Driving in and around Omaha

[Brad]

When I am downtown taking photos near a road, I smell it all the time.

[GenX]

I dont know what the deal is. But I'd really prefer not to smell weed every time I leave the house. Like EVERY TIME. I wouldn't care so much if that's what you wanna do on your property, you do you. It's the total lack of regard, to not only, obviously be high while driving, but also give so little |expletive|, to smoke an intoxicating substance in traffic, and have not a care if anybody else notices or if you get caught. It's like if somebody sitting next to you at a light chugs a beer, sees you noticed, winks, throws the can in your car, drives of, cuts you off, and flips you off. Just a total lack of regard and respect. And the fact I smell it at nearly every group of vehicles I'm in, tells me that's just where this city/country is going. Just a bunch of high people that could not give one iota of |expletive| about anybody but themselves.

Not defending it, or the use of it while driving by any means, but with the farm bill, there are now tons of federally legal hemp-derived products available now that smell like traditional weed, but aren’t. It’s probably weed, but there’s a chance it’s not. Smell alone is no longer probable cause.

[Busguy2010]

I dont care if it's real weed or not, smoking or vaping. The stuff stinks, it impairs driving, and the low lifes that do it on the road need to be removed from it.

[Busguy2010]

The way they drive so crazy, I wouldnt at all be surprised if they're on harder drugs too.

[Busguy2010]

That motorcycle gang that meets at Casey's at 77th & Dodge is SO ANNOYING. Anybody else? I'm like a mile away and I can clearly hear them reving their engines inside with the windows closed. Why do they think they're cool?

[Busguy2010]

Just crazy how since this topic got revived, I've had so many stupid instances. Tonight's, while I get it, there might be some intoxicated thotties out there enjoying their Saturday night. But this was just

Going southbound on Rose Blumpkin, and the light that let's out of NFM's parking lot is red, one car in front of me. Light turns green as I'm a good probably almost football field away. Car doesn't go until I'm up to their bumper. Didn't honk, not in the mood. We both turn right on 72nd, they turn into the right lane, I turn into the left lane, as I'm talking a left at Pacific. Just as I'm starting to get into the right side left hand turn lane, the aforementioned car darts from the third lane, allllll the way into the left turn lane, cutting me off as they crossed over the solid line. Trusting that so.ething else stupid is going to happen, I prayed that they would get going, as I'm now at the tail end of a line at a light I'm familiar with how long it lasts. Light turns green, the three or four cars in front of them get going, and this person doesn't go! They instead merge to the right out of the left turn lane, wait for through traffic to pass, then continue on into the straight lane. Now I'm mad, and I never blare my horn at anybody, but this idiot deserved it. Caused me into a really close, probably should have stopped yellow light, but I wasn't gonna miss the light and sit there another 2-3 minutes because of that dunce. Closest I think I've ever felt to road rage.

[jag42]

It is now the time of year we'll get lectured to "watch out for motorcycles". Even though there's a ton of then on the interstate driving 20+ mph over the speed limit, weaving in and out between lanes, popping wheelies, etc.

[Busguy2010]

It is now the time of year we'll get lectured to "watch out for motorcycles". Even though there's a ton of then on the interstate driving 20+ mph over the speed limit, weaving in and out between lanes, popping wheelies, etc.

Exactly. That crotch rocket gang that hangs out at Casey's on 77th & Dodge does all their antics every day when its nice out. You can find them racing on Dodge between there and on east. I think they just want to be obnoxious. And that goes for at least good percentage of motorcyclists. It could be a generalization on my part, but the bad apples give the whole lot a bad name.

I think that whole "look twice save a life" campaign dates back to when motorcyclists were just driving. That's totally fair, but they ain't just driving anymore. They're showboating. And nobody likes them but themselves. They don't see it.

[Busguy2010]

That motorcycle gang is out of control. I went to the Burger King at 76th & Dodge KNOWING they were gonna be there. In the main drive to get to BK, some idiot was doing a freakin wheelie directly toward me, and his bike was so dumb loud I had to pause multiple times while making my order, and I just told the lady I'll make the order at the window. Me and her shared a couple disdainful remarks about them. Probably 50-100 of them, also making reckless moves on Dodge. I was just about to call the police on them, and literally right when I pulled my phone out, I saw one of them get pulled over, by, ironically, a motorcycle cop

I think they got spooked, cause I saw a bunch, not all, scramble away when they saw the one get pulled over. This gang is some bull |expletive|. It makes you want to avoid the whole area altogether. I hope we can get this thing figured out. Can't be anything good going on in this group.

[Busguy2010]

So last night I finally had the opportunity and the want to go downtown to check out the Mutual tower. (By the way, the pictures don't do it justice as to its presence, you really do have to be there).

Anyhow, I don't leave my small live, work, play zone very often. Now, I have to say, I smell weed out on the road every day. I'm exhausted of it. Now I had false hope, that, since i was going to a totally different area than I am 90% of the time, that it would be different. Don't know what i was hoping for

Smelled it a bunch of times. Just out minding my own business. Probably getting a degree of second hand high. At one point in my travels, I smelled an actual skunk... A damn skunk. And I felt relieved that it wasn't weed for once, to the point I actually thought the skunk smelled somewhat pleasant. I'm so sick of smelling that stuff EVERYWHERE you go. I don't have a problem with the stuff itself, it's just due to these people that don't give one cr@p, that I, and everybody else, including children, are forced to involuntarily inhale that foul odor. *Sigh*

Also, I was on the North freeway. So the speed limit is 60 there, and i was behind someone going maybe 55? So I went to go pass them and they sped up, to the point I had to speed up to pass them. What's the psychology behind this? Do they genuinely realize they're going slow, and the action of getting passed causes them to pull their pants up? Or do they get offended that you dare pass them? I don't get it, but this happens often enough that I'm a little wary when I get on the interstate. Regardless if there's intent or not, it makes the road more dangerous for everybody.

[InTheRoom]

Also, I was on the North freeway. So the speed limit is 60 there, and i was behind someone going maybe 55? So I went to go pass them and they sped up, to the point I had to speed up to pass them. What's the psychology behind this? Do they genuinely realize they're going slow, and the action of getting passed causes them to pull their pants up? Or do they get offended that you dare pass them? I don't get it, but this happens often enough that I'm a little wary when I get on the interstate. Regardless if there's intent or not, it makes the road more dangerous for everybody.

That drives me insane. If I'm on the interstate, I almost always put on cruise control, so if I come up behind someone that's going significantly slower, I'll get over to pass them and a decent amount of time they then speed up to the point where I can no longer pass them at a safe speed. I think it's exactly what you said... the sudden realization they're driving slowly, and then overcorrection which inadvertently prevents safe passing. But then if you get back behind them, they'll inevitably slow back down and the whole process repeats itself.

Tangential note... I've seen more examples of bad or unsafe driving in Omaha in the last month than I have in years. People crossing 4 lanes of traffic and cutting people off trying to take an exit they missed, insane tailgating, people constantly drifting into other lanes, screeching tires after slamming on the brakes because they weren't paying attention... I'm starting to think it's not a bad idea to force people to take a driving test every time they renew their license.

[GenX]

So last night I finally had the opportunity and the want to go downtown to check out the Mutual tower. (By the way, the pictures don't do it justice as to its presence, you really do have to be there).

Anyhow, I don't leave my small live, work, play zone very often. Now, I have to say, I smell weed out on the road every day. I'm exhausted of it. Now I had false hope, that, since i was going to a totally different area than I am 90% of the time, that it would be different. Don't know what i was hoping for

Smelled it a bunch of times. Just out minding my own business. Probably getting a degree of second hand high. At one point in my travels, I smelled an actual skunk... A damn skunk. And I felt relieved that it wasn't weed for once, to the point I actually thought the skunk smelled somewhat pleasant. I'm so sick of smelling that stuff EVERYWHERE you go. I don't have a problem with the stuff itself, it's just due to these people that don't give one cr@p, that I, and everybody else, including children, are forced to involuntarily inhale that foul odor. *Sigh*

The world if full of unpleasant odors, including BO, cigarettes, and of course, |expletive|. Not much we can do about it.

Sure that skunk you smelled wasn’t weed? There are some strains that smell just like it.

[Busguy2010]

Yeah, the skunk wasn't weed. I been there, done that. It was almost refreshing to smell an actual skunk for once.

I mean really, there's no defense for its use in public. Sure, some people's afflictions are aided by the plant, but that doesn't mean it has to be inhaled on the go. Most drugs need to be taken 3 times a day tops for their effect. Anything more than that is exhausting. Yet we have people sipping on vape pens like it's more important than drinking water.

I guarantee nothing about smoking weed in 7am traffic is helping anybody. I used to imbibe myself, before it became super prevalent. I just want people to have an ounce of respect. Let's not do it while sitting at a red light, or driving on the freeway, or two seconds before walking into an establishment. We used to be afraid of getting caught, now nobody gives a single sh!t.

[Busguy2010]

I think people think they're stealthy nowadays, but even with the vape pens, that sh1t reeks. And I have a similar disdain for tobacco smoke. People need to realize that sure, "everybody's done it", but not everybody wants to do it, with you. I quit because I started feeling adverse affects from it. I suppose that's why I get so po'd when I smell it out in public. I vowed to never get high again, and due to people's lax use of it in public, it's like I'm getting micro-dosed against my will every day. Idk how people do it all day every day. We always waited until school was out or we were off work for the day. You know, for recreation. Now people use it like their life depends on it. I did wake and bake a few times, and I felt like such a loser. Couldn't do anything productive the rest of the day. Now I'm coming to realize there's a good portion of society that does it ALL the time.

I hate it because a) I don't want to smell it, b) cannabis smoke is NO LESS harmful than tobacco smoke, no matter how much they've tried to prove against it c) I don't want to live in a world where everybody is high every waking moment of their lives d) it's just plain a public safety issue to be driving while clearly smoking weed. I mean, I don't know what argument there is to be had here, it's indefensible.

[ThreeGGG]

It seems to be getting worse. Driving in Omaha is just downright scary to me. I consider myself a concius driver, an experienced driver, and definitely aware of my surroundings. I try to be a courteous driver too. And that is where today's problem lies. Bumper to bumper traffic on Dodge street last night for miles. Everyone is in the same boat, we all just want to get where we are going, whether it is home, work, family function, or anything else. So my driving skills tell me when it is bumper to bumper like that, to leave a little space between your automobile and the one in front of you. So you can expect the unexpected. That just seems correct to me, but not to everyone else. To a lot of drivers that just meant that they had room to cut in. It literally happened too many times to count. What should take me 20-25 minutes when conditions are good, last night took me 1 hour and 10 minutes. I don't get angry, and nowhere near road rage. But at the same time I feel like it is just a matter of time before someone collides with me. I have a 47 year clean driving record. I don't want to go through the hassles of a car collision. Insurance, driving records, car repairs or replacement, injuries, none of it. All of us consider our time to be valuable to us, isn't it better to be safe and efficient as a driver. I have said this before, it really is a matter of LIFE and DEATH. It isn't just the message to slow down. The message is follow the rules of the road. You are not the only person on the road. We have far too many accidents on our roadways, every single one of them could be avoidable. YES, every single one!

[Louie]

An hour and ten minutes? How is that possible? Even Bennington to Bellevue in bad traffic takes less time.

[buildomaha]

An hour and ten minutes? How is that possible? Even Bennington to Bellevue in bad traffic takes less time.

Over an hour seems a bit dramatic, but I will confirm that traffic times have been insane lately. Rush hour makes my typical 30 minute drive to downtown take around 50 minutes. This is regardless of which route I take.

There really are zero viable alternatives to driving, as our public transit is nearly nonexistent.

[skip]

it'll take an a surge of traffic deaths and traffic time before the city starts prioritizing public transit unfortunately

[ThreeGGG]

It took me 1 hour and ten minutes to get from Aksarben Village to Millard West high school. There is no reason for me to lie, or exaggerate my story. Traffic was absolutely horrendous. 4:50pm to 6:00pm.

[ThreeGGG]

There are several ways I can go with all of the road construction. And I know that time of day is the worst, but I don't have any control over that. I know that Dodge is busy at that time of day, but it usually moves along better than Pacific or Center. Both Pacific and Center are a nightmare at that time. It seems like you go 100-200 yards and stop for several minutes, over and over and over and over.

[Brad]

It took me 1 hour and ten minutes to get from Aksarben Village to Millard West high school. There is no reason for me to lie, or exaggerate my story. Traffic was absolutely horrendous. 4:50pm to 6:00pm.

If I was going from Aksarben to Millard west at Rush Hour, I would take Center to 96th, 96th to Harrison, Harrison to 180th and 180th north to MW.

I'm not sure what Harrison is like 126th-180th, but the Aksaben to 126th the way i described isn't bad, I do that drive once a week.

84th street is all messed up right now because 72nd Street is closed over the UPRR. L Street, Center, and Pacific are all screwed up right now because of the construction on 180 and everyone is taking westbound city streets to avoid I80.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Sounds like Omaha is becoming a city where it helps to consult Google Maps before going somewhere during high traffic periods.

[ThreeGGG]

It took me 1 hour and ten minutes to get from Aksarben Village to Millard West high school. There is no reason for me to lie, or exaggerate my story. Traffic was absolutely horrendous. 4:50pm to 6:00pm.

If I was going from Aksarben to Millard west at Rush Hour, I would take Center to 96th, 96th to Harrison, Harrison to 180th and 180th north to MW.

I'm not sure what Harrison is like 126th-180th, but the Aksaben to 126th the way i described isn't bad, I do that drive once a week.

84th street is all messed up right now because 72nd Street is closed over the UPRR. L Street, Center, and Pacific are all screwed up right now because of the construction on 180 and everyone is taking westbound city streets to avoid I80.

I usually go Dodge to 132nd to Millard to Q Street to 180th. That usually works well for me, but it sure didn't the other day. Unfortunately until I-80 and the construction around the area are finished,....it is just going to be bad.

[skinzfan23]

Sounds like Omaha is becoming a city where it helps to consult Google Maps before going somewhere during high traffic periods.

I only work in the office one day a week, but I do this every single time driving from Bellevue to Aksarben. It’s actually pretty accurate and it can tell you if there’s accidents which they’re usually are on Highway 75.

[ThreeGGG]

The amount of traffic accidents in Omaha on a daily basis still amazes me. 99.9% of these are avoidable accidents. Collision shops must be making a fortune.

[ricko]

Re: Red light camera debate.
The upside of having them——it would probably raise a few billion dollars in revenue.

[Louie]

Re: Red light camera debate.
The upside of having them——it would probably raise a few billion dollars in revenue.

Nationwide? Or is this a Nebraska figure?

[Elkhorn_Urbanist]

It took me 1 hour and ten minutes to get from Aksarben Village to Millard West high school. There is no reason for me to lie, or exaggerate my story. Traffic was absolutely horrendous. 4:50pm to 6:00pm.

Can confirm. The wife and I took a trip to KC this weekend and left on Friday around 4:30. Between accidents on dodge and I-80 diverting traffic, construction at the 72nd interchange, horrendous traffic in the midtown area, it took us an entire hour to get from where we live in Elkhorn to get through town on to I-29. Traffic really does seem to be getting worse. But it does seem that it is equal parts bad driving and never ending road work.

[ricko]

Re: Red light camera debate.
The upside of having them——it would probably raise a few billion dollars in revenue.

Nationwide? Or is this a Nebraska figure?

Just in Omaha!

[ThreeGGG]

It seems to me like running red lights in Omaha is legal. Almost encouraged actually.

[nebport5]

It seems to me like running red lights in Omaha is legal. Almost encouraged actually.

It’s troubling how many people treat red lights like stop signs…you know maybe slow down(without coming to a complete stop), maybe yield to cross traffic, then floor-boarding it through the intersection.

[Busguy2010]

What really grinds my gears, is literally every day, and every time I'm sitting at 76th & Dodge, someone will go northbound on 76th from the westbound left turn lane.

Its a hazard for everybody, literally every cycle. Some people do it on purpose, some by accident, some just aren't paying attention. I've even had someone first in line in the turn lane NOT GO for the whole green light, in rush hour traffic, because i guess they realized they actually wanted to go straight. Then they waited for the straight lane traffic clear, and continue straight, even though their turn lane arrow was red. That screwed everyone behind them, including me.

I just don't get why this happens literally every cycle at this intersection

[mgoett]

It is a crappy intersection. Getting out of Lowes parking lot and dealing with the chicken traffic is ridiculous.

[Brad]

It is a crappy intersection. Getting out of Lowes parking lot and dealing with the chicken traffic is ridiculous.

Getting in to Lowes I use the driveway between Olive Garden and Veridian. Getting out I use Farman street. Basically no traffic on either way.

[joleo]

I grew up in Omaha and now live in Des Moines. I used to be really opposed to speed and red light cameras but living here in Des Moines, I see how they completely change driver behavior and make it safer. The speed cameras on the interstate here that I drive under every day are the biggest ones. There used to be backups and accidents all the time, they installed the cameras and traffic speeds decreased and speeding is non-existent in that area going eastbound and no more accidents or very few. They turned them off for awhile and traffic speeds went right back up and here came the accidents again. They have been back on for a few years and speeding is gone again and rarely an accident going eastbound 235. They need a traffic camera westbound too because the interstate moves 10-15 mph faster westbound and an accident at least once a week it seems like.

They really help to change behavior. The mobile speed cameras are the best ones. Omaha should have 10-20 of them with a city of it's size and move them around every day, watch how driver behavior changes fast!

Also speed limits on the city streets are too high in omaha, most of des moines is 35 on all of the arterial 4-lane divided roads with a few being 40. Once you get into the city, everything is 30 or 35 max. This makes it much safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. Also, when I go back to Omaha, I rarely see people pulled over which is a big part of the issue too. Here in Des Moines I see somebody is pulled over every day for something. I got pulled over a month ago for going 46 in a 35 down a hill on a 4-lane divided road in Urbandale. I got a warning luckily.

[Busguy2010]

It is a crappy intersection. Getting out of Lowes parking lot and dealing with the chicken traffic is ridiculous.

Getting in to Lowes I use the driveway between Olive Garden and Veridian. Getting out I use Farman street. Basically no traffic on either way.

Preach. I dont touch that exit by the Chick-fil-A. To be fair, its not marked anymore, but its supposed to be two lanes exiting, one left, one right. If they could keep the markings down, itd probably be fine. Always a lot of people turning left onto Rose Blumpkin, blocking whats supposed to be a left lane and right lane. At 5 or 6pm, you be stuck there 5 minutes trying to go north, because all the people turning left to go south, when Farnam street to 72nd is right there. They'd be better off, along with the rest of us.

I really, really hoped when they were re-doing that intersection, they'd just extend the turn lanes and median to just prevent people turning left out of that parking lot. I think they should have, because the left turn lanes to westbound Dodge are often inaccessible because the straight northbound traffic is backed up beyond the entry point. And the straight lane is always terribly backed up, you're lucky to get through the light on any given cycle in either direction.

The worst I ever saw it was the southbound straight lane backed up pretty much to the Kwik shop entrance. I said, well, "oopsie", as I was taking a left at Dodge. I know it wasn't proper, but I drove in that turn lane past probably 30 - 40 other cars sat in the straight lane. Ain't nobody got time for that.

One other nuance of that intersection is if you're southbound trying to take a left onto Dodge, the double yellow lines extend past that first entrance by Verizon/BK, yet often people going northbound will use that middle lane to access that parking lot. That screws anybody trying to go east on Dodge, and it also screws all the people going northbound. I get the northbound people wanting to access that parking lot not wanting to block the other northbound people, but there's also a lot of people trying to go east on Dodge. Two sides to a card. There's a reason why the lines are solid there. The city didn't want people to turn left into that parking lot access point, yet they always do it.

I can't tell you the frustration this intersection has caused me all throughout my life lol. I just get pised off thinking about it.

[Busguy2010]

Lolz.

I went downtown to check out the MofO building and just drive on Farnam to see the streetcar progress.

Them dam pesky motorcycle groups were stuck behind me and other traffic, and I tell ya what, I used that construction zone around Midtown Crossing to the fullest. I paced em to make sure I'd make the light and they wouldn't. I didn't wanna hear that cr@p. It worked

[Busguy2010]

Last night around 10:45, I stumbled upon what appeared to be a pretty serious crash at 97th & Maple. Probably almost 5 fire trucks, maybe even more squad cars, and a couple ambulances. It seemed like it happened not long before I was there as people were still deploying and I smelled a thick smell of burning oil. So, I thought itd be news worthy, but I can find nothing.

But in my search, I see this seems to be a problem intersection, as multiple stories of accidents here. Its kinda perplexing because its just a 3 way intersection out of a neighborhood.

If anybody hears anything, please share, because had I not (frustratingly) got stuck for full cycles at a bunch of red lights, I very well could have been involved. In hindsight, those red lights were probably a blessing.

[nebport5]

Last night around 10:45, I stumbled upon what appeared to be a pretty serious crash at 97th & Maple. Probably almost 5 fire trucks, maybe even more squad cars, and a couple ambulances. It seemed like it happened not long before I was there as people were still deploying and I smelled a thick smell of burning oil. So, I thought itd be news worthy, but I can find nothing.

But in my search, I see this seems to be a problem intersection, as multiple stories of accidents here. Its kinda perplexing because its just a 3 way intersection out of a neighborhood.

If anybody hears anything, please share, because had I not (frustratingly) got stuck for full cycles at a bunch of red lights, I very well could have been involved. In hindsight, those red lights were probably a blessing.

Omaha Scanner:

House Fire: 96th Drive and Maple Street
Caller says there is a house on fire.
OFD: E42 E53 E43 T53 R60 B5 B5 M25
TAC: 4
Time Out: 22:27
Fire on arrival. Working fire declared.
OFD: LA30 S1 FIU FC2
Time Out: 22:31
Propane tanks and live wires are hazards. Fire under control at 22:54.

[Busguy2010]

Well that solves that. So not a crash, I couldn't really see. I just assumed accident since they had all of Maple down to one lane. That makes sense though, thanks!