I drove over to Louisville yesterday. If you live around here, you know that the Sherman Minton Bridge between Indiana and Kentucky is closed, so all the traffic goes over the remaining bridges. We call it Shermageddon. At the time of day I went, I didn’t figure traffic would be too bad.
I was mistaken.
Traffic was backed up for at least two miles approaching the bridge, not at a standstill, but stop-and-go-a-couple-of-yards.
But here’s the thing. Nobody was honking. Nobody was making rude gestures or ugly faces. If somebody needed to switch lanes, people made room for them. At entrance ramps, people took turns moving forward.
The traffic moved, everybody got where they were going, we were all in the traffic jam together, not individually. We were a community.
It was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve had in a long time. Not something I’d actively seek out, but I’m honestly glad to have been part of it. It made me think well of humanity in general and this area in particular. 🙂
WRITING PROMPT: Put a character in a major traffic jam.
MA
Carol Preflatish
October 8, 2011 at 2:18pmI agree. It’s been an amazing and wonderful thing of the lack of road rage with the bridge problem. Everyone is doing a great job of trying to keep the traffic moving. Kudo’s to all of the drivers.
Marian Allen
October 8, 2011 at 3:45pmHey, Carol! Thanks for stopping by. Got home across the Second Street Bridge with no holdups at all. 🙂
Na
October 9, 2011 at 12:15amYou have a great positive attitude. I like to see the upside of things as well. Over here there is construction literally everywhere so traffic jams are almost the norm. There are a lot of delays and detours. If there is gas in the car and time to spare I don’t mind. Driving does scare me a little so I don’t mind driving a little slower 🙂 It sounds like you have a great experience with traffic jams. I’ll keep that in mind if I’m ever in Louisville.
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