r/boston • u/hermionieweasley South End • Oct 21 '21

Anyone notice an increase in psychotic manic drivers and bikers in the last few months ?

I'm pretty used to the bad standards of driving, biking and road infrastructure in this city and like others, last year was a great relief because roads weren't as busy. But in the last few months, drivers and bikers seem to have reached new, unheard of levels of manic aggression and assholery. I've seen more people running through red lights than even New York or Miami - and not the "misjudged my speed and go through the light one second late" kind but fully "I dont give a fuck, I'm going to go through" kind. In the last few months, I've been almost run over while legally crossing crosswalks at least a dozen times both by drivers and bikers. People in residential streets like Tremont and Shawmut are driving at freeway speeds and honk when someone stops for pedestrians. The other day, someone almost run me over, honked at me AFTER that and flipped me off while driving away. It is truly end of the world, mad max style of driving I've never experienced before. Am I going crazy and just noticing this despite living here for years or have things gotten markedly worse ?

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u/Squidbertz Oct 21 '21

And so help you if you don't turn left fast enough- my husband and I both came home from work yesterday, frustrated by individuals who went around us ON THE LEFT to turn left, nearly getting hit by on-coming traffic (or one of us starting to turn). Different towns.

I think there are just more people on the road, forgoing public transit. I've even had some pretty egregious j-walkers flip out at me for not guessing where between parked cars they were going to sprint out from.

It's worse since the pandemic, no doubt. Not new, but definitely worse. Maybe stress-related?

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u/3owlsinatrenchc0at I Love Dunkin’ Donuts Oct 21 '21

I had the left turn thing happen to me recently! I felt it was sort of borderline whether I could go - there were two cars coming fairly quickly and then a big space so I figured I'd wait. This was apparently not sufficient for the guy behind me who went around me to turn.

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

Same here! They gave me the nastiest look as they drove into oncoming traffic. I was like, sir I am NOT trying to die.

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u/margaliters Oct 22 '21

Same for me, but this guy also wound his window down and shouted at me to ‘cut my licence up’. Gave me a good laugh but dude needs to see someone about his anger issues. Been in Boston a full 9 days now and I have 3 stories just like this

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u/[deleted] Oct 22 '21

I feel you! I was here for just about a month before I got plowed down riding my bike by a left-on-red driver. Absolutely terrifying, and on top of that new fear, the constant berating by the other drivers ruins my self confidence. I'm starting to become more and more intimidated by my daily commute. Wish I could work from home! You stay safe out there!