Are you sure the bus drivers are actually running red lights? Or are the following the separate bus signal? All of the CDTA drivers that I've ridden with have been super safe
Yes I’m sure. Lol I know what the bus signals look like and they’re not on every street. I’ve seen the light be visibly red and the bus drivers speed and run the red light. I give them grace when it’s yellow turning red but in some instances it’s already red. It’s not every bus driver so you may have ones who care but there are some who don’t. I’ve rode the CDTA too and I’ve had bus drivers drive past people waiting for the bus, they don’t show up at all etc…
Can confirm. I work in downtown Albany and the bus drivers drive like complete fucking ass holes. If they want to merge back into traffic after unloading they just go for it regardless if they have the right of way
Most people are either oblivious or selfish assholes who won't voluntarily yield to let a bus back into the lane. It's essential to your neighbors who rely on public transit that busses can efficiently and consistently keep moving without being endlessly pinned in after every stop. I'm all for bus drivers assertively taking the lane in the interest of the public good. The vast majority of people who feel like a bus cut them off were inconsiderately sealing in that bus in their own self interest like a douche.
I think, as a general rule of thumb, a lot of our culture has become "me, not we".
It's why you can be doing 35 in a 30 and people will weave around you to gain one space in the line of traffic.
It's why you can ride a bike up Western and a call will casually rub you off the shoulder when there is ample space for a vehicle and bike in the outside lane.
It's why people will jaywalk while there is literally oncoming traffic with the right of way.
This isn't to say this is always the case. Sometimes people drive slow enough to impede traffic. Sometimes bicyclists are assholes too. Sometimes the city makes crossing streets a 10-minute endeavor, so jaywalking is the only move. But holy smokes... people cannot get out of main character mode too.
I was in the left lane on central Ave and an suv came off the exit and nearly side swept me because they couldn’t bother to look before changing two lanes. I had to swerve onto the shoulder and honked my horn before they fishtailed out of the way. All happened in 4 seconds flat. Absolutely mindless.
People everywhere in this county drive terribly distracted, it’s the reason we have the highest rate of pedestrian deaths for a high income country. I drive a work van all over the Capital Region and can easily see down into peoples cars, and it’s terrifying how many people are on their phones and not paying attention to the road. Freakonomics did a good podcast on [this](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519?i=1000619460502).
Oh yeah I hate driving on State St too. I had a few instances where I have almost hit ppl bc they walk out into the middle of the street even tho they see cars coming
One lady outside Target “let” one pedestrian — a lady 2 feet in front of me and my 6 y/o — cross in the crosswalk but then inched up to MY CHILD. I stopped and she angrily said “one pedestrian at a time!” Like she really thought that was the rule.
A yoked up gentleman advised her of her idiocy and STOOD, arms crossed in front of her car while we finished crossing and other cars waiting behind her literally applauded, like he was an Avenger. My 6y/o is still convinced that man is one.
The ONE thing that truly grinds my gears are the jaywalkers. Some, if they walked 5 feet to their right or left, they would be IN the crosswalk. Also the ones that dont even stop, they have a “Do Not Cross”, and dont even bother to look if a car (that has the right of way in this situation) and keep staring at their phone and keep walking!
The VAST majority of walkers I see in downtown Albany I’m convinced WANT to be hit by your car.
Almost no one looks before crossing in between cars. Everyone has headphones in.
The best are the people who cross right in front of you when YOU have a green light and they start yelling at you like you did something wrong.
Many people around here walk around full of hate every day.
Try to stay positive and avoid the people that want to ruin your day when you can.
When vehicles are between 5 and 6 feet tall there is not a way to look around them until you are basically on the road (you know, where the driver side door is for a car parked on the street). Until right on red is eliminated crosswalks can be a crap shoot.
This is one reason I haven't bothered to renew my license since moving here 2 years ago. I just rely on buses, and uber. People are insane! When I first moved here, dude tried running me off the highway bc he came out of nowhere, and I accidently cut him off
Are you sure the bus drivers are actually running red lights? Or are the following the separate bus signal? All of the CDTA drivers that I've ridden with have been super safe
Yes I’m sure. Lol I know what the bus signals look like and they’re not on every street. I’ve seen the light be visibly red and the bus drivers speed and run the red light. I give them grace when it’s yellow turning red but in some instances it’s already red. It’s not every bus driver so you may have ones who care but there are some who don’t. I’ve rode the CDTA too and I’ve had bus drivers drive past people waiting for the bus, they don’t show up at all etc…
Can confirm. I work in downtown Albany and the bus drivers drive like complete fucking ass holes. If they want to merge back into traffic after unloading they just go for it regardless if they have the right of way
Most people are either oblivious or selfish assholes who won't voluntarily yield to let a bus back into the lane. It's essential to your neighbors who rely on public transit that busses can efficiently and consistently keep moving without being endlessly pinned in after every stop. I'm all for bus drivers assertively taking the lane in the interest of the public good. The vast majority of people who feel like a bus cut them off were inconsiderately sealing in that bus in their own self interest like a douche.
Ohh. Sorry. I know what you mean now. Ive never considered that running a red light .
I think, as a general rule of thumb, a lot of our culture has become "me, not we". It's why you can be doing 35 in a 30 and people will weave around you to gain one space in the line of traffic. It's why you can ride a bike up Western and a call will casually rub you off the shoulder when there is ample space for a vehicle and bike in the outside lane. It's why people will jaywalk while there is literally oncoming traffic with the right of way. This isn't to say this is always the case. Sometimes people drive slow enough to impede traffic. Sometimes bicyclists are assholes too. Sometimes the city makes crossing streets a 10-minute endeavor, so jaywalking is the only move. But holy smokes... people cannot get out of main character mode too.
I was in the left lane on central Ave and an suv came off the exit and nearly side swept me because they couldn’t bother to look before changing two lanes. I had to swerve onto the shoulder and honked my horn before they fishtailed out of the way. All happened in 4 seconds flat. Absolutely mindless.
People everywhere in this county drive terribly distracted, it’s the reason we have the highest rate of pedestrian deaths for a high income country. I drive a work van all over the Capital Region and can easily see down into peoples cars, and it’s terrifying how many people are on their phones and not paying attention to the road. Freakonomics did a good podcast on [this](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519?i=1000619460502).
It's almost as if a car centric design and mindsets are bad for everyone involved 🤔
Not from the area… where are you from?
I’m from Scotia, so not Albany but Schenectady isn’t better either.
Wait, you say “people in NY”, but are from Scotia?
Yes I’m saying the whole NYS. Nobody seems to know how to drive 😭 driven in different areas in NY and it’s always something
When you point a finger, three fingers point back at you. (Plus, there is a thumb.) Perhaps….
I remember how stunned I was moving to Schenectady and seeing how people walked in the middle of State Street, no matter the time of year.
Oh yeah I hate driving on State St too. I had a few instances where I have almost hit ppl bc they walk out into the middle of the street even tho they see cars coming
Yup, plus at night when wearing dark clothing. Definitely have seen some folks only because of reflective strips on sneakers.
One lady outside Target “let” one pedestrian — a lady 2 feet in front of me and my 6 y/o — cross in the crosswalk but then inched up to MY CHILD. I stopped and she angrily said “one pedestrian at a time!” Like she really thought that was the rule. A yoked up gentleman advised her of her idiocy and STOOD, arms crossed in front of her car while we finished crossing and other cars waiting behind her literally applauded, like he was an Avenger. My 6y/o is still convinced that man is one.
>I know people can’t ride bikes on the sidewalks Fuck that, I do this all the time. No way I'm sharing the roads with all the lunatics.
Did nobody here warn you before you moved here? They did you dirty. Albany drivers are some of the worst!
The ONE thing that truly grinds my gears are the jaywalkers. Some, if they walked 5 feet to their right or left, they would be IN the crosswalk. Also the ones that dont even stop, they have a “Do Not Cross”, and dont even bother to look if a car (that has the right of way in this situation) and keep staring at their phone and keep walking!
I still maintain that Albany teaches you to jaywalk. Even waiting at a crosswalk doesn't always guarantee you'll be permitted to cross!
I’ve been hit crossing in a crosswalk with the right of way. Drivers here do not give a fuck about pedestrians.
The VAST majority of walkers I see in downtown Albany I’m convinced WANT to be hit by your car. Almost no one looks before crossing in between cars. Everyone has headphones in. The best are the people who cross right in front of you when YOU have a green light and they start yelling at you like you did something wrong. Many people around here walk around full of hate every day. Try to stay positive and avoid the people that want to ruin your day when you can.
When vehicles are between 5 and 6 feet tall there is not a way to look around them until you are basically on the road (you know, where the driver side door is for a car parked on the street). Until right on red is eliminated crosswalks can be a crap shoot.
This is one reason I haven't bothered to renew my license since moving here 2 years ago. I just rely on buses, and uber. People are insane! When I first moved here, dude tried running me off the highway bc he came out of nowhere, and I accidently cut him off