Walking is a hazard

So, why is it that people are afraid to go the speed limit in the tunnels, yet they won't even slow down remotely to let walkers cross the street? I'm referring to Liberty & Penn Aves. downtown. It couldn't be more clearly marked for the drivers to yield to pedestrians, yet I've almost been flattened several times lately.

People are MADDENING!!

Okay... So I'm closing on my new house tomorrow. I needed to get to the bank today to get a cashier's check for the closing. I walk into the National City branch in Penn Hills. (As you may or probably do know, I hate Penn Hills and everything about it and everyone in it.) Anyway, I'm walking into the bank. There are a half dozen people waiting in the velvet rope line. As I'm entering the cattle chute, there's an older man coming into the bank from the opposite side. The opening of the rope line is on my side, and of course, I walk faster. What does the coot do? He steps OVER the rope and cuts right in front of me. WTF? I was already gonna be late for work, and I'm sure he was retired and had all day to stand there. I wanted to say something, but couldn't think of anything sly or anything that wouldn't get me into trouble. Cameras everywhere. So I stared the shriveled prune down. He felt it. He kinda looked at me sheepishly, but he didn't apologize or offer to let me get ahead of him since I really was first. He just stood there like the ass that he is. And why was he there? To pay a freaking bill. Seriously... Old people clog up the lines at banks and post offices to pay a freaking utility bill. Do they not know they can do that without leaving the house? Just walk to the mailbox! You've got one of those, don't you, old man? Perhaps our senior citizens need a daily chore to have an outing for the day. They're retired; what else are they gonna do?

I get my check and book outta there to try to make it to work at a decent time. I'm driving around the bank, and here comes a guy pulling out of the bank drive thru about to t-bone me. It's another old man! His business was done. He was pulling out no matter what. No need to turn his head to see if there's any traffic. I could've killed him. He could've killed me. That's okay: he's old. That seems to be a pass for doing whatever the hell you want.

Now I'm driving down Rodi Road. As I'm going up the very, very long ramp to get onto the parkway, there's a car in front of me. As that driver gets closer to the parkway, she comes to a complete stop. She has her own lane for at least a half mile and she stops completely. And this chick isn't old; looked younger than me. So I had to stand on my brakes. My car began to turn sideways. Of course I laid on the horn and started screaming obscenities. W... T... F?! Now my less-than-a-year-old car needs a brake job thanks to some moron. You know, I'd like to see someone like her who stops while attempting to enter a 55+ mph zone get nailed by a truck zooming by. Stay off the road if you can't drive!!!

Speaking of imbeciles who can't drive, bring on the Squirrel Hill tunnels! What is it about these mysterious tubes that causes everyone that goes through them to slow down to a stop-and-go pace? These are by far the worst tunnels in the 'Burgh. Doesn't make any sense. They are perfectly straight! There's nothing tricky about it. Why are people so f'n stupid? Maybe if you fall below 40 mph the tunnel staff should somehow be able to shock you right in your car. Or hit a button that makes your car evaporate.

Okay... I get through that muck. Takes me 10 minutes to go a mile or two. Then I'm approaching downtown. Before I can get off at Stanwix, the backup for the Fort Pitt tunnels begins. Seriously? It's 2:30pm. Why? How? What do I not understand? So I wait a few more minutes in stalled traffic just to get to my exit.

I made it. I got through all that just to spend the next 9 hours in KD Country. Good times.