town car or a Roadmaster. Believe me, defensive driving is NOT overrated !

Just got back from vacationing in Ft. Myers Beach for the first time. Loved it, but damn, nobody obeys speed limits, and most drive like they are in a Nascar race. I thought San Antonio was bad, but not sure, FM may be a close second.

Couldn't get used to being told over and over that it was "off season". lol

[burkazoid]

+1 To That!!!!! Working in College Station is a trip!! Started the job in early July..... About mid Aug it started to get a little more crouded.... First of Sept... that place is PACKED!!! And don't even think about driving through town where there's a Football Game in town!!!!

Only thing you can really do while a game is on in town (like this next week) is run your errands. I basically stay out of town during home games. The only thing that sort of makes up for the jump in traffic and population is that at least the new students don't yet know the shortcuts through town. I'm known to drive completely around town just to get from one side to the other rather than drive down through town or take the major thoroughfares.

[burkazoid]

Yep, by the time you whimps are in your 70's your going to be sitting on the porch bitching and moaning. I can see it now!!

Pffffft. I do that now.

[dogdoc]

pansies,,,,

[mcdaddy]

<blockquote>Try living in a college town like I do, when the population your town basically almost doubles</blockquote>

It could be a lot worse .. you could be in Austin and they would all be T-sippers. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[Blue Rebel]

Not only a college town, but add the army base as well. El Paso is bringing in over 20k troops + their families over the next couple of years.

To add, the road infrastructure in El Paso was not very well planned either, everything, everywhere is congested.

[burkazoid]

It could be a lot worse .. you could be in Austin and they would all be T-sippers. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

Lord, ain't that the truth, although Aggies are almost as bad. At least Fran isn't here anymore. I know the guy probably did his best with the team, but if you're making two million a year, and after five years if the team is still mediocre, it's time for you to go.

Which reminds me of an Aggie joke this old man in a wheelchair told me the other day:

Him: "Do you know how to say goodbye in Italian?"
Me: "Arriva derci?"
Him: "Nope."
Me: "Ok, how do you say goodbye in Italian?"
Him: "Francione." (say it with an italian accent, it's funnier)

[socwkbiker]

Bite me California boy! You explain it then my smart ass brother. I understand that kids go to school and have to be there at about 8:30, but aren't these thr same parents who were home all summer? I also understand the college town influx in the fall. Don't worry, it will ease somewhat in the spring when kids start failing. But this traffic is tying up all the highways and these people are truly coming out of the woodwork. Every lane is clogged and a few short weeks ago they were clear. I have no clue. Pass the bottle and let's get to rockin'.

[phenrichs]

Just got back from vacationing in Ft. Myers Beach for the first time. Loved it, but damn, nobody obeys speed limits, and most drive like they are in a Nascar race. I thought San Antonio was bad, but not sure, FM may be a close second.

Couldn't get used to being told over and over that it was "off season". lol

My gandfather always said they were driving like "they have a paper a**hole and are trying to outrun the flame." I miss that dude.

[phenrichs]

Oh and we have the opposite here. Around the end of June the traffic goes up as all the dinosuars migrate back North for the summer. And then there is the end of July through early August as everyone is headed to Sturgis.

[blowndodge]

Bite me california boy??? was that meant for BD??? I'll slap nine kinds of hell out of your rat b@stard's a$$ if it was!! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif