Pan Am traffic - how bad?

[JMrandomstuff]

Hey all,

As I write this, today is Pan Am opening day. I am wondering how bad traffic will be and would appreciate hearing from you Torontonians as it progresses.

My problem - I'm from west of GTA but I meet my favourite friends downtown - mostly near the Eaton Centre and Liberty Village (you might know some of my friends too.) Anyway, I am nervous as hell about getting caught in traffic. Of course that would cut into the time I can spend with my friends, but it adds to my anxiety about getting back home at a predictable time (which is crucial to my being able to relax and enjoy my friends' company.)

As a back-up plan, I'm considering a day room rate at the airport Hilton or something. A bit of a hassle and extra expense, and I actually love going to my friends' condos. I enjoy playing on their home turf as it were. Also, maybe the traffic will be so F*d up that airport traffic will be affected too.

Thoughts?

 

[GameBoy27]

West of GTA is a big area. Pretty hard to offer advice. Could you be a little more specific?

 

[IM469]

West of GTA is a big area. Pretty hard to offer advice. Could you be a little more specific?

This is just one lane and besides the traffic impact downtown businesses are now complaining about lost sales. Hopefully those advocating the removal of the entire Gardiner suggesting there will be little impact of traffic are paying attention.

 

[herbnessman]

I also come from the west end and drove in today at midday outside of peak hours. Normally takes me 35 minutes and today it took a bit over an hour.

So really at noon the driving was like it would normally be at 8am.

So not entirely intolerable.

 

[JMrandomstuff]

Kitchener Waterloo area.

West of GTA is a big area. Pretty hard to offer advice. Could you be a little more specific?

 

[JMrandomstuff]

Nearly double? Yikes. I'm usually 90 minutes at worst, and the bunch up starts at Mississauga. That could turn it into a 2 hour misadventure. Hmmm. My Id does not like this.

I also come from the west end and drove in today at midday outside of peak hours. Normally takes me 35 minutes and today it took a bit over an hour.

So really at noon the driving was like it would normally be at 8am.

So not entirely intolerable.

 

[mammo]

Usually takes me 15 minutes to get from my front door to downtown work (Spadina-King area).
Since the HOV lane took effect, all of us REAL drivers who know how to use a highway are now forced to slum it with the idiots and the tourists in the two remaining lanes.
Travel time has doubled... and we're talking at 6 am! Can't imagine what its like the rest of the morning or around noon.

My advice, see if you can arrange airport appointments - not as bad getting there I would think from where you're coming from

P.s. All you idiots who don't know how to drive on a two lane highway - the left lane is considered the passing lane; the right lane is for idiots, tourists and those too scared to drive above 80. In Europe, if you drove the way most people here do, they'd pull you over, ticket you and make sure you never drive in the passing lane again!

Carry on....

 

[herbnessman]

Nearly double? Yikes. I'm usually 90 minutes at worst, and the bunch up starts at Mississauga. That could turn it into a 2 hour misadventure. Hmmm. My Id does not like this.

That includes a 10 minute detour to find no parking at Port Credit GO. I can't really say where it starts but I was at least going 60 most of the way until etobicoke. Doubt the stretch between Kitchener and Sauga will be much more backed up than usual. Keep in mind I took the QEW the whole way. No idea on the 401 impact.

Heading back now so may have a different story for the return trip.

 

[GameBoy27]

This is just one lane and besides the traffic impact downtown businesses are now complaining about lost sales. Hopefully those advocating the removal of the entire Gardiner suggesting there will be little impact of traffic are paying attention.

No kidding!

Kitchener Waterloo area.

Go Train?

Usually takes me 15 minutes to get from my front door to downtown work (Spadina-King area).
Since the HOV lane took effect, all of us REAL drivers who know how to use a highway are now forced to slum it with the idiots and the tourists in the two remaining lanes.
Travel time has doubled... and we're talking at 6 am! Can't imagine what its like the rest of the morning or around noon.

My advice, see if you can arrange airport appointments - not as bad getting there I would think from where you're coming from

P.s. All you idiots who don't know how to drive on a two lane highway - the right lane is considered the passing lane; the left lane is for idiots, tourists and those too scared to drive above 80. In Europe, if you drove the way most people here do, they'd pull you over, ticket you and make sure you never drive in the passing lane again!

Carry on....

You might want to edit that. Just sayin'.

 

[mammo]

Thanks! Got caught up in my own rant..

 

[thumper18474]

On my way home from work yesterday morning I got nailed for being in the HOV lane and was doing 130kmh
didnt even see the OPP roll up on me and Ithought I knew all their hiding places..LOL
He taps on my window.
Officer..Where you going..
Me(home)
Officer.Where you coming from..
(work)
Officer..Where do you work..
(I tell him)
Officer..Oh shit Ok...NP away you go.
Me..( Cheers)
Officer..did you work that MC call last night..
Me..(yup)
Officer..Fucking Idiot..
Officer..slow the Fuck down and Stay outta the Left lane
Me..(will do)

Sometimes its good to be me..

 

[GameBoy27]

Thanks! Got caught up in my own rant..

I figured as much.

However, typical of people not knowing the rules or how to drive, have you noticed (on three lane highways where the HOV takes up the left lane) everyone crams into the middle lane and the right-hand lane is the faster of the two? People are such idiots in this city, so backwards.

 

[Allejandro2011]

Why Go Transit if you can do Union Pearson Express.

Just park your car somewhere around the airport and save money on hotel.

Plus you can use Uber in downtown core.

 

[ExerciseGuy]

Why not just visit some friends in the Mississauga/airport area for the next two weeks so you can avoid having to come into town in the first place?

 

[terom]

....................all of us REAL drivers who know how to use a highway..................

This guy sounds like a legend in his own mind :rofl:

 

[jcpro]

Don't drive during peak times(yeah I know) and avoid choke points like DVP and 401, 401 and Eglinton, etc. Apps like Waze help, too.

 

[checks]

Hey all,

As I write this, today is Pan Am opening day. I am wondering how bad traffic will be and would appreciate hearing from you Torontonians as it progresses.

My problem - I'm from west of GTA but I meet my favourite friends downtown - mostly near the Eaton Centre and Liberty Village (you might know some of my friends too.) Anyway, I am nervous as hell about getting caught in traffic. Of course that would cut into the time I can spend with my friends, but it adds to my anxiety about getting back home at a predictable time (which is crucial to my being able to relax and enjoy my friends' company.)

As a back-up plan, I'm considering a day room rate at the airport Hilton or something. A bit of a hassle and extra expense, and I actually love going to my friends' condos. I enjoy playing on their home turf as it were. Also, maybe the traffic will be so F*d up that airport traffic will be affected too.

Thoughts?

How about you wait 2 weeks and then the games will be over and it'll be back to business as usual?

 

[Yoga Face]

the gardiner is not HOV friendly


too many exits and traffic weaving in and out of the HOV

you have to weave in from a stopped lane then weave from a fast flowing lane into stopped traffic

sounds like accidents

i hope they have a plan to take HOV down quickly if it does not work


i see no cops out there enforcing the rules

how can the cops pull them over

need cameras to charge plated cars and do not notice any

 

[mammo]

the gardiner is not HOV friendly


too many exits and traffic weaving in and out of the HOV

you have to weave in from a stopped lane then weave from a fast flowing lane into stopped traffic

sounds like accidents

i hope they have a plan to take HOV down quickly if it does not work


i see no cops out there enforcing the rules

how can the cops pull them over

need cameras to charge plated cars and do not notice any

I've been driving the Gardiner since the HOV lanes went into effect and have not seen one police patrol... not one! I see lots of offenders though... I mean, when councillor Rob Ford admits to driving in the HOV lane illegally you know nobody really cares
The enforcement was there on the first couple of days on the DVP and 401.. but now, it's diminished to the point that its non-existent...
Oh, and while we're ranting... answer me this... why are motorcycles allowed to drive in the HOV lanes? At best they can only carry two but for the most part, they are single riders. I thought the idea was to encourage people to carpool ! How is a single rider on a motorcycle any different than a single driver in a car (and don't give me this crap of its more environmentally friendly!)

 

[mammo]

This guy sounds like a legend in his own mind :rofl:

I am, thank you for noticing! :thumb: