Bham Drives

Let's face it. There are plenty of problems with traffic engineering and roadways in Birmingham, AL. Not to mention the drivers. Sheesh. BhamDrives.com is here to lube up the intersections that bring us all together.

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It's 5:30pm. The downtown work whistle's been blown. We are leaving the grid for other climes, home, loved ones, maybe a meatloaf. Taking 3rd Ave. North would be ideal because it puts us right up onto the 280 on ramp. But 3rd Ave. just isn't cut it anymore, because these drivers just don't seem to "want it" enough.

5th Ave. North is where the real go-getters travel. Only one little bottleneck area: turning right on 24th, then left onto 3rd. But if you're reading this, you'll know to be respectful and mind your lane. If you're really worthy of that driver's license, you'll not hog that extra wide right lane and maybe let a right-on-redder slip through.

When driving, awareness is mandatory. Awareness often leads to unexpected opportunities of extended courtesy. Unexpected courtesy = random acts of kindness. Random acts of kindness = world peace (that thing you prayed for just before praying for your team).

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The safe, smart driver always looks several cars ahead. Engaging in this practice will keep you abreast of any opportunity or jackassery up ahead and will allow you take advantage of it or avoid it.

At this intersection at the end of 280 in Homewood, pay close attention to merge lanes A and B. Before getting in these lanes, you should look to see what's going in the intersection. This will help you determine your merge-ability (i.e. whether you should slow down, speed up, or stop).

In the case of merge lane A:  if there is traffic moving in directions C or D, you basically have a wall of cars protecting your merge, so yield not into temptation but deliver us from slamming on our brakes behind you.

In the case of merge lane B:  if you see traffic moving in direction C, you have a wall of cars protecting your merge here. After all, this is beginning of HWY 280. Only hell awaits, so let's get on with it then.

[bhamdrives-blog]

Something is wrong. I am at the Lakeshore Wal-Mart. Could I not have ordered it online? Perhaps there wasn't enough time? Relieved to be leaving, I tell myself I'll never again wait until the last minute.

But wait- there are 6 cars all tying to leave at the same time. However, none of them understands this basic concept: "I have my own lane, therefore I need not fear as I turn right, pick up speed, and merge into traffic. Hear me roar." 

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Why did I come to the Summit again? I have nothing to show for it. Anyway, it's good to be leaving.

If only this person in front of me would realize they have their own lane with which to freely take a beautiful right, thus jettisoning themselves from this place of cheesecake decadence.

Do some know not the power they possess? It's so easy. You just GO, and then you're gone. And then I can go. Quit looking over your left shoulder for something to happen.

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The intersection of Green Valley and Crosshaven is one of the town's worst. Vehicles love to back up from Green Valley all the way back to the Summit.

The residence property lines on Crosshaven are close to the 2-lane street, so there probably never a chance for turn lanes to be added.

This maddening back-up could often be prevented if cars turning left on to Green Valley at the light would pull into the intersection to let other cars go straight or right around them. I've waited through green lights that only result in one car getting through (a left turning car who sat waiting behind the line for the oncoming cars to pass).

Are people afraid to drive past the line?

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Cherokee and 280:  On the road of life, one of the worst kinds of torture is sitting behind someone who has been given the gift of their own luxurious lane, yet can't seem to. . . GO. 

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Crestline and Montclair:  An old professor of mine called them "the darters." Those drivers in multi-laned roads who make unexpected and daring weaving moves, often using short bursts of dangerous speed.

This example here at the post office on Montclair Rd is not so much as "darting" but "posturing." There's always someone clogging up the right lane at a red light. They're going straight but think they're too awesome to file in behind the other vehicles in the middle lane.

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Whole Foods Intersection:  You're leaving Whole Foods and taking a right on HWY 280. You don't have a green light. But no matter- you have your own lane and plenty of runway to merge. Don't just sit there! Pick up speed and use the dedicated lane to merge. Dozens of cars are piling up behind you!

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Diaper Road / Expressway intersection:  You're driving west on 21st Ave. South and want to take a left under the Red Mtn. Expressway overpass. This will take you by Ruth's Chris and it's a nice shortcut over to Homewood.

The light is quick and there are usually many cars to wait for. You are often turning under a yellow light, so do yourself and the cars behind you a big favor, and pull waaay up under the light to let the oncoming cars pass before you turn left.

Don't worry if you're straddling the yellow line when you do this. The intersection is PLENTY wide enough to allow all other vehicles to do their business around you.