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Dumbass smart enough to avoid storrowing on Mem Drive, dumb enough to back up into the car behind him
By adamg on Wed, 08/31/2016 - 10:04am
Richard Boese had come to a dead stop this morning, as one does in these bucolic days before classes begin, because there was a box truck in front of him, driven by someone who suddenly realized those "CARS ONLY" signs actually applied to him.
Then the guy put his truck in reverse, and ignoring his two passengers' arm waving and Boese's horn blaring, plowed right into Boese's rental car:
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Comments
Crazy idea
Maybe the local colleges and UHaul Inc. can throw in some money and pay to station a cop at some of the Storrow onramps this week? I mean, it would cut down on our schadenfreude but also might cut down on civic fury
(And yes, I see now this was Memorial Drive)
Crazier Idea
Seeing as how MA requires multiple details at all construction sites, maybe they can find it within their hearts to assign a few officers to major entry points of the river roads in the next few days.
What Was The Name of That Talking Heads Movie?
It escapes me, but it has something to do with your comment.
True Stories...?
derp.
talking heads movie
you oughta know not to drive on a parkway
some bridge storrow you up there
(pretty sure if John-W references the movie "True Stories", he also knows "Stop Making Sense")
Brilliant
Yeah. I think "some bridge will Storrow you there" flows better, though.
They come from Jersey, they're from Long Island
We don't have time for them now
heaven
Oh heaven
Heaven is a place
A place where drivers
Hardly ever crash things
Stop Making Sense
Stop Making Sense
Bat-Shit Insane Idea
Given that it's not a construction site, why not just pay some non-cop person to sit at the entrances to these roads with a DCR truck or something (lights flashing) and flag down too tall vehicles from proceeding and leave the cops to do actual work. It can just be during this move-in period (late August through the second week of September or so).
Troupers
How about having non-police flaggers at construction sites and letting the troupers deal with actual police matters?
The state police never involve themselves much with "local" matters such as move ins. Given how much trouble is caused on the river roads this is one time in which an actual cop who can stop traffic and write citations might be more useful then a civilian.
Regardless, it's absurd that the state requires police where they aren't needed but won't assign them to traffic details when it actually is a matter of public concern.
Because directing traffic is police duty, its law enforcement
Flaggers would have no legal authority, if a car blows by them they cant stop them. Flaggers also cost more than police due to the prevailing wage law in this state, cops benefits package is paid for partially by police per their cba, flaggers however are obligated by law to given the same wage and benefits of a cop doing the same detail, however as they are not contractually obligated to pay for part of their benefits package, its cheaper to have a police officer. Traffic direction done by someone who holds no legal authority to enforce traffic laws is like calling a cashier at a coffee shop a manager without giving them the authority to hire and fire employees and having them be on the same level authoritywise as the people they are supposed to be managing.
I know these trucks mean that
I know these trucks mean that summer is ending, but it's still August and so all of Boston is basically one giant construction site.
Crazy idea: Install a
Crazy idea: Install a permanent police officer. But thats expensive, so it can be a fake police officer. And he can be bright yellow with reflective materials. And have text on him. And be positioned before the ramp.
Maybe something like this.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o8Z1K37SHbE/hqdefault.jpg
that is a great sign!
I wonder if it works.
That might work
The current signs saying, "Cars only" (even if it has a metal bottom that smacks against my UHaul) seems like just a suggestion rather than an essential demand. The sign in the link above tells it like it is.
Because it isn't all students?
This looks like another professional job to me.
Sign
Why can't they hang signs prior to the bridges hanging about an inch lower than the bridge saying low bridge do not continue if your truck hits this sign. The signs can be metal or rubber hanging from chains. It would be an alert that the trucks should not be on the given road. I'm sure most of the students are just following their iphones.
They've tried.
Some examples of what has been tried in the past:
Via the Globe:
* https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2013/09/04/efforts-stop-b...
The state’s efforts to stop
Not the state DOT, but the MDC - now DCR, who has shown little interest in actually solving the problem. Because signs with standard legends/colors that are properly sized and placed (i.e. BEFORE the overheight vehicles have committed to entering Storrow Drive) are somehow inconsistent with their idea that Storrow is still a "recreational parkway"-
">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGjVBHFbzlA[/youtube]
Involve Colleges
Seems like the colleges could be involved and/or held partially responsible. The harsh side of me says they should expel anyone who gets a truck caught under a bridge (cannot follow instructions). But even something milder would help, like a short statement in an annual letter, in 30 point bold font.
I realize I'm repeating myself for the umpteenth time here
but FIX THE BLOODY SIGNS first so the actual restrictions are immediately clear to drivers. "Low Clearance 9'-8" (which is the lowest clearance point on Storrow Drive) - WE MEAN IT**" and "No Trucks Or Buses (in proper black on white)". And have both signs prominently posted on side streets at advance locations so that drivers can see them WELL BEFORE they enter the ramps onto Storrow.
It's such a simple concept. Too bad so few people seem to "get" it, and go for the expensive yet ineffective solutions (or impractical ideas like expelling students) first.
** - and yes, I stole the idea for the legend from the Lincoln Tunnel in New York, which used to have a large overhead beam posted immediately in front of the tunnel portal. It was suspended at exactly 12'-6" and read "12'-6" WE MEAN IT!"
Why?
Much of the year's storrowings and many of the ones in recent days not involving UHauls are the result of bad decisions by supposedly professional drivers. Look through Adam's long list of incidents - the vast majority have absolutely nothing to do with students whatsoever.
Why should colleges have anything to do with that?
The problem is NOT limited to out-of-area graduate students - the majority of incidents involve the kinds of vehicles not related to DIY household moving - sometimes Ryder trucks, sometimes box trucks with prominent markings for local businesses. Case in point: A storrowed Duckboat!