How do you drive in alleys? (living in, moving, ordinance)

[DustyButtons]

take the train!

but seriously, it shouldn't be a reason to give up the house if you really like it. you'd be surprised at how quickly you get used to things like that.

but also seriously, take the train if you can. in some parts of the city driving can be so frustrating and the train cuts through that...not that the train isn't frustrating at times, too...

[Alacran]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

Really not a big deal. Please don't honk incessantly to announce your presence like a lot of idiots in this city. Just slow and yield at all the intersections and you should be fine.

You're gonna end up killing some little kid for not honking.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Alacran

You're gonna end up killing some little kid for not honking.

I agree. I always honked and I think it's clearly the right thing to do. A real short beep -- no reason to hold your hand on it of course.

[jwaiter]

Originally Posted by aragx6

I agree. I always honked and I think it's clearly the right thing to do. A real short beep -- no reason to hold your hand on it of course.

Speaking as someone who has lived at a T intersection for 10 years, I say DO NOT HONK, simply drive slowly and highten your awareness at the blind intersection and everything will be fine. People honk way too much in alleys, as if it's gonns stop someone barreling around the corner at 20 mph - basically this person's gonna cause an accident regardless of the honk. The rest of us, who slow down to a crawl and take the blind corner cautiously will not cause an accident and a honk will not change anything.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

After a large snow event what happens is the larger vehicles/big SUV's/trucks drive in the alley and pack the snow down, then all I do is shovel the small area in front of my garage door. Then I can get out and down the alley even in my little Civic.

Regarding two cars in the alley at the same time, don't even worry abt it, everyone works around each other, it's never an issue. Believe it or not, two cars going in opposite directions can pass in the alley, but one of the vehicles has to pull tight against a garage while the other goes around. Really, don't worry abt it.

My alley story: We had a garage on the corner of an alley. During one of the *big snows,* the garbage trucks plowed Up the alley and piled all the snow in front of our garage so we could not get the cars out. If they had come in the other entrance to the alley, they would have been plowing down the alley and not ended up in front of anyone's garage.

We actually had to call the city and have them bring in front loaders to take the snow out. We could not get the cars out for almost two weeks.

[Thepreacherswife]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

Speaking as someone who has lived at a T intersection for 10 years, I say DO NOT HONK, simply drive slowly and highten your awareness at the blind intersection and everything will be fine. People honk way too much in alleys, as if it's gonns stop someone barreling around the corner at 20 mph - basically this person's gonna cause an accident regardless of the honk. The rest of us, who slow down to a crawl and take the blind corner cautiously will not cause an accident and a honk will not change anything.

This.
I actually come to a dead stop at the end of the alley before going across the sidewalk/parkway and into the street. The dodos I see honking use it as an excuse to not slow down and look, as if to announce to the world, "I'm blowing through here at 20 mph and really don't want to slow down, so FU if you get in my way."

[quigboto]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

This.
I actually come to a dead stop at the end of the alley before going across the sidewalk/parkway and into the street. The dodos I see honking use it as an excuse to not slow down and look, as if to announce to the world, "I'm blowing through here at 20 mph and really don't want to slow down, so FU if you get in my way."

I slow down to almost complete stop and I honk my horn. Better safe than sorry. One time I had a brain fart and didn't honk and almost ran over a little dog. Thankfully saw the little fella as he darted across my path and was able to stop.

[s0nginmyheart]

Does the honking vary by neighborhood? When I lived on the northside I would still honk even though I was exiting slowly, and I noticed this was common practice. I'm in the south loop now and my alley way has mid/high rise on the left and right so I can't see pedestrians nor cars until I'm peeking out - I honk most of the time, but notice that nobody else really does it in this area.

I would have to agree with quigboto that it is more of a precaution rather than announcing I'm an ***hole. I can't see you anymore than you can see me through walls. But I'm the one who has the horn.

[nidex]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

Speaking as someone who has lived at a T intersection for 10 years, I say DO NOT HONK, simply drive slowly and highten your awareness at the blind intersection and everything will be fine. People honk way too much in alleys, as if it's gonns stop someone barreling around the corner at 20 mph - basically this person's gonna cause an accident regardless of the honk. The rest of us, who slow down to a crawl and take the blind corner cautiously will not cause an accident and a honk will not change anything.

Disagree. I've been coming down an alley with a blind T, hit my horn, got another honk back and stopped- when I couldn't see the other vehicle yet. This has happened on multiple occasions. It's understandable that you dislike the honking because you live right next to it, but it's a common, and good, practice.

[nidex]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

I'm in the south loop now and my alley way has mid/high rise on the left and right so I can't see pedestrians nor cars until I'm peeking out - I honk most of the time, but notice that nobody else really does it in this area.

Because most people in the South Loop are yuppie transplants from the suburbs or surrounding areas where they don't have alleys.