Coming to US for the first time!

By sibot
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+SOOPRcow MVC

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The left lane is the fast lane, and also the passing lane. If you're unsure where you're going or just want to go at a slower pace, stick to the right lane or, when possible, the center lane (as people can pass you on both sides).

I don't live in New York (Philadelphia man myself), so I can't help with hotels and restaurants. However, try to catch a baseball game when you're here - the season's winding down, and the Mets are in a playoff race.

Don't forget this is also the last season for the old Yankee's stadium. :)

Grand Master

Fred Derf Veteran

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We're going to be renting a car and driving from Buffalo to Canada, so I wanted some heads up on the traffic rules there.

If you drive to Canada from Buffalo that that means you will enter the Province of Ontario. Ontario's driving laws are basically the same as New York State (Buffalo). The biggest exception is the Province of Quebec (i.e. Montreal) where you cannot make a right turn on a red light. Montreal is not particularly pedestrian friendly as the drivers tend to resent you crossing the road at random locations (technically it's illegal to j-walk but I've never known anybody to get a ticket here in Toronto).

Toronto has a huge South Asian community. There's Gerrard Street East (close to downtown). There's the East York Town Centre (mid-town) and there's the entire city of Brampton (outside of Toronto). Plus, there's probably more pockets that I don't know about either.

For total gourmet Indian food check out Amaya (mid-town). We are totally addicted here but it is hard to get a reservation to the proper restaurant so we often go to their other Amaya Express (take-out) location.

In most places, you can also do a left turn on red BUT ONLY onto a one-way street...and of course if no signs are posted.

I wouldn't test that around here but then again one-way streets are fairly rare here and I wouldn't want to test my local police officer's knowledge of that law. One-way streets may be more common in other jurisdictions but I personally hate them.

Grand Master

Fred Derf Veteran

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Be careful with lane changing. Some officers consider it wreckless driving and it really ****es some people off. You don't want to be a victim of road rage. Never go 5 over the speed limit and try not to change lanes more than once every couple minutes unless your trip calls for it.

Canadians are more crazy when it comes to lane changes. We don't have any of those road pucky things between the lanes (because the snow plows would just eat them). We also have highways that are 16 or more lanes wide and that practically demands you weave through slower moving traffic. I may change lanes several times every few minutes but at least I signal and I don't tailgate behind slower traffic.

In Ontario, if the highway speed is posted at 100km/h then you can (and probably should) do about 110km/h. Speeds up to 120km/h should be considered safe and the risks really only start to mount when you try to go over 125km/h.

Grand Master

supernova_00

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I wouldn't test that around here but then again one-way streets are fairly rare here and I wouldn't want to test my local police officer's knowledge of that law. One-way streets may be more common in other jurisdictions but I personally hate them.

Very, very true. Most people have never even heard of that...like a lot of cops. I've been pulled over a few times for it and argue the law. After cop came back from calling the supervisor, they'd say "you learn something everyday". But anyways driving is really much the same in both places. Don't run red lights, speed, stay in the right lane (the slow lane), give plenty of signal for turning, pedestrians have the right-a-way (watch for at lights if the light turns green for you...normally the cross walk does also across the lane your turning onto). And most importantly, don't aruge with the cops.

Grand Master

The Rev

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Another very important one is pedestrians have right of way always.

I swear, i could shoot the guy who put THIS into the manual.... Sorry bout getting off topic, but at the same time, its good to know for anyone traveling in the US, that people around here, especially in the big cities, take this phrase to mean, "I can run across a 4 lane highway without looking and people just have to stop for me." They're (often) DEAD wrong.

It's this kind of thing that has gotten a lot of pedestrians killed. Pedestrians DON'T have the right of way if they're jaywalking, that is, crossing the road improperly (not at a crosswalk, stop light, RUNNING (yes, thats right, ur not sposed to run, etc) or performing any other act of irresponsibly. Watch out for jaywalkers, cuz they can make your life a living hell as far as that is concerned. I live in Providence, RI, and even in that small city (250k), people are just crossing the road whenever they damn well please, and its very frustrating and dangerous for them and the drivers.

Sorry for the rant, but like i said, if you're going to be driving in the US, u need to know that this type of behavior runs rampant throughout.

Grand Master

episode

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Don't forget this is also the last season for the old Yankee's stadium. :)

Yankee.

And you won't be able to get tickets unless you're paying at least $100 markup.

I swear, i could shoot the guy who put THIS into the manual.... Sorry bout getting off topic, but at the same time, its good to know for anyone traveling in the US, that people around here, especially in the big cities, take this phrase to mean, "I can run across a 4 lane highway without looking and people just have to stop for me." They're (often) DEAD wrong.

It's this kind of thing that has gotten a lot of pedestrians killed. Pedestrians DON'T have the right of way if they're jaywalking, that is, crossing the road improperly (not at a crosswalk, stop light, RUNNING (yes, thats right, ur not sposed to run, etc) or performing any other act of irresponsibly. Watch out for jaywalkers, cuz they can make your life a living hell as far as that is concerned. I live in Providence, RI, and even in that small city (250k), people are just crossing the road whenever they damn well please, and its very frustrating and dangerous for them and the drivers.

Sorry for the rant, but like i said, if you're going to be driving in the US, u need to know that this type of behavior runs rampant throughout.

Yes, its jaywalking and against the law. But if you hit a pedestrian with your car, its your fault. You don't have to stop unless the person is at a crosswalk, but you can't hit them no matter where they are.

Grand Master

Jason S. Global Moderator

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But definitely visit the Canadian side. No offense to the US, but I find the stuff on this side of the border WORLDS better. That, and the falls themselves are awesome.

i was just on the US side a few weeks ago and i loved it. it was a lot more fun for me. there's so much more nature to explore on that site. and the best part is that we didnt have to deal w/ the border crossing :p

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PermaSt0ne

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The traffic rules have been covered. Another very important one is pedestrians have right of way always.

Have fun!

that is incorrect

pedestrians only have the right of way at cross walks and intersections. everywhere else vehicles have the right of way

Yes, its jaywalking and against the law. But if you hit a pedestrian with your car, its your fault. You don't have to stop unless the person is at a crosswalk, but you can't hit them no matter where they are.

in america f you try to stop or swerve you won't get charged for hitting them with your car if they are crossing illegally

@sibot: just don't expect too much. america isn't THAT spectacular. we have tons of beautiful spots to see and really fun attractions but they are spread out across the entire country. it's not all next to each other like in england or japan. find out what states you will be driving through and look up the state online. everystate has its own, official webpage were they will tell you about the attractions and specialties of the state

Grand Master

The Rev

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Yes, its jaywalking and against the law. But if you hit a pedestrian with your car, its your fault. You don't have to stop unless the person is at a crosswalk, but you can't hit them no matter where they are.

See, i dunno how anyone can just make a blanket statement like that. "if you hit someone its your fault".... i'm not picking on you specifically, but what if someone deliberately runs into your path so they can get hit (like someone trying to kill themself)? i mean, how can the law interpret such an incident as being the driver's fault, when the pedestrian is clearly at fault? thats the most messed up thing about the whole pedestrian thing... if they're breaking the law and get hit, it should be their fault.... in fact, the driver should be allowed to sue THEM for damages. I hope i dont sound bitter, because this has honestly never happened to me, but i've had close calls with a lot of PedestrIDIOTS in my time. :p It's not too fair that us law abiding drivers have to take the heat for irresponsible, inattentive, law-breaking fools walking around as if they own the world and everyone must bend to their will. I tell u what, if i ever hit a jaywalker (by accident, i certainly wouldn't do it on purpose), i will take his/her ass to the cleaners and milk em of every last cent. It just aint right. :p

Grand Master

strekship

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Posted
See, i dunno how anyone can just make a blanket statement like that. "if you hit someone its your fault".... i'm not picking on you specifically, but what if someone deliberately runs into your path so they can get hit (like someone trying to kill themself)? i mean, how can the law interpret such an incident as being the driver's fault, when the pedestrian is clearly at fault? thats the most messed up thing about the whole pedestrian thing... if they're breaking the law and get hit, it should be their fault.... in fact, the driver should be allowed to sue THEM for damages. I hope i dont sound bitter, because this has honestly never happened to me, but i've had close calls with a lot of PedestrIDIOTS in my time. :p It's not too fair that us law abiding drivers have to take the heat for irresponsible, inattentive, law-breaking fools walking around as if they own the world and everyone must bend to their will. I tell u what, if i ever hit a jaywalker (by accident, i certainly wouldn't do it on purpose), i will take his/her ass to the cleaners and milk em of every last cent. It just aint right. :p

I think in that case the law would probably side with the driver.

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