Our travels around south Pinellas County took us back to the former construction area along Tyrone Boulevard this week, to the weird intersection of Tyrone, 38th Avenue N and 80th Street N.
Tyrone, of course, slants from southeast to northwest or, if you're left-handed, from northwest to southeast. Thirty-eighth Avenue runs east-west, and sort of curves into Tyrone from the north, and 80th Street, a north-south route, curves into Tyrone from the south.
Several readers have complained that when the new traffic signals were put up, there was no left-turn arrow for drivers on 80th Street to turn onto Tyrone toward the beaches. They say there have been numerous accidents there.
We didn't have any trouble with it the day we tried it last week, but we were there at midmorning, not during the rush hours or during heaviest business hours. We can see how a turn arrow could help.
For one thing, it is difficult for drivers headed north on 80th Street to spot through traffic coming south from 38th Avenue. The avenue's curve creates a blind spot, as does the left-turning traffic on that side.
And there's another problem. When you're in the left-turn lane on 80th Street, you can't see the red signal light because it's over your head. Those new light-emitting diodes (LED) are divided into cells, and as you get closer, they are harder to see. The stop bar on northbound 80th Street positions a vehicle directly under them, and the red light becomes invisible. The green light is visible, but barely.
The easy correction for this is to push the signals back toward Tyrone, away from the stop bar.
And while the state roadies are up there, we hope they think about putting in the turn arrow.
Okay, we haven't had a Carbungle of the Week in a while - you know, the things that other drivers do that make your blood boil. I know, it's a terrible pun, but we haven't used it in ages, so don't groan.
This one involves merging onto an interstate. What terrible damage and mental turmoil would it cause if drivers in the right lane moved over one lane to allow vehicles coming off an entrance ramp to merge smoothly into through traffic? None at all. And a lot of drivers do extend this courtesy to others. But many more don't.
Conversely, we get furious with bullies who try to muscle their way into through traffic, completely ignoring their legal obligation to yield.
There are times when the courtesy mentioned above isn't possible. It wasn't possible for us the other day when we were southbound on Interstate 275, at 38th Avenue N. We were in the right lane, and we couldn't move over for inbound traffic because there was an 18-wheeler on our left.
So this fool in a white Camry decided to come off the ramp and merge into through traffic by swinging his car broadside into ours instead of slowing down and waiting for an opening. We had to stand on the brakes to make way for him. An accident would have been his fault, but it would have been a terrible inconvenience for us - not to mention that he probably would have pushed us under the semi.
We were tempted to wail into the night once again, "Where are standards?" But it doesn't seem to do any good.
A reader asked us to check a problem on the Pinellas Bayway at Tierra Verde. He said construction was blocking a bicycle lane, forcing bikers to veer into traffic to get around it.
We couldn't find any construction equipment there, but what we did find was just as bad.
The state roadies placed the bicycle lane against the curbs in both the northbound and southbound lanes. The problem is that in many places, people can park on the street. Since it's a natural tendency to want to leave a vehicle as close to the curb as possible, people wind up parked over the bike lanes, forcing riders into traffic lanes to get around.
It would seem a better solution to have parking spaces marked off against the curbs in those areas where parking is allowed, and to put the bicycle lanes outside the parking spaces.
The city of St. Petersburg has done that, most notably along First Avenue S, and it seems to work even though it looks odd. Vehicles have to cross the bike lanes to get to parking spaces, and that requires caution. And both bikers and drivers have to be careful of open car doors. But that's doable.
Perhaps we're wrong, but we think this is preferable to having cars blocking the bicycle lanes.
Good idea from a reader:
Drivers headed east on 38th Avenue N are not told they must turn left on Fourth Street to access I-275 or the Gandy Bridge. As a result, a reader told us, a lot of cars cross Fourth Street and wind up in Shore Acres.
As everyone knows, Shore Acres is an elephant burial ground. Who knows how many people got hopelessly lost in that maze of roads, driving round and round until overtaken by an empty gas tank, thirst and hunger?
The reader asks if it would be too difficult to post an interstate sign with a left arrow beside 38th Avenue. Those same directional signs exist all over the city. Why not there?
Who knows how many lives might be saved?
Another writer had a question about Ninth Avenue N, approaching Fourth Street.
Ninth Avenue is a two-way street on the west side of Fourth, but it is one-way westbound on the east side of Fourth.
At the Fourth Street light, the two eastbound lanes are clearly marked with turn arrows. Those in the left eastbound lane must turn north on Fourth; those in the right eastbound lane must turn south on Fourth. And there is a left-turn green arrow signal.
There is also a "Do Not Enter" sign on the east side of Fourth, reinforcing the notion of no through traffic.
But the traffic signals are confusing. In addition to the green left arrow, there are two solid green lights, two big round eyes that usually mean you're clear to go through.
Now you've got to be a bit shy in the brainpower department or really not paying attention to miss the lane markings and the "Do Not Enter" sign. But we all know people who fit both of those descriptions, don't we?
The writer suggests replacing the full green signals with right-turn arrows, just to make doubly sure that people know what they're supposed to do.
You can never be too cautious.
- Dr. Delay can be reached by e-mail at docdelay@sptimes.com by fax at 727 893-8675 or by snail mail at 490 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg 33701.
