Rants, raves and random ruminations from readers

We invite readers each week to send in their rants, tirades and suggestions, and many of you do. But what good is it to air your frustrations with Las Vegas roads and projects if they end with me? So, today I’ve decided to hand over my forum to you so that the leaders in the community can read about your concerns and, hopefully, take these ideas under consideration.

Here is Andrea: It seems to happen rather frequently that there is gridlock at the intersection of Flamingo Road and the Strip – particularly on weekends and especially on busy weekends like Electric Daisy Carnival, etc. Perhaps when the gridlock starts to happen, one or two of the officers on horseback who patrol the Strip could direct traffic flow so gridlock doesn’t happen. Or maybe the responsible department can improve the timing on the traffic signals. I don’t know what the solution is, but it is definitely a problem needing resolution. It is a moving violation to block an intersection, I believe. So maybe handing out citations would also be a deterrent.

And she’s not done; she has a bone to pick with me: In your Sunday article, you noted that the Grand Central area was “attractive enough to lure the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and more important, The Smith Center.” I think better phrasing might have been “and as important, The Smith Center.” Both are wonderful additions to our community and it is, at best, inaccurate to say that a center for research and treatment of brain disorders is less important than a home for the performing arts.

Good point, Andrea. Both are huge assets to our community. I probably gave the performing arts complex more props because I didn’t believe this city would attract a cultural center in my lifetime.

Oy, the candlesticks. Here’s Hermann: I was very ecstatic and surprised that those candlesticks on Interstate 15 were removed. Finally someone was seeing the light! Or so I thought.

Then came the disappointment with your mention that the idiots at the Nevada Department of Transportation are planning to put up new ones. It just shows that there is absolutely no regard or common sense to leave things alone especially if it works and is actually safe and have a good traffic flow. God forbid if someone changes in or out of the express lanes. Yes it happens and from what I can see is done occasionally due to traffic situations in the other lanes. At least there is an option to a potential traffic backup or fender benders, etc.

Yeah, it is too difficult to ticket motorists. Wouldn’t want them to miss out on some revenue! No, in Los Angeles they do not make a point to chase down motorists crossing the double line. Think about how many there are and how long their lanes are. Here we got a couple miles, if that?

Of course I do not want to forget that we have all sorts of cash nowadays to hand out handsome contracts to re-erect those dumb sticks and to maintain them. Your local government at its best. Unbelievable! Should you have any input or juice in order to prevent this, well, my hat would be off to you.

Hmmm, not sure how to stop it. Maybe we can all form one of those protest lines like the environmentalists do to save trees from developers?

By the way, and interestingly, Hermann had the same complaints as Andrea about Strip traffic and also specifically pointed out the Tropicana intersection.

Betsi doesn’t think the cities get it: If sense were common, everyone would have some. I look at endless work to allegedly bring sidewalk curbs up to code to meet Americans With Disabilities standards. Why are we going through all this work and expense when utility and light poles are positioned in the middle of the same sidewalks? No wheelchair, handicap electric scooter or even stroller can get past the poles, making it impossible for safe passage. For just one example, look at the work being done on Decatur Boulevard between U.S. Highway 95 and Rancho Drive. This is not isolated. We see it in many parts of the valley. Perhaps we need to look at the big picture.

Uh-oh, this is from a New Yorker, Ira, who acknowledges he is not the best driver, but: I would like to know what goes through the minds of the so-called geniuses that are allowed to drive in this or any other city.

1. I’m in the left turning lane, the light turns green, one car in front of me also waiting to make a left turn. Instead of now moving up to the center of the intersection, we just sit there and wait and wait.

2. Next is not the people who don’t use their turn signals; they are an inconsiderate bunch who want the rest of us to be mind readers. Using your turn signal is a courtesy to the people in front as well as behind you.

This is for the people who think they are doing us all a favor by using their turn signal incorrectly. You’re waiting to make a left, the person in front of you does not put their turn signal on until the light turns green. Big help. You’re behind someone on a one-lane street who, all of a sudden, starts to slow down, then the brakes come on (more mind reading involved), finally starts to move to one side of the road and finally put on their signal just before they turn. This is no help. The turn signal should be the first thing, not the last.

3. Last, you’re behind someone on a one-lane street, they put their left turn signal on and start to slow down, so I think that as long as you’re turning left, I can go around you on the right. Not a chance. For some strange reason, which maybe you can explain to me, they pull all the way over to the right before they make their left turn, stopping me from going around them. And I’m thinking what the heck was that move for?

People have funky driving habits here. The last rant is new to me, unless it’s a big truck that needs plenty of room to make the turn. I often wonder how in the world all these new cars have amazing features like self-parking, GPS and devices that warn the driver of objects behind them, but have automakers forgotten turn signals?

There are plenty of frustrations we all experience as drivers in this town. Keep your rants and suggestions coming. We’ll throw them in here, if only for entertainment value, every once in awhile.

Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904.