Commuting Tips

JPWRana · 10-13-04, 11:37 PM

My whole life I never faced traffic. Ever since summer that I started to work in South Gate from Baldwin Park... i discovered the wonderful world of TRAFFIC!!!!

Anyways... I HAVE found ways to reduce my commuting time during traffic peaks by as much as 30%.

I have mastered the 10 fwy (from the 710 to the 57), and the 60 fwy (from the 710 to the 605), the 710 (from the 91 until it ends), and HECK even touched the 105, but not too much because that's where I get out of the way.

Now... to save time here are a few USEFUL tips in case traffic gets WORSE than regular.

1) listen to 980 AM... they have the traffic report every 10 or 11 minutes I think. I listen to that as soon as I leave work and as soon as I go to work, so that I'll know to take either the 10 or the 60.

2) KNOW THE STREETS. Because I've mastered the streets of Alhambra, Rosemead, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, and Downey (which are the relevant ones btw), I'm able to determine where to get off incase i'm nearing a roadblock.

3) BEFORE you get on the freeway, quickly glance to see how fast traffic is moving. I have in the near past made quick last minute decisions NOT to take a freeway and rather take the streets (the fast one's obviously which I've already tested multiple times by trial and error

) and it has saved me a good 30 minutes (for the very least).

4) If you know how long your trip is, it may determine where you stop for gas. Sometimes taking the freeway at 2:45pm is better than taking it at 3:00pm because that difference CAN MEAN an additional 30 minutes of bumper to bumper or not. IF you KNOW you can make it to your destination before the gas fill up... do it!!! If you see traffic slowing down, you know you can simply exit to a gas store because you know traffic aint gonna get better by the time you fill up.

5) IF YOU DONT know the way around the streets in case you dont want to take the freeway because a turtle can go faster there, take the streets parallel to it WHERE YOU CAN SAFELY see the freeway. That's what I did my first time experimenting taking the streets home from the 10 fwy from the 710 to the 605. I've taken Valley Blvd (which is parallel to the 10 and above the 10 fwy), and Hellman, which is RIGHT BELOW the 10 fwy and lies much closer in a parallel fashion to the 10 fwy. Since I've taken both, I recommend Hellman because there's less lights, and in case you see a quick sudden increase in speed in the 10 fwy and it's staying that way, you can quickly take it. On Valley there's WAY to many camera's on the stop lights, AND I HATE THEM WITH A PASSION!!!

If anyone has any tips or ideas or suggestions... please feel free to send them in. I have other useful one's, but won't post them yet until I see if my tips are appreciated.

I also have some speed driving tips and gas tips... but that's for another thread.

btw... I always carry a Thomas Guide with me... even though I know my orientation and you can throw me anywhere in LA county and i'll still find my way home w/o a map.

Keng · 10-13-04, 11:41 PM

I just take Nogales and turn right on Amar....then all the way til left turn into Cal Poly

Nate · 10-14-04, 01:41 AM

1. Live on campus. Problem solved. You don't even have to bother with parking unless you leave campus during the day.

**zoedragon** · 10-14-04, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPWRana

On Valley there's WAY to many camera's on the stop lights, AND I HATE THEM WITH A PASSION!!!

I hear ya man, I hate those things too. And they're popping up everywhere! Cities are realizing how much cash they can rake in with these new automated ticketing systems because hardly anyone knows how to fight these.

There's actually a website dedicated to helping you fight your red light camera ticket. It's www.highwayrobbery.n et. This site has helped me find a way to escape two of my tickets. Before discovering this site I just blindly paid my ticket and sent it off like an idiot. Those things are EXPENSIVE! I have lots of other things I'd rather spend $341 on.

Mike · 10-24-04, 11:41 PM

If you live in So. CAL, you can't avoid traffic. Is part of our lifestyle dude.

Keng · 10-25-04, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoedragon

I hear ya man, I hate those things too. And they're popping up everywhere! Cities are realizing how much cash they can rake in with these new automated ticketing systems because hardly anyone knows how to fight these.

There's actually a website dedicated to helping you fight your red light camera ticket. It's www.highwayrobbery.n et. This site has helped me find a way to escape two of my tickets. Before discovering this site I just blindly paid my ticket and sent it off like an idiot. Those things are EXPENSIVE! I have lots of other things I'd rather spend $341 on.

Camera doesn't do anything unless you violate the traffic law

**PandaMoOo** · 10-25-04, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keng

Camera doesn't do anything unless you violate the traffic law

Yeah thats true. But is $341 fair for passing through a red light just as it turns? or not stopping completely when making a right turn? Some fines are a little too extreme.

I wish people were pulled over more, but the fines were much lower... like $50, then second offense in a year jumps up big. and third even higher. That way repeat offenders, the real bad people get taught a lesson.

Speeding tickets are horrible though... because its the average speed of uncongested traffic is 73 mph or so in california. Doesn't seem fair to me that over 60% drivers are violating the law on a daily basis, a reasonably society would get the law fixed. (I did some research on this for a speech in the summer...)

Keng · 10-25-04, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandaMoOo

Yeah thats true. But is $341 fair for passing through a red light just as it turns? or not stopping completely when making a right turn? Some fines are a little too extreme.

The yellow light give you enough time to pass as it is timed according to your speed unless they rigged the light.
You are supposed to stop completely when making right turn

Even my friend say what the heck are you doing when I stop completely in a neighborhood stop sign at 11 PM. That's why I haven't get pulled over or ticket after 2 years of driving

**zoedragon** · 10-26-04, 11:14 AM

Some of these red light cameras are not working correctly at all, especially if they are new. I have one citation here with one photo of me stopping at the red light, you can clearly see the brake lights on. The next photo you can see me clearly turning my head to look for oncoming traffic. The next photo you see me making a completely legal right turn. And I still got cited for it. If it were a cop behind me in a police car I would not have gotten pulled over. But because it was stupid automated ticketing system that wasn't working right, I have to waste hours of my time to show up in court to tell the judge that the ticket was wrongfully issued.

No way I'm paying $341 for a stupid legal right turn! And I agree with Panda. The fee is extreme. It should progress with repeated offenses, much like those annoying ATM overdrawn fees.

Puffguts · 10-31-04, 05:43 PM

For anyone driving from Diamond Bar / Chino Hills area:

The Grand Ave / Valley Blvd connector is under construction. I found out the other day and almost late for my 8 Am class. The alternative route is to use the Diamond Bar Blvd, or Chino Hills Pkwy (onto 60W then head off at Diamond Bar blvd / 57 N).

JPWRana · 11-01-04, 12:35 AM

thanx 4 the tip.

btw, does ANYONE have arcGIS? or anyone that they know that has access to arcGIS?

Puffguts · 11-01-04, 12:44 AM

Hmm, it seems to be some geographical software... I wonder if our library has any copies (if it does, it would be at least a couple versions behind the current release).

Mike · 11-01-04, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPWRana

1) listen to 980 AM....

Best tip ever.

scannergeek · 11-04-04, 11:07 PM

You can access arcGIS in the GIS lab in Building 5...you log in with your cal poly e-mail username (without the @csupomona part) and the same password.

scannergeek · 11-04-04, 11:08 PM

Regarding traffic, a Thomas Guide is worth its weight in gold sometimes. The new ones are really helpful in figuring out where the on and offramps are.

**zoedragon** · 11-05-04, 09:34 AM

That would definitely be useful. I don't know how many times I've parallelled the freeway only to have the road go off in a different direction and no on-ramp in sight.

10-13-04, 11:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	Commuting Tips My whole life I never faced traffic. Ever since summer that I started to work in South Gate from Baldwin Park... i discovered the wonderful world of TRAFFIC!!!! Anyways... I HAVE found ways to reduce my commuting time during traffic peaks by as much as 30%. I have mastered the 10 fwy (from the 710 to the 57), and the 60 fwy (from the 710 to the 605), the 710 (from the 91 until it ends), and HECK even touched the 105, but not too much because that's where I get out of the way. Now... to save time here are a few USEFUL tips in case traffic gets WORSE than regular. 1) listen to 980 AM... they have the traffic report every 10 or 11 minutes I think. I listen to that as soon as I leave work and as soon as I go to work, so that I'll know to take either the 10 or the 60. 2) KNOW THE STREETS. Because I've mastered the streets of Alhambra, Rosemead, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, and Downey (which are the relevant ones btw), I'm able to determine where to get off incase i'm nearing a roadblock. 3) BEFORE you get on the freeway, quickly glance to see how fast traffic is moving. I have in the near past made quick last minute decisions NOT to take a freeway and rather take the streets (the fast one's obviously which I've already tested multiple times by trial and error ) and it has saved me a good 30 minutes (for the very least). 4) If you know how long your trip is, it may determine where you stop for gas. Sometimes taking the freeway at 2:45pm is better than taking it at 3:00pm because that difference CAN MEAN an additional 30 minutes of bumper to bumper or not. IF you KNOW you can make it to your destination before the gas fill up... do it!!! If you see traffic slowing down, you know you can simply exit to a gas store because you know traffic aint gonna get better by the time you fill up. 5) IF YOU DONT know the way around the streets in case you dont want to take the freeway because a turtle can go faster there, take the streets parallel to it WHERE YOU CAN SAFELY see the freeway. That's what I did my first time experimenting taking the streets home from the 10 fwy from the 710 to the 605. I've taken Valley Blvd (which is parallel to the 10 and above the 10 fwy), and Hellman, which is RIGHT BELOW the 10 fwy and lies much closer in a parallel fashion to the 10 fwy. Since I've taken both, I recommend Hellman because there's less lights, and in case you see a quick sudden increase in speed in the 10 fwy and it's staying that way, you can quickly take it. On Valley there's WAY to many camera's on the stop lights, AND I HATE THEM WITH A PASSION!!! If anyone has any tips or ideas or suggestions... please feel free to send them in. I have other useful one's, but won't post them yet until I see if my tips are appreciated. I also have some speed driving tips and gas tips... but that's for another thread. btw... I always carry a Thomas Guide with me... even though I know my orientation and you can throw me anywhere in LA county and i'll still find my way home w/o a map.

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10-13-04, 11:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Keng Guru Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 597	I just take Nogales and turn right on Amar....then all the way til left turn into Cal Poly

10-14-04, 01:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nate Active Member Joined: Nov 2003 Location: On Campus Posts: 93	1. Live on campus. Problem solved. You don't even have to bother with parking unless you leave campus during the day.

10-24-04, 11:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Mike Enthusiast Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Fullerton Posts: 201	If you live in So. CAL, you can't avoid traffic. Is part of our lifestyle dude.

10-26-04, 11:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	Some of these red light cameras are not working correctly at all, especially if they are new. I have one citation here with one photo of me stopping at the red light, you can clearly see the brake lights on. The next photo you can see me clearly turning my head to look for oncoming traffic. The next photo you see me making a completely legal right turn. And I still got cited for it. If it were a cop behind me in a police car I would not have gotten pulled over. But because it was stupid automated ticketing system that wasn't working right, I have to waste hours of my time to show up in court to tell the judge that the ticket was wrongfully issued. No way I'm paying $341 for a stupid legal right turn! And I agree with Panda. The fee is extreme. It should progress with repeated offenses, much like those annoying ATM overdrawn fees.

10-31-04, 05:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Puffguts Active Member Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 140	For anyone driving from Diamond Bar / Chino Hills area: The Grand Ave / Valley Blvd connector is under construction. I found out the other day and almost late for my 8 Am class. The alternative route is to use the Diamond Bar Blvd, or Chino Hills Pkwy (onto 60W then head off at Diamond Bar blvd / 57 N).

11-01-04, 12:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
JPWRana Guru Joined: Oct 2003 Location: where the 605 and 10 fwy's cross Posts: 884	thanx 4 the tip. btw, does ANYONE have arcGIS? or anyone that they know that has access to arcGIS?

11-01-04, 12:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
Puffguts Active Member Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 140	Hmm, it seems to be some geographical software... I wonder if our library has any copies (if it does, it would be at least a couple versions behind the current release).

11-04-04, 11:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
scannergeek Active Member Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Fullerton Posts: 109	You can access arcGIS in the GIS lab in Building 5...you log in with your cal poly e-mail username (without the @csupomona part) and the same password.

11-04-04, 11:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
scannergeek Active Member Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Fullerton Posts: 109	Regarding traffic, a Thomas Guide is worth its weight in gold sometimes. The new ones are really helpful in figuring out where the on and offramps are.

11-05-04, 09:34 AM	#16 (permalink)
zoedragon Fire-breather Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Inglewood, CA Posts: 668	That would definitely be useful. I don't know how many times I've parallelled the freeway only to have the road go off in a different direction and no on-ramp in sight.