THINK YOU might drive into Washington on Jan. 20 to watch President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in ceremony?
A logistics update from the Virginia State Police might make you think again.
It's the latest in what could be described as tough-love warnings about Inauguration Day weather, traffic and the sheer endurance that officials say will be required to make it through the crush of millions.
The following comes from a state police news release dated Dec. 30:
"With record crowds expected for the presidential swearing-in and Inaugural Parade, attendees should be prepared to be outdoors for an extended period of time and give consideration to the following:
Can I stand in severe cold/wet and/or windy weather for an extended period of time, possibly eight hours or longer?
Dressing in layers is highly recommended, especially to protect one's self from hypothermia.
Warm, dry, comfortable shoes are encouraged, especially for walking as many as three to five miles to/from inaugural events. Extra consideration should be given if planning to bring small children, elderly or anyone with a weakened immune system."
That's right--prepare for possible hypothermia.
State police also ask people driving to the inauguration to consider:
"With limited parking in the District, should I take a bus or other alternative means of mass transportation? If traveling by interstate, am I prepared for traffic delays and to wait an extended period of time? [Extra food, water, medications, etc.] Is my vehicle prepared for traffic delays?"
"If driving in inclement weather, do I have emergency items with me?"
Also, inside secure areas, backpacks, duffel bags, large bags, strollers, umbrellas, thermoses and coolers are not allowed.
Details like these seem to throw a wet blanket on many locals' plans to attend inaugural events, and they are worth considering.
Not that they will stop anyone from going.
I'm reminded of the trip my father insisted we take to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, over the objections of my sister and I that we would freeze, that we wouldn't be able to see anything but the balloons--and why didn't we just watch it on television?
We went anyway. We froze, stared at the backs of heads for hours, and we didn't even see many balloons because this was 1997, the year high winds caused the Cat in the Hat to fly into a lamppost on Central Park West, knocking it over and injuring several bystanders.
But after you warm up and forget the crowded subway, the panhandlers, the half-frozen soft pretzel, the desperate search for a restroom, the balloons of near-death and people stepping on your feet, you're left with a family adventure. I still have the picture of my father, sister and I afterward at Rockefeller Center.
Sometimes, over all rational considerations, you just have to go.
Dear Kelly: I was leaving Cosner's Corner at the intersection of U.S. 1 and the Spotsylvania Parkway, turning north onto U.S. 1.
I was in the right turn lane and had a green turn arrow. At the same time, the southbound lanes of U.S. 1 had green lights to turn and go straight. As I attempted to turn right on my green arrow, I was almost hit by a pickup truck making a U-turn. The driver decided I was in the wrong and saluted me with the usual one-finger salute. Later, I was on U.S. 1 at that same intersection and saw that there is no sign indicating no U-turn. Did VDOT forget a sign? Putting a no U-turn sign up by the signal light would work better than putting it low in the median. People don't look at the median. They are staring up at the light. By the way, if an accident had occurred, who would have been at fault?
--Nancy Krause, Spotsylvania
The Virginia Department of Transportation is going to do a field review of this intersection.
U-turns are allowed there now, but the maneuver may be causing a safety problem.
VDOT would not weigh in on who was at fault in your situation.
But speaking generally, traffic making a U-turn must yield to traffic that has a green arrow, said Tina Bundy, VDOT spokeswoman.
Based on the information you provided, it sounds as if you had the right of way.
But I don't think drivers making the U-turn can see that vehicles exiting Cosner's Corner have a green turn arrow. The driver who made the gesture assumed, wrongly, that you were refusing to wait until their car had executed the U-turn. A sign could clear things up, either banning U-turns or reminding U-turning drivers to yield to oncoming traffic, even when their lane has a solid green signal.
Not that the sight distance problem excuses the behavior. I love how drivers who make this gesture take their hand, and usually eyes, off the road to execute it. To show how superior their driving ability is. Nice.
Thanks for being an alert driver, preventing a crash and writing in to help others avoid a crash here.
Kelly Hannon is The Free Lance-Star's transportation reporter.