Why do so many people drive on the shoulder on I-495 during rush hours? Is it now allowed like on I-66?

My commute takes me from the American Legion Bridge to Springfield on the
I-495. The traffic frequently comes to a complete stop at certain times.
I see many cars just move over to the right shoulder and keep on driving.

On parts of I-66, this practice is allowed... but did they start allowing this
on I-495?(if that's the case, I probably didn't get the memo)

The cops are nowhere to be seen. (but I don't blame them... if I were a cop,
the last thing I want is to get on I-495 during rush hours)

Do you have some documentation to show that driving on the shoulder is allowed on 66? I sure didn't get that memo but I'm open to being proven wrong. The short answer to your original question, though, is that people do that because 90% of drivers in Norther Virginia are giant pricks. People here figure that they are more important than everyone else and whatever they need to do to get ahead of everyone else is just fine.

What? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you have some documentation to show that
> driving on the shoulder is allowed on 66? I sure
> didn't get that memo but I'm open to being proven
> wrong.

He is referring to the green arrow lane

>The short answer to your original
> question, though, is that people do that because
> 90% of drivers in Norther Virginia are giant
> pricks. People here figure that they are more
> important than everyone else and whatever they
> need to do to get ahead of everyone else is just
> fine.

totally agree.

I have some people get a ticket for shoulder running on 495, but not too often.

If I get annoyed with that I just stick half my car in the shoulder. No more legal, but then at least the shoulder runners can't get by.

Lol I remember 1 time i was sitting in accident backup on i-95 and some guy was speeding down the shoulder...evidently didnt see all the flashing lights and smashed into a police cruiser that was backing up



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2008 09:06PM by KeepOnTruckin.

I don't have "documentation" but I believe there are posted signs that
tell people it's okay to drive on I-66's right shoulder lanes. If
memory serves me correctly, it's between the I-495 ramp to the Rt.123
exit...

I don't recall ever seeing signs like that on I-495.

People driving on the should(legally or illegally) scare me. This is
precisely why I do not stop on the shoulder, even when I have a flat
tire... I just keep on going until I get off at the nearst exit,
or rest stop. Sure, I may end up damaging the wheel so badly that I
need to buy a new wheel... but that's only a couple hundred bucks.
Not worth stopping on the shoulder, changing the tire, and then getting
run over buy people driving on shoulders.... (but anybody feel free to
enlighten me if my logic is flawed)

Thanks! :)


What? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do you have some documentation to show that
> driving on the shoulder is allowed on 66? I sure
> didn't get that memo but I'm open to being proven
> wrong. The short answer to your original
> question, though, is that people do that because
> 90% of drivers in Norther Virginia are giant
> pricks. People here figure that they are more
> important than everyone else and whatever they
> need to do to get ahead of everyone else is just
> fine.

i dont think flawed is the the word i would use... i think paranoid fits better..

The part of 66 you are thinking of is not the shoulder. It is a lane that is used for emergency stopping during normal hours and then is open to traffic during rush hour. It has a big red X when you can't use it for commuting, and a big green arrow when you can use it. Kinda like a HOV lane but not.

pgens, that's a pretty telling statement... And what it tells is: "I am filled with such envy and resentment for people who exert control over their environment that it compels me to take the same risks - not for my own achievement, but to keep them from theirs."

Kind of a small, spiteful, repugnant way to go through life... Luckily here you have a voice to proudly declare your courageous victories as a pebble in society's shoe.

Owen59 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why do so many people drive on the shoulder on
> I-495 during rush hours? Is it now allowed like on
> I-66?
>
> My commute takes me from the American Legion
> Bridge to Springfield on the
> I-495. The traffic frequently comes to a complete
> stop at certain times.
> I see many cars just move over to the right
> shoulder and keep on driving.
>
> On parts of I-66, this practice is allowed... but
> did they start allowing this
> on I-495?(if that's the case, I probably didn't
> get the memo)
>
> The cops are nowhere to be seen. (but I don't
> blame them... if I were a cop,
> the last thing I want is to get on I-495 during
> rush hours)


Are you new to this area? Since when did obeying signs mean anything
around here? Road signs are merely an inconvenience for many locals.
I just visited the midwest for a while and it was really strange.
They actually use turn signals and slow down for you to merge or
change lanes if you put yours on. Amazing!

I sometimes do the same thing, burper. And it has nothing to do with envy. It's about not letting self-important assholes run roughshod over me. The road is sometimes a metaphor for life. If I'm going to let people take advantage of there why not just let them do it all the time. Then I can be a meek, little pussy and really be resentful. Get in line with the rest of us and quit thinking you're somehow better than everybody else.

Don't drive on the shoulder myself - am kind of a rule-follower... So... good luck with jumping to future conclusions - and with that whole fear of being "a meek, little pussy" thing you evidently got goin'. That should get you safely down your metaphor.