Don’t Block the &*$^#@ Box

I’m not sure how I’ve survived this long without writing a post about “blocking the box.” This blog is, after all, about venting on what dummy drivers do.

I get so furious when this happens.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here is what it means to “block the box”:

When a driver enters an intersection and is unable to travel all the way through during the green light, thus preventing cross traffic movement when their light turns green, and endangering other travelers by blocking crosswalks and bike lanes. Blocking the box is rude, illegal in many places and causes gridlock.

This video does a great job of illustrating “Blocking the Box”:

Everyone is trying to make it through the light. I get it. But sitting in the middle of an intersection after your light has turned red thus preventing me and everyone else from going on our green light, is the HEIGHT of selfishness. It is so intensely rude.

I get that it is tempting particularly when you are in a hurry or you are at an intersection that is notoriously bad.

BUT DON’T FREAKING DO IT! RESIST THE URGE!

Many cities, thank goodness, have enacted laws. Sadly, it seems to rarely be enforced.

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Hartford, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Antonio, Seattle, Tampa, Washington, D.C., and on and on and on all have laws on the books.

Blocking the box: All-star edition, only needs a city bus pic.twitter.com/Q4Jxm874JV

— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) May 29, 2018

Lookie what I caught on camera this AM on the way to work. Another @CapMetroATX bus blocking the box. This was 8:34am at 5th/Lavaca. It was bus 2025. Cc: @Austin_Police, @KXAN_News, @KVUE, @bwear, @fox7austin. #atxtraffic pic.twitter.com/9mcj3pwr1N

— Regan Ellmer (@rellmer) June 8, 2018