Rant: 16th Ave SW & Holden 7/11 parking lot.

[EarthMama]

Has this happened to anyone else?

Your pulling out of a parking spot at the 16th & Holden 7/11, and some impatient, foolish driver enters the lot from southbound 16th without slowing down, because they have no intention of parking.

They zoom straight through over to the Holden exit and turn left- that way they make the green light going east on Holden.

Follow me? Instead of waiting at the light on southbound 16th to turn left onto Holden, drivers are cheating by boaring through the 7/11 lot to avoid having to wait for a clear left turn at the light, like everyone else.

Like everyone else- I get it, this is a busy intersection. We all know the significance of this intersection for drivers getting in and out of West Seattle, and it’s a bigger mess when you throw in Orchard merging into Southbound 16th a mere block ahead of this intersection.

Twice now, I’ve been backing my car out, all clear around me, been 50% out of my spot and then having to brake hard because a car is suddenly coming up on me- as I said before, never even pausing. The driver(s) never stops, proceeding to the Holden exit, then zoom, on its way east through a green light. I’ve seen this happen three other times as well as I’ve passed by going northbound on 16th.

This just sucks, and is more dangerous than drivers who wait until the last minute to merge, don’t signal their turns, etc. This is a busy lot to begin with, people walking to and from their cars, kids,etc,ack!!!

I’m sorry for the long rant- I just don’t want to see anyone hurt, and this is truly an accident waiting to happen.

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[miws]

That behavior is one of my long time peeves.

Not only is it dangerous, especially because they are often driving aggressively through the lot, since they are so important and in such a hurry to begin with, but it’s illegal as well.

I think if I were the property owner, and an incident happened because of one of these short-cutters, I’d be suing them beyond what the victim of the collision did, because they are technically trespassing, if they are occupying the property without the intent of patronizing any busines(ses) on it, and as property owner would be open to being sued by the victim of the idiot’s actions.

Mike

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[cs in hp]

HPAC has asked SDOT to look into a left turn signal to help traffic flow better here and help with safety, we will pass this anecdote on too, thanks for sharing it-

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[EarthMama]

Gotcha, Mike- this happens very frequently all over the place- but the times I’ve seen it have been at larger intersections and in larger lots. Including the one time I did it.

I learned this rule early in my late 20’s when I cut through a large shopping plaza lot- I’m talking huge, with a cinema, K-Mart, cleaners, etc. I wanted to make a right turn, traffic was backed up in the right lane to just before the lot’s entrance, at least three establishments before my turn. I exited stage right into the lot, and had to navigate nearly a distance of a block and a half through the plaza before reaching my payoff, the exit perpendicular.

I’ve failed to mention this was early 90’s in Detroit. (8 mile Rd & Gratiot). The only establishments still in business even at that time were a shell of a K-Mart running a flea market on weekends, the dry cleaner, and maybe one other place. Huge lot- few cars. But no excuse for it according to the office when he pulled me over, one block after my “nifty trick”(I’d beaten the light though). I learned about this rule the hard way, obviously. Never did it again.

Yet whether drivers know it’s illegal or not makes no difference in this case- it’s a unsafe! Just like you said, Mike, it’s a matter of these drivers feeling more important, privileged, or even “smarter” than the other poor schmucks still sitting in line to turn left. Legally.

I agree with you regarding the property owner; this is a liability for them as well, and they would have every right to sue for trespassing if the conditions were right to catch these offenders, but we’re talking 7/11 here. They run very efficiently with a nominal staff, and I doubt the owners are willing to hire a lot attendant. Nor should they have to.

In my eyes I believe it’s time to plant a squad car and nab a few of these smarties. Put them a bit west of 7/11 on Holden-if a driver is “going for it” it’s going to be really hard to avoid getting caught, because the lot is so small and hard to navigate as a customer already.

Wouldn’t you think a week or two of random observation/stops would be effect? I learned my lesson…

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[EarthMama]

Yay! Thanks HPAC! My 17 y/o just said they could put a couple of speed bumps in the parking lot too… I love my teen driver!

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[trickycoolj]

I’ve seen this happen a ton in the morning on my commute. If they really want to approach the light on the Holden side then they need to come up the hairpin hill.

There’s another frustrating corner people “cut” turning right onto the 1st ave bridge from West Marginal, instead of using the right turn lane and waiting in line they go straight and cut right after the island with the traffic light post. I’ve nearly been hit having to slam on my breaks for people that feel it’s necessary and I’ve seen these scofflaws nearly mowed down by semi trucks. It’s so not worth it!

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[EarthMama]

Right? Rush hour – some people just lose who they are as regular, nice, walking people, and become these warriors on a conquest to get there first, no matter the consequence. They don’t realize that the only prize they get for “being in front” is all in their head. Getting smacked by a semi would be horrible!

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[pug lover]

Then they get onto holden and go burning down the road past my house &kids

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