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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

A few drivers will think it thru

Last Thursday’s column asked about Spokane drivers’ relationships with those “No Thru Traffic” signs you see on the periphery of road resurfacing projects.

And thanks to feedback from Slice readers, I can now categorize motorist behavior in this specific context.

1. I Did It My Way: “This is the street I always take to get through this part of town. It would not be convenient to alter my route. I don’t care about no stinkin’ signs.”

2. Baffled Bob: Has to ignore about a dozen “Road Closed” signs to get from arterial to his home. He’s not sure what else he could do except maybe start commuting by helicopter.

3. Johnny Narrow-Space Commander: Might or might not have legitimate need to access blocked-off neighborhoods. But he does not see the fact that the street is choked with barricades as any reason to slow down.

4. Urban Off-Roader: “Those warnings are for people with sissy cars. Me and my rig live by our own rules, baby. Yeeeee-hah!”

5. The Human Rationalizer: “Hey, if the road is passable enough for people who live in this neighborhood to get in and out, what’s the harm in me cutting through here and shaving a cool 10 seconds off the time it would take me if I had to come up with some detour.”

6. Ms. Miss the Point: “Does ‘No Thru Traffic’ mean you’re not supposed to drive right through that sign? Well who would do that? You might dent your car.”

7. Tom Taxpayer: “Hey, I’m footing the bill for that project so nobody had better try to keep me out of there.”

8. Local Logic: “I don’t pay attention to any other traffic laws, why would I bow down before these socialist signs trying to take away my rights.”

9. Born Follower: “If the road is closed, how come that guy in the truck just went through there?”

10. Thinking Outside the Box: “With the reduced traffic flow, these under-construction streets are really some of the safest around.”

Today’s Slice question: If you were the editor of Spokane Basement Life magazine, what would be your first cover story?

Write The Slice at P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; fax (509) 459-5098; e-mail pault@spokesman.com. The deadline for the wading pool photos is three weeks from today, July 15.