Things I Love Friday - NYC Driving

Some people (okay, a lot of people) think I'm crazy for this, but I LOVE to drive in New York City.  No really, LOVE IT.  There have been times I've gone into the city just to drive around.  (Yes, I know, I know, they don't need the added traffic and pollution, I know.)  Anytime anyone needs to be dropped off in the city, any borough, and doesn't want to take mass transit for some reason, I am leaping out of my seat to volunteer.

There are three keys to successfully driving in NYC:

1 - Know your car really well.  Know its dimensions and what it can and cannot do.  You need to know how much pick-up your car has, how good the brakes are, how good the turning radius is, and so on.  You need to know your car like you know your own body.

2 - Be confident in your own driving.  You do not have a nanosecond to second-guess yourself.  Want to sneak into the next lane?  Just go.  Bully your way in as nicely as possible (yes, there is a way to be a nice bully driver).  It's when you are clearly still thinking about what you want to do and are dithering back and forth that you're going to supremely piss off the natives.  (I have yelled, "F'ing go or don't go!!" many-a-time.)

3 - Stay calm and relaxed.  This is the part that I think gives people the most trouble.  They're worried about where they're going, the noise, the closeness of the other cars, and pissing off other drivers.  You just can't care about that.  Driving in Manhattan today, I pissed off the same cop twice.  Did I care?  No, my parents and I were laughing about it.  And that was a cop, not just another driver.  You just have to be relaxed and laissez-faire about the whole thing.

So when my parents needed someone to drive them to LaGuardia airport this morning, I leapt at the chance, even though it meant getting up at 6am.  I love NYC any time, but I have a particular fondness for the buzz of the morning.  People with their coffees and iPods, purposefully walking to work or a morning appointment.  I love it and miss it (I worked in Manhattan for 3 1/2 years).

And for anyone who complains about how confusing Newark airport is?  You've clearly never been to LaGuardia.  Sheesh.

Driving back home, I snapped this view of Manhattan from Queens:

You might have laughed if I told you
You might have hidden the frown
You might have succeeded in changing me
I might have been turned around

It's easier to leave than to be left behind (it's pulling me apart)
Leaving was never my proud (change)
Leaving New York never easy (it's pulling me apart)

~R.E.M., "Leaving New York"

Comments

[Amy]

I'm thinking... all day shopping trip in NYC some time this winter/spring???

I volunteer YOU to drive! yes?? :0)

[Candice]

Totally!! Or we can take mass transit. I'm also a huge fan of the bus and train. :-D

[ssallykat]

I SOOO prefer NYC to DC. The road layout make more sense and people are much better drivers. They actually know how to merge! Drive to the end and alternate! Its not that hard people. You are going to slow things down even more if you try to sneak in early. Driving around here makes me crazy. Hardly anyone uses turn signals, and they take forever to merge if they are using turn signals. I too have yelled out, "F'ing go or don't go!!". Or, "make up your mind cupcake!"

Seriously, so many people need their drivers licenses taken away.

[Candice]

Yes, the layout in DC is crazy (although I've read that it was designed as such to confuse anyone who would try to invade). I think NYC drivers are great - it's just a different style of driving than people in other areas are accustomed to.

I wish you could do a citizen's arrest kind of thing and take people's licenses away. LOL