A lot of people live in and around Pittsburgh.  A lot of people travel in Pittsburgh.  A lot of people have no idea what they're doing while driving in Pittsburgh... and still, there are those that know what they're doing is wrong and illegal, but do it anyway.  I think the last group of people should have their driver's licenses revoked, and hopefully lose their livelyhood and eventually their will to live.

Wow.  I sound like an asshole, huh?  Yes.  Yes, I do.  I have become a hardened callous asshole city driver.

This is a lesson that no one will see, but it will make me feel better.  If you see a need, please pass this information on.

Please refer to the classy diagrams that I have taken the time to make...  First, take a good hard look at the one on the left at the top.  We'll call this "Diagram A."

You'll notice that I have made red and blue lines on diagram A... super-imposed over a satellite photo of the outbound side of the Liberty Tunnel thanks to Google Maps.  These lines are not merely for aesthetic value.  They represent the flow of traffic as is should be (& legally) is out of the tunnels.  If you pay attention to the lines on the road, you'll see my diargam to be true.  But, if you're one of the ones who really needs to read this, I'm assuming you haven't seen or cannot understand the lines & arrows on the ground outside of the tunnel.

From my awesome red & blue lines, and the lines on the ground believe it or not...  We can see that the right lane must stay in the lane farthest to the right, actually on a directly straight course out of the tunnel on to the Rte. 51 on-ramps in either direction.  All the while the left lane has the option to spill out into two lanes, both going straight up Rte. 19 / Liberty Ave. into Dormont.

You really wouldn't think that this is hard to grasp, but almost every time I'm going this direction in the tunnel, some shitweasel in the right lane decides that he wants to occupy that elusive middle lane... usually in the spot where my car is (or is headed).  Now, if I hadn't paid a ridiculous amount of money for my automobile and if I didn't have a general disdain for working anything out in a timely and sensible manner with  insurance companies...  I would have most certainly wrecked the bejesus out of many a wrongdoer by now.  These pickle polishers also never use their turn signals.  Is this saying they think they're in the right, or do they just not care?  I don't think we will ever know, my friends.

Next, please turn your attention to the right, we'll call this one "Diagram B." Can you say "Diagram B" boys and girls? You'll note, that I stuck with the red & blue arrows theme here, and once again stole satellite images from our good friends at Google Maps.

This image refers to the PJ McArdle Roadway, and where it crosses Arlington Ave. in order to take you to the wonderful Liberty Tunnel or Liberty Bridge.  You can (hopefully) plainly see the returning red and blue arrows, and now the addition of an actual traffic sign (the white rectangle with rounded corders, and black arrows on it, surrounded by a yellow halo of light).  You'll note that according to the sign, my arrows, and the ever-elusive markings on the road... the left lane is a LEFT TURN ONLY lane.  (Please see this page from the PA Driver's Manual for an example & definition of what this means exactly if you don't understand.)  The right lane has the option to go forward in to either of the lanes taking you to the tunnel, Mt. Washington, and the bridge, respectively.

This is another situation where I am typically in the right hand lane, want to go straight, and get into the left lane to go around the bend & up into the tunnel... but some shitweasel to my left doesn't not realize that he's in a left turn only lane, and decides to also go into the lane where I intend to go.  Yet again, these are the same people who do not know how to locate and operate their turn signals.  (If you need help with this, perhaps you can locate the owner's manual for your automobile here.)  WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION TO TRAFFIC MARKINGS, SIGNS, AND SYMBOLS, PITTSBURGH!  Don't be a town full of stupids.

You can read more about the Liberty Bridge, its relationship to I-579, and the traffic-flow therein in this nice little page from NorthEastRoads.com:  Interstate 579 and the Liberty Bridge

You can also refer to the Pennsylvania Driver's Manual for instructions on how to read & interperate traffic signs.

Someday, I will tackle other PA driving problems... like the traffic flow on the Liberty Bridge and in the Liberty tunnel from 2:00pm to 7:00pm Monday through Friday...

At any rate, pass the link to this blog on to people who need it!