Saturday, July 15, 2006

Georgetown University Shuttle Drivers Know Better

You'd think that Georgetown University shuttle drivers (GUSDs) know Georgetown streets, lights, and traffic patterns better than anyone else. Therefore, this intimate knowledge should position them for smooth lane changes and actually help the flow of traffic. Unfortunately, GUSDs have recently forgotten when it's appropriate to change lanes and where they need to be to make a few left turns around the Key Bridge. Several times in the last few weeks, as us courteous drivers got in line in the left lane of the key bridge to turn left onto M Street, a GUSD pushed his way into the left lane, just when it splits into two left turn only lanes. Come on. A GUSD can clearly see the line of cars waiting in the left lane, yet he still drives up to the end before getting over. It's not like the traffic pattern changes each day.



Your bullying ways aren't appreciated.

Not only should GUSDs know to get over much earlier, they're also so high off the ground they could easily see the left turn only lane signs before getting onto the Key Bridge in the first place. I'm sure Georgetown covered the rules of the road before giving GUSDs permission to be out on their own. There's no excuse when they bully their way into the lanes. The M street and Key Bridge interserction has several turn only lanes that, if you're new to the area, you may not realize you need to get over a few yards earlier. That's fine. I'll let you in, but this does not apply to GUSDs who regularly violate the "you should know better" rules of driving in the area.



Taking the left turn too early.

A GUSD waiving a hand to thank a driver for letting him over is also bogus. It's not like the lowly compact sedan driver (who got over when everyone else did) had much choice - a shuttle is only 7 times the car's size. Unlike other DC drivers, a GUSD has a huge sign that implies they often drive a specific area of town, so it's time they act like it.

1 comment:

Elizabeth said...

The GUTS drivers are just kind of scary in general. Whenever I'm walking through Georgetown and see one coming I make sure to let them go through an intersection before I attempt to cross as they seem to believe that stop signs and pedestrian right-of-way don't apply to them.