Traffic constant source of annoyance for all

By Kylie Wakefield
Collegian Staff
November 1, 2006

It’s 5 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. The last place I want to be is stuck in traffic. But unfortunately, I am. The cars on Broad Street have been stopping and going for nearly 20 minutes now. What could possibly be the hold up? And then…I spot it. I suddenly feel like Ernest Hemingway on one of his famous, wild safari adventures. From a mile away, shining in the brisk rush hour daylight is the great and glorious public transportation vehicle known as the SEPTA bus.

This particular bus, like many of its kind, stops in the middle of a block, letting passengers on and off as it pleases. The bus driver has no regard for the drivers in back of his/her lean, mean, SEPTA machine, for he or she knows that there’s nothing anybody can do to stop this catastrophe.

The SEPTA issue is just a needle in the haystack of problems that plagues my everyday driving experience. When I first came to Philadelphia, I was not used to the highway system. Apparently, my home city, Baltimore, has one of the most advanced highway systems in the country. Driving on two or three lane highways in and around Philly, which are filled with potholes, bumps and other abysses did not sit well with me the first few times. I was used to long, windy roads which are smooth and carefully paved. Little did I know that two cities so close together could be so different after all.

Another huge adjustment from driving in Baltimore to Philadelphia is the difference in traffic lights. Located in Philly are lights on the sidewalks as well as the normal ones located above the street. This is convenient, yes, but lacking is one thing: green arrows. So far, I’ve only seen one green arrow on Broad Street. It only lasts for three seconds, allowing less than an ample amount of time for drivers to make it through. There are green arrows in the more suburban, Northeast Philly, but rarely do I see them when driving downtown.

This tends to create massive problems for drivers turning left everywhere. One option is to turn left as soon as the light turns green, hopefully avoiding crossing pedestrians and rampant drivers also accelerating at the same time. The other option is to wait until the light turns yellow, or even red, to make your move. But to no surprise, there are usually two or three other cars behind you, also waiting to turn. The situation can get pretty messy, especially during rush hour. It’s very dangerous, too, for cross walkers, drivers and passengers in the metropolitan area of Philadelphia.

Driving in Philly is always an adventure. While sitting at a traffic light may not be too exciting, it’s interesting to see what your fellow road mates will do next. It seems that most drivers in this city like to make up their own rules, unfazed by the blaring horns of angry travelers and the threat of menacing SEPTA bus drivers. While commuting may be difficult everywhere in this city, it’s what is to be expected because of its size and population. The best remedy, when frustrated with driving in Philly, is to sit back, relax and crank up some totally kickin’ tunes (or just listen to some good music, for you squares).

And even if the SEPTA buses, stoplights and traffic overwhelm me, I know that my destination isn’t too far away. I just keep saying to myself, there’s no place like a good parking spot.

There is no place like a good parking spot.

wakefieldk1@lasalle.edu