better than you know what...
I just had the most thrilling driving experience of my life.
So i'd borrowed the Pittard's car this morning, so i could pick up a friend for church. After an unexpected detour through the Bronx (another story), i whisked down the FDR and across town on 13th street (a good cross-town choice, i may suggest) to Greenwich Village.
After church, i headed back towards FDR on 12th, but as i neared the east side, i thought, "i wonder how bad 1st Ave would be. That could be a nice drive, since it's Sunday, and i never drive through Manhattan."
Before i tell you what happened next, let me back up.
When i first moved to New York, the idea of driving in the city terrified me. There are taxis everywhere, honking, looking mean and angry and exasperated with anyone who doesn't drive like they do.
Within my first few weeks, i had rented a car to drive out to Islip airport to retrieve my sister, but only had to drive a few sparsely trafficked blocks before heading through the Queens Midtown Tunnel and being spat out on a familiar looking expressway. It was a snap.
Since then, i haven't done much driving, but i've ridden through the city in cabs on numerous occasions, and i've noticed how they drive. And i've begun to understand the unique rules of the road on Manhattan island.
So today, when i turned on to 1st Avenue from 12th street, i hoped that i would get a treat of several green lights in a row. Just last night, returning from a party in Queens, we'd dropped off a friend at 96 and 1stAve, and had green lights all the way to 119. Sweet.
Once on 1st Ave, i pulled up to the red light at 13th street...and waited...and then...
it turned green.
and the light at 14th turned green
and 15th turned green...
I continued up 1st Avenue, cunning like a cabbie, anticipating the slow-downs, the buses, the turning taxis, the cars ahead stopped and lagging to get going on their green, for one hundred and three streets.
I drove, without stopping, through one hundred and three green lights before turning left on 119, and actually STILL made it through two more green before finally coming to a brief halt at Lexington.
It Was Glorious.
View Larger Map
So i'd borrowed the Pittard's car this morning, so i could pick up a friend for church. After an unexpected detour through the Bronx (another story), i whisked down the FDR and across town on 13th street (a good cross-town choice, i may suggest) to Greenwich Village.
After church, i headed back towards FDR on 12th, but as i neared the east side, i thought, "i wonder how bad 1st Ave would be. That could be a nice drive, since it's Sunday, and i never drive through Manhattan."
Before i tell you what happened next, let me back up.
When i first moved to New York, the idea of driving in the city terrified me. There are taxis everywhere, honking, looking mean and angry and exasperated with anyone who doesn't drive like they do.
Within my first few weeks, i had rented a car to drive out to Islip airport to retrieve my sister, but only had to drive a few sparsely trafficked blocks before heading through the Queens Midtown Tunnel and being spat out on a familiar looking expressway. It was a snap.
Since then, i haven't done much driving, but i've ridden through the city in cabs on numerous occasions, and i've noticed how they drive. And i've begun to understand the unique rules of the road on Manhattan island.
So today, when i turned on to 1st Avenue from 12th street, i hoped that i would get a treat of several green lights in a row. Just last night, returning from a party in Queens, we'd dropped off a friend at 96 and 1stAve, and had green lights all the way to 119. Sweet.
Once on 1st Ave, i pulled up to the red light at 13th street...and waited...and then...
it turned green.
and the light at 14th turned green
and 15th turned green...
I continued up 1st Avenue, cunning like a cabbie, anticipating the slow-downs, the buses, the turning taxis, the cars ahead stopped and lagging to get going on their green, for one hundred and three streets.
I drove, without stopping, through one hundred and three green lights before turning left on 119, and actually STILL made it through two more green before finally coming to a brief halt at Lexington.
It Was Glorious.
View Larger Map
posted by ceciliabrie at
3:03 PM
4 Comments:
i am thoroughly impressed.
By
micah, at 9:02 PM
Mind boggling. I don't go through 100 stop lights all the way from Midlothian to downtown Dallas. And I go the back roads (I get off the freeway as soon as I can).
Glad you had a good time. Not sure that's better than "you know what," though ;)
By
ChrisB, at 12:16 PM
That is amazing, and you have my deep admiration.
By
Dawn, at 9:14 AM
chris b, i think i know who you are. and what did you think i was comparing it to? I leave it up to your own imagination. :)
By
ceciliabrie, at 7:54 PM
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