At least an attempt is being made to deal with the changed traffic flow. Here in NW NJ, I cannot count the number of times that commuter traffic has been redirected because of construction and when you arrive at re-entry point, no direction has been provided. So, you’re stuck trying to merge into the already heavy traffic that follows that route. I speak specifically of the Morristown/Morris Plains area.
VCNJ~
I can’t find a site at the moment. From my understand yes it is. It is occasionaly disscused in politics doing away with such a law but none of the MA polititions really want to try and push it.
Huh?
When did you move here?
Yeah, if you’ve ventured through downtown Boston recently during rush hour, there are a million traffic cops “helping” keep the streets clear by directing traffic counter to what the lights say, or to what the cop at the last intersection did. With all the additional traffic due to whatever parts of the Big Dig happen to be closed at the moment ($15B for seven miles of tunnel and bridge, and they can’t even keep the roof from killing random drivers), the traffic has been insane. And there’s cops everywhere directing traffic, which really never works well.
This is not traffic redirected due to construction. Well, at least not primarily (there being some sort of construction on every other block of downtown Boston, it’s pretty rare to actually not be influenced by something). This is traffic that they put cops out for due to the sheer amount of traffic. At least I’m assuming this sort of thing is what tdn saw.
And, from what I understand, in MA, the law says that anytime you open any sort of hole in the road (including popping a manhole cover), you need to hire a cop (on overtime pay) to flag traffic. Every once in a while there’s some push to get rid of this sop to the police union, but it never goes anywhere.
I have to say, it’s interesting how many Pit threads involving traffic that I open thinking “wow, I see that all the time, and it does indeed suck” that involve the Boston area. I go to NYC and and tell people there that their roads are so smooth and nice, and the traffic’s pretty decent, and they look at me like an alien. I really need to get away from Boston more often.
Are you calling them that because they’re white, or because they’re missing a finger?
The white gloves are more visible to drivers than either bare hands or a different colored glove. Thus making it easier for drivers to see the signals from the police officer.
They also provide some protection for their hands, during cold or inclement weather (which can happen in Boston, I’ve heard).