The Left Turn Arrow seems sparse here. Many are the busy
thoroughfares where one needs to wait for the oncoming traffic to abate. It is not
unusual to turn left on a red light.
Here, yellow means Speed Up. Unless the intersection is
blocked. Or one is in danger of blocking the intersection. And sometimes even
then. . .
Is the street wide enough to make two lanes while waiting
for the light? Done and done. No need to wait behind the person turning left if
there is room to wait to turn right.
Merging seems particularly difficult for many. You know when
you get to a merge point, and the cars alternate, going every other one? Like
the teeth of a zipper interlocking as it's being closed?
That concept's not clear here. Let someone go ahead of me? Are you crazy? Ima get mines.
You gonna get worse gridlock is what you gonna get.
This is not to say there is a lack of charity on the roads. I've
been warned of a fresh accident by the car ahead of me. There's a spot on
Beverly Glen where the unwritten rule is every other car, allowing those at a
stop sign to enter the flow of traffic. I've seen folks leave enough space for residents
to get in and out of their driveways during rush hour on Coldwater Canyon.
Still, the general sense I get of the Los Angeles driving attitude
of Me First Me First Me First!
I'm settling in just fine. Except for that merging bit.
