FOOL ALERT! NO LEFT TURN INTO PARKING SPACES DOWNTOWN!

Tom_R said:
J
Me: Quite. Most people making the illegal left turn take ten to twelve reverses to park, and I've seen traffic backed up to Durand; you did it with only eight and only backed traffic to the St. James.

TomR

 I bet I could do it in two reverses. I have a sedan (though pretty long). The trick is to pull 1 1/2 spaces beyond the space you want to left turn, into. Pull to the right curb in front of Bagel Ch., then hard, left on the wheel. 

--- Damn. I wouldn't be surprised if I could do it in one swing.

Now ya got me thinkin' .....

sprout said:

1. Be open to the possibility that there is a good explanation for a person's behavior when it doesn't conform to accepted norms or rules..

That it good advice in general.  However, in this particular situation, I think most of us are struggling to find a good explanation.

tjohn said:

sprout said:

1. Be open to the possibility that there is a good explanation for a person's behavior when it doesn't conform to accepted norms or rules..

That it good advice in general.  However, in this particular situation, I think most of us are struggling to find a good explanation.

Maybe the Jean Valjean defense?

If there's another way to go
I missed it twenty long years ago
My life was a war that could never be won
They gave me a number and murdered Valjean
When they chained me and left me for dead
Just for turning left to park for a mouthful of bread

tjohn said:

sprout said:

1. Be open to the possibility that there is a good explanation for a person's behavior when it doesn't conform to accepted norms or rules..

That it good advice in general.  However, in this particular situation, I think most of us are struggling to find a good explanation.

unless the person is a midwife delivering a baby in an apartment upstairs from the pub, I can't think of many reasons that someone would be in an urgent need of a parking space on Maplewood Ave.

ml1 said:

tjohn said:

sprout said:

1. Be open to the possibility that there is a good explanation for a person's behavior when it doesn't conform to accepted norms or rules..

That it good advice in general.  However, in this particular situation, I think most of us are struggling to find a good explanation.

unless the person is a midwife delivering a baby in an apartment upstairs from the pub, I can't think of many reasons that someone would be in an urgent need of a parking space on Maplewood Ave.

 Well, there is the Map-SO justification - for the taxes I pay...

You're missing my point. My issue wasn't with the perspective on the illegal parking, but with the follow-up.

tjohn said:

sprout said:

1. Be open to the possibility that there is a good explanation for a person's behavior when it doesn't conform to accepted norms or rules..

That it good advice in general.  However, in this particular situation, I think most of us are struggling to find a good explanation.

Yes, yes, and I did state directly after that:

In this parking scenario, it seems unlikely that there was a good reason for the person to make an illegal left into an an angled parking spot...

To clarify: My issue was *not* with the parking story, but with this sentence below. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the meaning or intent of this sentence, but doesn't one usually hold *themself* to a higher standard?

ligeti said:
I hold others to my personal code of conduct:

To say you will hold *others* to *one's own* standards / code of conduct seems... self-centered. Do you want Legeti holding *you* to the full series of Ligeti set of standards? I do not. 

Even though I tend to be a rule follower, I don't get a sense of satisfaction out of the simple act of forcing others to follow a rule. I get the satisfaction out of the increased probability of safety for others that occurs. 

I often request dog owners to leash their free-range dog, and got signs from Town Hall to put up at Maplecrest. But my own code of conduct is not to then denigrate the standards of some big guy with two big dogs, and go online and brag how I self-righteously got the guy to put a leash on them. 

How do I hold Ligeti to my code of conduct, as I believe it is far superior to their own? I don't know, and I don't think it would be appropriate. But this is what I interpret the sentence above from Ligeti to mean: Ligeti's code of conduct is the world's very best, and thus, Ligeti should impose this code of conduct on all others.

Ligeti is a Dallas  Cowboys fan.  Some added sensitivity is in order right now because the annual dashing of his hopes is coming soon.

sprout said:

To say you will hold *others* to *one's own* standards / code of conduct seems... self-centered. Do you want Legeti holding *you* to the full series of Ligeti set of standards? I do not. 
Even though I tend to be a rule follower, I don't get a sense of satisfaction out of the simple act of forcing others to follow a rule. I get the satisfaction out of the increased probability of safety for others that occurs. 
I often request dog owners to leash their free-range dog, and got signs from Town Hall to put up at Maplecrest. But my own code of conduct is not to then denigrate the standards of some big guy with two big dogs, and go online and brag how I self-righteously got the guy to put a leash on them. 
How do I hold Ligeti to my code of conduct, as I believe it is far superior to their own? I don't know, and I don't think it would be appropriate. But this is what I interpret the sentence above from Ligeti to mean: Ligeti's code of conduct is the world's very best, and thus, Ligeti should impose this code of conduct on all others.

I took ligeti's posts on this topic to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek.  Which is pretty much how I regard all of his posts.

just for a frame of reference: 50 years ago, when my kids were growing up, Maplewood Centre (as it was then called) had a police officer walking the beat! The one I particularly recall was a tall, slim, possibly bald, man who became a familiar sight on the avenue. He got to know the kids spilling out of Maplewood Junior High afternoons (as it was then called),  the businessfolks and employees, etc. etc. even helped The blue-haired matrons of the time cross the street — he was a watchful eye.

His name was Don (somehow related to the Town Hall Deli people) and my sons still remember him .He lived on Inwood Place so was close to his beat.

I witnessed the greatest illegal parking job ever in Maplewood:

Picture if you will:  You're eating dinner at Arturo's, outside, facing Baker Street.  Here comes a car driving down the wrong side of Baker (from Maplewood Avenue towards Valley), on the wrong side of the small median strip, attempting to take a left into an angled spot facing all of us dining outside.

The beauty of this attempt was that not only was this being witnessed by every diner at Arturo's, it was also being witnessed by one of Maplewood's finest, who promptly pulled up behind the driver while he was attempting to make 10 turns to get into the spot.  After 30 minutes, the ticket had been written and the young man with NY plates had to endure the embarrassment of being watched by all of us.  The police officer looked at all of us, laughing, and throwing his hands up in the air.  He said, "I was too kind.  I could have given him even more tickets!"

Priceless.

My favorite such local story: I used to live on Pine Street in Millburn, opposite Wyoming Elementary School. During school hours, Pine Street is a one-way street downhill. One morning, in the midst of parents dropping off their kids, one parent decided she didn't want to drive all the way around the block, so she drove uphill against traffic. The cop who was standing in front of the school calmly walked over and stood alongside her car. The woman, not sure what to say, exclaimed, "This is the one time I've ever done this!" The cop smiled and replied, "That's good. I'm only going to give you one ticket."

Small posts like these could easily and cheaply be installed in the sections in question, it could be done without being such an eyesore.  Would completely eliminate the issue (I think).

mtierney said:
just for a frame of reference: 50 years ago, when my kids were growing up, Maplewood Centre (as it was then called) had a police officer walking the beat! The one I particularly recall was a tall, slim, possibly bald, man who became a familiar sight on the avenue. He got to know the kids spilling out of Maplewood Junior High afternoons (as it was then called),  the businessfolks and employees, etc. etc. even helped The blue-haired matrons of the time cross the street — he was a watchful eye.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you for not calling it the Village! It's the centre/center or simply "town" as in "I walked into town to pick up eggs from King's".

Correct. My Personal Code of Conduct regarding illegal, self-absorbed turning-left-into-a-parking-space-on-Maplewood-Avenue is the the greatest code (I call it LPCC). I have no problem with it being “forced” on everyone else. The maneuver I describe is illegal and is already being "forced" on us. Like littering, speeding and pooping in public. 

A lot of people are saying great things about LPCC, believe me. 

bak said:
Small posts like these could easily and cheaply be installed in the sections in question, it could be done without being such an eyesore.  Would completely eliminate the issue (I think).

 How would the pedestrians jay walk if the posts are so close together?   

joan_crystal said:

bak said:
Small posts like these could easily and cheaply be installed in the sections in question, it could be done without being such an eyesore.  Would completely eliminate the issue (I think).

 How would the pedestrians jay walk if the posts are so close together?   

 I’d rather have the rare bad driver than the permanent ugly dividers. 

ligeti said:
Correct. My Personal Code of Conduct regarding illegal, self-absorbed turning-left-into-a-parking-space-on-Maplewood-Avenue is the the greatest code (I call it LPCC). I have no problem with it being “forced” on everyone else. The maneuver I describe is illegal and is already being "forced" on us. Like littering, speeding and pooping in public. 
A lot of people are saying great things about LPCC, believe me. 

 And you even liked your own post. Nicely done.

unicorn33 said:
My favorite such local story: I used to live on Pine Street in Millburn, opposite Wyoming Elementary School. During school hours, Pine Street is a one-way street downhill. One morning, in the midst of parents dropping off their kids, one parent decided she didn't want to drive all the way around the block, so she drove uphill against traffic. The cop who was standing in front of the school calmly walked over and stood alongside her car. The woman, not sure what to say, exclaimed, "This is the one time I've ever done this!" The cop smiled and replied, "That's good. I'm only going to give you one ticket."

 A number of years ago a woman came driving down the wrong way on Inman Place, the one-way street in front of Village Trattoria. She came to a stop at Maplewood Avenue, interrupting a conversation between two gentlemen standing on opposite sides of the street. It was not her day, to say the least.

The two gentlemen were the Chief of Police and the Municipal Judge.

bak said:
Small posts like these could easily and cheaply be installed in the sections in question, it could be done without being such an eyesore.  Would completely eliminate the issue (I think).

No.  

Looking uphill along Maplewood Ave, it would look like the gates on a slalom course.

here's the solution:

Formerlyjerseyjack said:

Tom_R said:
J
Me: Quite. Most people making the illegal left turn take ten to twelve reverses to park, and I've seen traffic backed up to Durand; you did it with only eight and only backed traffic to the St. James.

TomR

 I bet I could do it in two reverses. I have a sedan (though pretty long). The trick is to pull 1 1/2 spaces beyond the space you want to left turn, into. Pull to the right curb in front of Bagel Ch., then hard, left on the wheel. 
--- Damn. I wouldn't be surprised if I could do it in one swing.



Now ya got me thinkin' .....

 In my Mini Cooper, I could do it with zero reverses, if I was so inclined, which I'm not.  

bella said:

mtierney said:
just for a frame of reference: 50 years ago, when my kids were growing up, Maplewood Centre (as it was then called) had a police officer walking the beat! The one I particularly recall was a tall, slim, possibly bald, man who became a familiar sight on the avenue. He got to know the kids spilling out of Maplewood Junior High afternoons (as it was then called),  the businessfolks and employees, etc. etc. even helped The blue-haired matrons of the time cross the street — he was a watchful eye.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you for not calling it the Village! It's the centre/center or simply "town" as in "I walked into town to pick up eggs from King's".

You are very welcome! Only place around here referred to as the Village back in the day was the Village of South Orange. I think it was a real estate marketing ploy.

galileo said:
His name was Don (somehow related to the Town Hall Deli people) and my sons still remember him .He lived on Inwood Place so was close to his beat.

 Thanks for the info. He was a friend to scores of kids.

ligeti said:
Downtown Maplewood Ave. Entitled dude thinks he’s going to turn LEFT into a parking space (directly next to a ‘NO LEFT TURN’ sign). He has his stupid blinkers on. I’m coming from the opposite direction and cheerily turn right into the parking space he assumed was his.  


Perpetrator: “HEY! That’s my space! I was here before you! I had my blinkers on!” 



Ligeti: “So you didn’t see the TWO NO LEFT TURN signs you just passed by? That’s poor attention skills. They’re very specific. You cannot turn left into these parking spaces.” 


Perpetrator: “Where are the signs? So what! You’re really OK with taking a space I was waiting for? Really?”


Ligeti: “Yup! All good!” I gave him a Ligeti thumbs up. 


Yuppie roared away in his silly, oversized SUV, shrieking with rage. I’m pretty sure he muttered hurtful adjectives at me, but as usual, Ligeti is immune to verbal or physical assaults of any kind. Comments?

 I did exactly what you did once, on Sloan St in SO.  The driver on the other side of the street with her left blinker on was holding up traffic all the way back to the circle.  I took the spot she was waiting for.  She yelled at me saying it was her space (summer time and both cars had windows open).  I told her it was illegal to make that left turn and pointed out the signage.  She said something to the effect that I would get bad Karma from doing that.  I chose not to continue the discussion and walked away.  As I was getting out of my car, I noticed that there was a police car 5 or 6 cars behind me.  I actually saved her a ticket.  

mtierney said:

bella said:

mtierney said:
just for a frame of reference: 50 years ago, when my kids were growing up, Maplewood Centre (as it was then called) had a police officer walking the beat! The one I particularly recall was a tall, slim, possibly bald, man who became a familiar sight on the avenue. He got to know the kids spilling out of Maplewood Junior High afternoons (as it was then called),  the businessfolks and employees, etc. etc. even helped The blue-haired matrons of the time cross the street — he was a watchful eye.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you for not calling it the Village! It's the centre/center or simply "town" as in "I walked into town to pick up eggs from King's".

You are very welcome! Only place around here referred to as the Village back in the day was the Village of South Orange. I think it was a real estate marketing ploy.

galileo said:
His name was Don (somehow related to the Town Hall Deli people) and my sons still remember him .He lived on Inwood Place so was close to his beat.

 Thanks for the info. He was a friend to scores of kids.

 It was a marketing ploy that continues to irk me (that, and "Maplewood rooms".  Oh, and real estate agents who can't seem to keep their architectural styles straight).  

I don't feel like I'm *that* old, but I realize that I've been posting on MOL for about 20 years, so I guess that makes me old. That,and I've turned into the type of person who really hates people who turn left into the spots, laments that people call the center 'the village', and wants to tell kids to keep off my lawn.

maybe, but it's hard to fault people for the using terminology when the local business organization is called the Maplewood Village Alliance.

And I've been living in Maplewood since 1995, and I don't ever recall anyone referring to it as "Maplewood Centre."

bak said:
Small posts like these could easily and cheaply be installed in the sections in question, it could be done without being such an eyesore.  Would completely eliminate the issue (I think).

 The way most people drive, 50% of those skinny little plastic posts would be broken in a week.

I think the real estate ploy was already underway in 1995 — you are a newbie yet!  

Maplewood used to be called "Land of the Lenape" until all these newbies moved in.

steel said:
Maplewood used to be called "Land of the Lenape" until all these newbies moved in.

I've been seriously told that I'm still a newcomer to Maplewood by old timers.  I've lived here nearly a quarter of a century, and longer than I've lived any place in my life.  Raised two kids to adulthood here.  It's strange how some people truly don't believe anyone who arrived here after them is a "real" Maplewoodian.