Traffic Report: STFU!

This Just In "We're All Going To Die!"

Traffic is fine. No huge backups or delays because of the 580/880/80 issue. In fact traffic has rarely been better leaving the Sucka Free than it has been the last few days. Too bad for the tv and newspaper people. They love DISASTER. Even when it isn't there, maybe they can make it happen.

Tonight with no traffic issues I went home using the detour to get to 580 Eastbound. Getting home took exactly 4 minutes longer.

Was it hard? Well let me tell you...

I had to get off the freeway at the Grand exit. Then go on some long blocks with a few stoplights. Then turn left and get back on the freeway. Exit, go straight, turn left lots of signs, no way to get lost.

People are so soft these days. I think the news makes us that way. All we hear is.

Oh My God it is a disaster! The freeway melted!

It gets so much play, it must be true and with all the worry about traffic oh what will we do?

People will do what they have to do and get on with their life. The story is really that there have been no major traffic problems because of what happened. That is a GREAT story. But the old story goes that the house not on fire isn't news, the house that is makes the news. In this case that would be an overpass.

I think just watching the news and reading the sensational headlines just cranks up the daily stress, so avoid it. It happened, it'll get fixed when it gets fixed and for almost everybody in the Bay Area it has exactly zero impact unless you listen to or read the news constantly blabbing on about it all. Then it might drive you nuts no matter where you live!

Oh there might be traffic issues for sure, and there were and hey there are! Today an airplane landed on Hy 4 during afternoon rush hour! Ask someone that works in Hayward and lives in Tracy. How's that 238/580 commute? Pretty slow. How about people who work in Ess Eff and live in Fairfield? It can take some time.

I once worked with someone who lived in Fairfield. I kidded her about the commute. Her reply, "yea but you ought to see my house, and the school my kids go to." It shut me up quick.

Before the overpass melted (hey 911 conspiracy people did ya catch that? Heat melts steel, duh) the commute from Ess Eff to Orinda was a crawl. It took a really long time. They are planning on busting new hole in the mountain just to ease things a little.

So get on with life. Or join in the bitch fest hand wringing brow furrowing oh woe is me what ever shall we do group. I hear they have daily meetings.

Stuff happens. Sometimes it isn't anybody's fault. Deal with it. And STFU.

Both mayors and the Gov. showed up to be on the news Sunday night. They all seemed to for the idea of fixing the overpass as soon as possible.

Thanks guys...

The detour from the Bay Bridge to get to 24 or 580 east takes you past Nelson Mandela Parkway the former home of the Cypress section of 880. 42 people died there during the earthquake that dropped that freeway. A few blocks off the detour is a memorial park. Those warehouses you see along the way had workers rushing out to save people. My friend Kirk didn't make it out. We rode motorcycles together I used to kid him about working in Newark and living in West Marin. He'd say "yea but you ought to see where I live. It is beautiful."

BOTTOM LINE:

Traffic isn't that bad because of what happened to the overpass. You can't do much about it anyway. Take the easy to follow detour and stop crying. I mean are we made of Sugar Candy?

Now I am done bitching about it!



But wait!

This just in:

Oakland City Council Declares State Of Emergency

OAKLAND -- The city of Oakland followed Mayor Ron Dellums' request to declare a city state of emergency Tuesday night in hopes it can streamline the response to the growing challenges presented by the collapsed freeway in the MacArthur Maze.

Oakland leaders say the freeway collapse is creating major problems. So now Oakland joins the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco in declaring a state of emergency.

(snip)

(Nancy) Nadel (Oakland City Councilwoman) also said traffic helicopters operated by television and radio stations "are driving us crazy" and making the area "like a war zone."

Nadel said the helicopters are waking people up at 5 a.m. and urged news stations not to operate them until after 7 a.m.

She singled out helicopters operated by KRON-4, ABC-7 and NBC-11 for criticism.

Nice to see my hometown cashing in! And San Francisco did as well?! It must seem like the responsible thing to do. Do you think Nancy has ever been in a war zone?