Sunday, June 19, 2011

Crazy Humboldt Traffic observations. Some Round Abouts good, some bad.


The other day I was travelling east bound on Seventh street in Eureka with no traffic. I was going maybe 25 MPH. I had a green light entering Hst and I noticed a car going around 50 just run the stop sign and just missed my car after I stomped on it and swerved! I have no idea what was on their mind, but obviously it was not driving! It got me to thinking about traffic in Humboldt. Why is it that there is no stop sign at Henderson and Spring by Winco? People fly down that hill and there seems to much foot traffic trying to cross the road. And whose Idea was it to put a stop light on Samoa Blvd. and Kst in Arcata. The stop signs worked fine before, but I am always running into a red light with no cross traffic! Does anyone really have their lights on or go 50 MPH between Arcata and Eureka? Not many I have seen!

Round Abouts are a great traffic calming tool, but that bastardized version at Guintoli Lane in Arcata has had the opposite affect of calming, it causes gridlock. The Round About at Samoa Blvd. and Union St near the CHP station is a good example of helping traffic. Now if we could educate drivers on how to use them properly. That is a yield sign, not stop sign if no one is in the Round About! Yee! I will shut up now.

5 comments:

Joel Mielke said...

I agree that we need a stop at Henderson and Spring (not that it would protect us from the moron you described). Your post reminded me of Gary Lee Stotter, who was crossing 4th in a crosswalk. Cars in two lanes had stopped for him, but Alex Garcia Campos, of Rio Del, swerved into the open lane on the left to avoid slowing. His speed was estimated to have been 50mph when he he struck Mr. Stotter. In front of horrified witnesses in the stopped vehicles, Mr. Stotter's body was hurled 100 feet. Alex Garcia Campos spent a short time in prison, but I hope that it haunts him.

Anonymous said...

A place I find dumbfoundingly irritating is southbound Harrison at Harris where the city has a dedicated right turn lane with a shared left and straight lane. It makes no sense.

Anonymous said...

Have to agree with you re Guintoli Lane it actually backs up traffic and you have to slow down if you are the one in the roundabout since those approaching may just pull out in front of you. I usually try to avoid 6th and 7th Streets as there are more accidents on those streets from cars running red lights and stop signs.

Anonymous said...

Stop complaining. You must be hungry.

Anonymous said...

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