Why Aren't We Moving?

Seattle is among the worst cities in the country for bad traffic. Fortunately, our local and state authorities are doing everything they can to alleviate the problem.

1) Seattle is implementing a light rail system. (Now the people that ride the bus will have something new to ride.)

2) The state is adding two more lanes on a one mile stretch of Interstate 405. (This will provide for much more rush hour parking.)

3) More and more bicycle lanes are being added. (Now the 10 people that actually bike to work will have more places to ride. I actually saw one of the bike riders when I was driving home a couple days ago. He was using the sidewalk rather than the bike lane.)

4) Seattle spent billions of dollars to expand the monorail. (Which is nothing more than a left over amusement ride from the 1962 World’s Fair.)

While I am grateful to our local officials for the effort, unfortunately, all these fine projects are for naught. For even when given a chance, Seattle area drivers simply WILL NOT MOVE!!!

With a wide open road, they refuse to drive at the speed limit. Often when I turn onto a major arterial, I will see a mile or two of open road before me. A moment of false hope envelops. Sadly, within a block, a nimrod will pull out and proceed to meander along at five to ten miles under the limit. This will continue until the road expands to four lanes. Ah, but not so fast! A second nimrod will materialize next to the first nimrod and therefore no nimrods may be passed.

For many years I drove an ’83 Ford Escort to commute to work. Not the fastest car around, but it would do any legal speed limit (and then some). While driving the Escort, I have been actually been stuck behind Camaros, Corvettes, and Porsches that WOULD NOT MOVE!!!

I just don’t get it. Perhaps the drivers think the postings are in KPH rather than MPH.