:: W4B photography's companion blog ::

:: Thursday, November 03, 2005 ::

garage traffic jam
life: I am leaving work on time -for me - last night and head over to the north side underground parking garage. I parked in my regular spot near the parking attendant booths, and as I was hitting the remote lock I noticed it was a bit busy. Seems like there is an older couple arguing with the guy in the exit booth. The couple are parked in the wrong exit lane and cars are stacking up in the only open lane as the attendant is trying to interact with them and deal with his customers. There is either a language barrier or a hearing problem because the attendant got out of the booth at least once to explain something.

At 1015pm on a Wednesday there is usually no activity in the garage. Movie theaters have not let out, most if not all businesses have closed, and so on. So I looked about before getting in and tried to determine how many cars were lined up. I debated going to have a beverage and waiting as I counted close to 45 cars lined up single file all the way to the other end of the garage and beginning to snake around back towards me. The line was going so slow, people were putting their cars in park. I figured after 10 mins at the tail end of the line and not really going anywhere, it could be another 25-35 mins before I even got back to where I could see the exit lanes again. It was my Friday. I wanted to go home. And it was not going to happen fast. Could feel a cloud of frustration closing in...

Then, when I was approaching the down ramp to Level 2 from Level 1 where I was, I had an idea and took a gamble. I ducked out of the line, shot down the ramp and zoomed through the empty garage (picture Italian Job style, just not in a Mini) and then back up to the level I had just left. If anyone knows the layout of the Galleria garage, you would know that I just queue hopped over close to 35 cars - and about 1/2 an hour. As I got to the top of the ramp, I now had access to not only the lane everyone else was lined up to pay at, but also the vacant "monthly parking pass only" one which I could use. I was out in the fresh air seconds later in a Stewie like Victory is mine! sort of way.

Moral is: keep your eyes open. Don't let your emotions get the best of you, and know your geography. ;)

Carpe Diem

:: Mike Wood 11:02 [+] :: 0 comments
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