First, a disclaimer: I just moved here from NYC. I've been a New Yorker my whole life. I recently moved here because my wife is attending grad school at GWU.
This is a rant and just frustrations to get off my chest about living here in Northern VA (Arlington)...this rant was prodded by the threads about aftermarket exhausts in VA and the crazy consequences for doing 20mph over in another thread.

Mid-A members, please don't take offense, but it really sucks here in Northern VA.
I love some of the things here in the VA/DC area:
- it's clean
- feels safe
- I don't have to worry about parking on the street
- not to mention living expenses are really cheap in the DC area
- utilities are practically given away
- the food is good
- the traffic is really light as long as you avoid rush hour...

...but so many things are really getting on my nerves...

the drivers are terrible here.
Okay, so I'm driving and some guy is signalling in...fine...I leave 0.5 to 1.0 car lengths for him, all he has to do is move his nose in...I'm trying to be nice and leave enough room for him to get in. What does he do? NOTHING!
He just keep driving parallel to that space I left for him without trying to merge...Okay, fine...maybe he wants to get behind me...so I speed up rapidly to create room behind me...and you know what he does? He speeds up next to me and then gives me the finger and yells at me for "hogging" the road!?!?

WTF!?!?

And this happens at least 2-3 times a week.

Then there's this place where I merge onto I-66. 2 lanes merge to one, then merge onto 66. I'm just driving normally...then I see a space to merge, take it...and guess what? Some guy in a BMW Z4 is yelling at me because I didn't "alternate" in and take my "turn"?

Turn??? What is this? Elementary school? I didn't cut anyone off. There was a HUMONGOUS (spelling?) space, at least 1.5 car lengths, no one took it, so I did.

And what's with the pedestrians? As soon as that little light says "walk" they think they own the road and don't need to watch for cars?!?!? Fine, they have right of way, but that doesn't mean that they're supposed to be the only ones on the road at the time.

Let the pedestrians walk, don't cut them off right? That's what I do. And when there's space in front or behind...then drive by. So I do that and guess what? They get upset....really confused...do pedestrians in VA/DC seriously think that when the crosswalk blinks "walk" they are the only ones allowed on that side of the road? Seriously, they look at me like I just ran over their dog.

And then there's the metro...is it their first time taking public transportation? No one knows how to move quickly and efficiently through the trains...weird and extremely annoying. People just stand there and don't move in from the doors. Then when it's packed and people need to get out, no one moves out of the way and it holds everyone up.

I've heard the excuse that DC people come from all over the USA and a lot of them are new to subways...that excuse doesn't fly...I'm from NYC and lots of NYers grew up in other places, we don't seem to have that problem.

Then there's the weather and driving...c'mon, it's just rain or a small sprinkling of snow! Maybe it's because drivers here aren't used to it, but their driving characteristics are way too conservative when weather is just a little worse.

On to motorcycles...I love motorcycling and was looking forward to picking up another bike, but there's no lanesplitting in DC/VA?!?!? I haven't seen ONE biker lane split yet. Yes, I know, it's illegal, but it's illegal in NYC also and it's readily accepted. NYers lane split on the highways, local roads, where ever. I've done it right next to cops hundreds of times, the only thing they say is "nice bike" or "be careful out there"...what's the point of commuting on a bike if it doesn't save you any time!?!?

Then there's the basics of just walking...c'mon, is it that hard to look at where you're going...or walk faster than I dunno...1/2 mph? I go to the grocery store and I'm walking behind someone and BAM, they stop dead to look at corn flakes...damn, don't people pay attention to others as they walk???

What's with the running? Seriously, why does everyone run? I've seen more runners my first week of moving here than I have in my entire life.

And football...why do people here care about the RedSkins so much? I feel like I've been sucked into a movie, you know, the kind where it's a small rural town where everyone roots for their local high school team and the jocks were the popular kids.

I'd say only about 2 out of every 10 people I know in NY even follows football, let alone has a favorite team. It seems like at least 75% of the population here are RedSkins fans and EVERYONE follows football...insane!!!

Being logical, it's my problem. Nothing wrong with VA/DC. In fact, logically, people stereotype NY as crazy drivers, but no one stereotypes DC drivers as bad...so it's not VA/DC that's out of the norm, but me.

Still, just ranting and raving..I'm obviously just having a hard time adjusting. I'm sure it'll all seem normal to me in no time...but for now it's definitely a source of frustration.

I'd like end by saying...one thing I cannot find fault in is the people here in VA/DC are extremely friendly. Their mannerisms are strange to me...they get offended easily and talk funny...but honest and genuine nonetheless.

Hope this didn't offend anyone. It wasn't meant to. Sometimes you just gotta vent ya know?

 

Wow, Epic novel.

I stopped reading after DC/VA sux, cuz I agree.

 

I'm sorry but when I read this I was rolling

Of particular humor was:
- I don't have to worry about parking on the street (Have you read how many people living in Arlington or Fairfax counties have had their tops slashed and seats stolen?)
- the traffic is really light as long as you avoid rush hour... (Northern VA has one of the top 5 worst traffic congestion in the country)


I guess that is what happens when you grow up in NYC. I would probably go insane after 1 month in NYC.

I'm from the country and the deep south (45 min north of New Orleans) and housing, food, commodities in the DC area are SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive, housing is about 3 times more expensive and groceries are about 50% more expensive, eating out is at least 200% as expensive as New Orleans area.

 

DC/MD r the worst.

 

Dude, NY'ers do some things their way. We do other things our way.












P.S. We talk funny? Really?

 

because they're the best

 

at the Red Skins commentary.

 

Yeah I know, I know.

Like I said...give me 6 months and I'll probably be totally adjusted.

But at the moment it's kinda frustrating at times.

As for the talking funny thing, I can't put my finger on it, not really the accent, but choice of words maybe?

 

I enjoyed reading your opinion on things. All are logical and good gripes. None I have answers for

But traffic is not "light" by any means, you must be in the car at the right time or going the right way.

 

[quote name='ts80' date='Jan 21 2009, 04:02 PM']

the drivers are terrible here. agreed
Okay, so I'm driving and some guy is signalling in...fine...I leave 0.5 to 1.0 car lengths for him, all he has to do is move his nose in...I'm trying to be nice and leave enough room for him to get in. What does he do? NOTHING!
He just keep driving parallel to that space I left for him without trying to merge...Okay, fine...maybe he wants to get behind me...so I speed up rapidly to create room behind me...and you know what he does? He speeds up next to me and then gives me the finger and yells at me for "hogging" the road!?!?

WTF!?!?

And this happens at least 2-3 times a week. yeah that happens to me too, people think they need like 2-3 car lengths to change lanes...

Then there's this place where I merge onto I-66. 2 lanes merge to one, then merge onto 66. I'm just driving normally...then I see a space to merge, take it...and guess what? Some guy in a BMW Z4 is yelling at me because I didn't "alternate" in and take my "turn"?

Turn??? What is this? Elementary school? I didn't cut anyone off. There was a HUMONGOUS (spelling?) space, at least 1.5 car lengths, no one took it, so I did. If you're talking about Fairfax Dr and 66, yes, you are supposed to alternate between the right lane and left. It's common courtesy. This goes for all merge lanes, btw

And what's with the pedestrians? As soon as that little light says "walk" they think they own the road and don't need to watch for cars?!?!? Fine, they have right of way, but that doesn't mean that they're supposed to be the only ones on the road at the time.

Let the pedestrians walk, don't cut them off right? That's what I do. And when there's space in front or behind...then drive by. So I do that and guess what? They get upset....really confused...do pedestrians in VA/DC seriously think that when the crosswalk blinks "walk" they are the only ones allowed on that side of the road? Seriously, they look at me like I just ran over their dog. if they have the walk sign, then yes, you wait. You live in Arlington, get used to pedestrians... it's a walking town, especially in Ballston or Clarendon. What gets me is the people who will walk with a do not walk sign and then stare at you like you're doing something wrong.

And then there's the metro...is it their first time taking public transportation? No one knows how to move quickly and efficiently through the trains...weird and extremely annoying. People just stand there and don't move in from the doors. Then when it's packed and people need to get out, no one moves out of the way and it holds everyone up.

I've heard the excuse that DC people come from all over the USA and a lot of them are new to subways...that excuse doesn't fly...I'm from NYC and lots of NYers grew up in other places, we don't seem to have that problem. DC isn't as fast as NYC, and as such we are more patient... obviously this has yet to rub off on you

Then there's the weather and driving...c'mon, it's just rain or a small sprinkling of snow! Maybe it's because drivers here aren't used to it, but their driving characteristics are way too conservative when weather is just a little worse. don't get me started on people driving in bad weather

On to motorcycles...I love motorcycling and was looking forward to picking up another bike, but there's no lanesplitting in DC/VA?!?!? I haven't seen ONE biker lane split yet. Yes, I know, it's illegal, but it's illegal in NYC also and it's readily accepted. NYers lane split on the highways, local roads, where ever. I've done it right next to cops hundreds of times, the only thing they say is "nice bike" or "be careful out there"...what's the point of commuting on a bike if it doesn't save you any time!?!? um it's illegal, deal with it

Then there's the basics of just walking...c'mon, is it that hard to look at where you're going...or walk faster than I dunno...1/2 mph? I go to the grocery store and I'm walking behind someone and BAM, they stop dead to look at corn flakes...damn, don't people pay attention to others as they walk??? should they have a pair of blinkers on their back? Again, patience is a virtue

What's with the running? Seriously, why does everyone run? I've seen more runners my first week of moving here than I have in my entire life. wait, you're complaining about people wanting to be in shape?

And football...why do people here care about the RedSkins so much? I feel like I've been sucked into a movie, you know, the kind where it's a small rural town where everyone roots for their local high school team and the jocks were the popular kids.

I'd say only about 2 out of every 10 people I know in NY even follows football, let alone has a favorite team. It seems like at least 75% of the population here are RedSkins fans and EVERYONE follows football...insane!!!not everyone likes the Skins but seriously, what do you expect living in the DC area?

Being logical, it's my problem. Nothing wrong with VA/DC. In fact, logically, people stereotype NY as crazy drivers, but no one stereotypes DC drivers as bad...so it's not VA/DC that's out of the norm, but me.[B]well, according to Forbes magazine:
Top 10 Cities With The Worst Traffic:

1. Washington D.C.
2. Atlanta, GA
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Houston, TX
6. New York, NY
7. Riverside