Rant Foiled
After spending this morning driving around town, I was getting a bit testy about drivers in Vancouver.
This was exacerbated by the total Fucktard in a BMW that killed two small brothers in their minivan this weekend as he/she drove ALONE down the HOV lane.
Vancouver drivers have got to be the most self absorbed, self important lot I have ever had the bad news of dealing with. These people drive with the attitude that nothing matters but them. So forget looking around you, forget thinking about the other cars around you, forget using turn signals, go ahead cut people off…the mentality is boggling.
The concept of ‘Drive Defensively’ has been totally mangled or forgotten. They mayaswell drive with blinders on.
It doesn’t matter what the weather is…people are driving too fast (or too slow) and completly unaware of their surroundings.
I won’t get into the TWO people who drive over 50 on the road outside my son’s school every single time.
I had to park AGAIN at the London Drugs PAY parking on Kingsway in Burnaby. The lab that is taking all my blood right now is there, so I am getting to know the place really well. Today, even trying to get in was a challenge as people blocked the sidewalk and entrance WAITING to grab spots that people hadn’t even started backing out of. They HAD to park their because they were obviously so bloody important that only the spots CLOSEST to London Drugs would do and heaven for-fend they actually drive INTO the rest of the parking lot where there were PLENTY of spots.
Anyway…so I park and go muttering away to the parking meter thingie, and as I am fumbling for my wallet, a voice calls to me.
There in a car is a lovely gentleman waving a ticket. He was just leaving and had AGES on his ticket…would I like to use it!?
How amazing is that!
I was very touched and thankful and it put me in the right mood for the Christmas Season.
Thank you sir for making my morning.
The wait at the lab is vaguely entertaining too. Mainly because the machine that hands out your numbered wait ticket is a bit confusing to people. Despite the big sign saying ‘ALL PATIENTS PLEASE TAKE A NUMBER’ and the other note on the machine saying ‘PRESS THIS BUTTON FOR NUMBER.’
I love timing how long people will take to suss it out. There is a lot of looong hard stares at the machine.
Rarely do people ask for help. They just stare, waiting for the answer to show up.
That or they go to the desk anyway and try to get served.
Or they leave.
Ah finding entertainment in the mundane.
12.1.08 at 4:00 pm
Kulpreet Singh comments:
By “Vancouver drivers” do you mean the Lower Mainland or just the City of Vancouver? Because Richmond drivers are a real pain. If you come to Richmond and spend a few days driving around here you’ll be glad to go back to Vancouver.
12.1.08 at 6:50 pm
claudia comments:
I think Montreal drivers of about 18 years ago are pretty comparable LOL. Scared me shitless when I visited.
claudias last blog post..some more scans from the old baby album
12.1.08 at 8:19 pm
Amber comments:
Four years ago we went on vacation to the maritimes. Everyone there was *so* considerate - to a fault. You’d be 10 feet away from the corner and drivers would stop and wait for you to cross the street.
Then one day we’re in Pictou, Nova Scotia walking down the street, and this car peels out of the parking lot in front of us. It wasn’t exactly dangerous, but we had to stop and wait for the driver, something that hadn’t happened yet down East. We’re looking at each other like, “What was that?” Then we see the license plate. Beautiful British Columbia.
So, yeah, I feel you. But hooray for the guy with the ticket!
12.2.08 at 8:42 am
Nicole comments:
Heh. I hear you on the drivers, sister
Oh, and BTW, the BC Biomed lab at City Square (12th and Cambie - it’s towards the Ash street end) doesn’t seem to have anyone waiting after about 9am and until about 11am. I’ve gone there a couple of times and didn’t even have to take a number because no one was waiting.
And you can park at City Hall for free for 2 hours
or get an hour’s free parking in the parkade at City Square (although I’m not sure the lab will validate your parking).
Nicoles last blog post..WTF? Stupid Transit Planning
12.2.08 at 11:01 am
Tanya comments:
I think ‘defensive driving’ is one of those terms that changes meaning over the years - now it means ‘it’s me against them, I’m driving to serve my schedule because I am the centre of the universe’. I particularly admire the people who are way behind the crosswalk line but still push out and turn left when the light is yellow. Or people who jump the pedestrian walk light and turn right on a red. Charming, particularly when I am pushing a stroller in front of me. Ahhhhh… your rant made me rant - very satisfying thanks!
Tanyas last blog post..Canadian Women and AIDS on World Aids Day
12.2.08 at 7:22 pm
Will T comments:
I think you might be wrong about the accident.
I heard the disabled van with the children was stopped in the HOV lane and was hit from behind with an suv with two senior citizen ladies. This SUV was then hit by 2 autos that were being driven by single occupancy vehicles.
Will Ts last blog post..Huzzah! for the ‘beta-Santa’ at the Burnaby Museum