Bad Driver in NYC (question)
Hi Everyone,
I'll be driving to NYC 2 weeks from now for investment banking networking and I am scared as heck about it. I can't get friends/family to drive me for that many hours on a school day and hence I will have to go myself. The reason I'm scared is that I'm a subpar driver who makes mental mistakes and gets honked at a lot for some reason. I can handle the car pretty well, but sometimes I get impatient and have a tendency to often times cut people off or try to squeeze in a left turn facing oncoming vehicles when there is a ton of traffic. I also sometimes struggle when I'm not on a highway b/c of texting or using my GPS during long trips that are boring. That being said, I've NEVER gotten a ticket through my 4 years of driving, never gotten pulled over, no accidents, I never drive too fast and I never drink/drive. However I'm still extremely nervous about all of this mentally, as NY seems to be an impossible place to drive into without losing your sanity, and I'm looking for any pieces of advice in regards to driving in general and driving specific to this trip I will have to make .
Thanks, Hopkins55
Sounds like you'll fit right in
You're at Hopkins...sooo....take a bus (which is prob more economical anyways given the price of gas + tolls + parking) or take the train (more $ but seeing as how you're stressing over it, I'd say it's money well spent...)
Must... refrain... from racial...stereotypes. Must... refrain. Urgh... so hard... brain... in total... revolt...
Drive to train station take train in. Issue solved. Or take bus. You will spend that money parking
You'd make a great cab driver here!
In all seriousness, park it in Jersey City and take the PATH train in. Costs $10/day to park in Jersey City/Hoboken; $50/day in NYC. Besides, you don't want to wait an hour for the tunnel and another 30 minutes for NYC traffic; it's a lot faster to park and train it from New Jersey.
But seriously, keep your car out of NYC. Insurance rates in Hoboken are double Illinois; rates in NYC are triple Hoboken. And there's a very good reason for that.
If you do choose to drive in Manhattan, some things to be aware of:
1.) If you don't drive through the intersection until there's room on the other side, you'll never make it through. But NYC will ticket you at certain intersections if you block them. 2.) If you get stuck on certain streets (like Canal), they move at literally 0.5 mph and you can be stuck there for hours. 3.) There are stop signs at the bottom of the entrance ramp to the expressways here. You will have to merge into heavy 60 mph traffic with 10 feet from a stop. 4.) It's customary for motorcycles to lane split in NYC. So you'd better leave room if you don't want them kicking your hood ornaments. 5.) Cars parked illegally in NYC, even for meter violations, typically get ticketed and towed. Tickets start at $110 and you get charged ~$200 for the tow and storage. 6.) Nearly all streets in the city are one-way. 7.) NYC drivers are some of the most impatient in the country and have more tolerance for assholes who cut them off or speed past them at 90 mph than nice but confused drivers with Ohio plates.
+10,000
OP, this man knows exactly what he's talking about. Your best bet, in all seriousness, is to take public transport all the way and if you do drive, leave your car in Hoboken and take the PATH in to the city.
NYC drivers are better than China. They got this shoulder lane as another lane. They also got no sense of direction (one way highway I have seen cars driving other way so they dont get stuck in traffic).
Oh and I forgot intersection and blocking others off is common and not unusual. In matter of a fact the little scooter drives are always on the wrong side of the road.
Nothing worse than being stuck in traffic. I would easily drive an extra two hours than be stuck in traffic for two hours. Much more relaxing
Just take public transport, problem solved.
Why do you worry about shit people love to whine about?
God help you if you ever drive in Boston.
" I'm a subpar driver who makes mental mistakes and gets honked at a lot for some reason"
are you a woman, OP?
-don't make a right on a red. (you can do this in the suburbs.) -don't look for parking, just find a garage near the place you're looking for or near a subway intersection. otherwise you'll be wasting more time than the money you save is worth. average is around $20. I have been late so many times because I kept thinking I'd find a great spot... -fucking pot holes on the right lane. -when you get a green light, push your way through the cross-walk. otherwise the crowd will never let you through. don't honk, just do it. -try to stick to the middle lane - the cabbies will pull over anywhere, and next thing you know you're waiting for a good while. -god bless you if you're coming in during rush-hour.
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