:: Driving in Barrie takes some getting used to ::

Sunday, March 25, 2007

:: Driving in Barrie takes some getting used to ::

I think the Barrie vs. Toronto theme in my last post carries over into this one. I just came in from running around every corner of Barrie this afternoon and what I notice is not only are the roads just a little bit busier in town on the weekend, the driving style tends to be a little more aggressive as well. I think much of the extra weekend volume can be attributed to commuters who make their way to Toronto Monday to Friday and today they are out doing their weekend routines.
To them I want to offer some encouraging words.

Relax, that light that is turning orange a hundred yards up ahead will be green again in about a minute and a half, hit the peddle on the left. I know you watched the light turn red then green then red again and again before you got through on Friday but that was at Bloor and Bathurst and there were twenty cars between you and the clogged intersection.
It's not the winning 6/49 ticket, it's just a Wal/Mart parking space!, you won't run out of gas looking for the next one like that time at Fairview mall, there are dozens more spots just like it in the next two isles. Save your horn for parade day.
That person driving 40km/hour ahead of you likely knows something you don't about the latest speed trap locations in town. I know. scared turtles can bolt for short distances at a faster pace than the community safety zone speed but take a breather and back off the bumper a bit. I'll bet you are less than ten minutes from your destination just like everyone else on the road in town right now, you spent more time at that intersection on Friday remember?
You and I both know you have just enough time to make that left before that oncoming car hits you, you see that kind of physics in action every week day south of Hwy 7. but there's a pretty good chance the guy coming home from the curling rink in the other direction isn't as confident as you and might just spill his fresh Tim Horton's coffee in his lap out of shock.
Careful on your choice of hand gestures, the middle finger pointed strait up is the signal for geese overhead to some local hunters. He needs to be focused on the road ahead, not gazing skyward for V formations of waterfowl. A simple wave or nod is the best and safest form of communication between Barrie drivers.