One Block City
So, back to the topic of ranting about driving in DC... This afternoon I had to go to the office to pick up some of my audio gear, and I decided to drive the one mile in each direction. I figured it would be a quick trip, but I had to stop for a red light at the end of every block. Without exception. Whether I turned onto a new street, or continued straight on a street, I did not go a single block without having to stop for a red light. I'm simply dumbfounded by the light sequencing here. What makes it even more irritating is that I have a new GTI, and all I want to do right now is "air it out so to speak."
Actually, I was able to have fun with it on Martin Luther King Day when I leased the beast. At about 10:30 pm, I went out for a drive and ended up in Rock Creek Park. There were no other cars on the road. There were no traffic lights. Fortunately the only two deer I saw were on the side of the road, otherwise it could have been ugly. Let's just say that GTIs are made for winding roads in the woods. My rally run through the park was the most fun I've had behind the wheel since I moved to this driver's hell.
By the way, I'm still completely baffled by the fact that everyone here drives BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT! I don't get it.
Also, another note on this driving madness. This morning I drove to work from my girlfriend's place in Silver Spring (it's odd that I'm dating a woman who lives in the town where I was born but never lived). Anyhow, the drive is straight down 16th street, and at 7:15 am it took 14 minutes to drive the five or six mile stretch. I think I stopped at two red lights. Yet, if I make the same drive at 11 pm where there is no traffic, it takes 20 minutes or more, simply because of the staging of the traffic lights. Clearly people here are able to set lights for optimum traffic flow, but they only do it during rush hour. Apparently the unemployed lobby and night-owl lobby isn't powerful enough to get the lights sequenced properly...
