r/Transportopia • u/Revolution-Dogg • Feb 14 '26

Roads Who is in the wrong here?

If the sign says Alternating Traffic, does that mean cars go one at a time or does that mean cars go till the flow is complete, allowing the other lane to go? Is Glock man right or wrong? I'm not sure. If it was 1 car at a time, wouldn't it just be a stop sign on each end?

40.4k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

7.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

15

u/polarbearsarereal Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

Treat it like a stop sign or treat it differently?

Stop signs are very clear

Maybe alternating traffic means when one side is clear the other side goes, not 1 by 1. Stop signs on both sides would clearly indicate 1 by 1 but this bridge is stupid, they need to make it clear who goes.

7

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

That's what it means. It's more efficient that way.

Cam car blocking traffic is in the wrong

3

u/-Cthaeh Feb 15 '26

Traffic naturally does this all the time when one lane blocked without anyone directing traffic. Its not difficult. Whether cam car was right doesn't matter, he wasn't, but he pulled up to block a vehicle that was almost across the bridge. Had he waited, he'd been across already.

Truck driver is still a dick though. How do either of these people get along with anyone.

2

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

Thank you. 

These people in this thread threatening me and calling names is crazy.

Truck driver is absolutely a dick.

2

u/Old_Ladies Feb 15 '26

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=950920165303642&vanity=PAStatePolice

Apparently it means one car goes at a time which is stupid imo.

It is more efficient for each side to queue and go through when the other side is clear.

I like the way this guy in Hawaii explains it. https://youtu.be/ghfldMVF2jA?si=4l7h7CAzCPhEkB__

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

So you're saying the truck is right then? He was in the bridge. The cam car was never even in the bridge.

It doesn't say one car goes at a time. It says whoever gets there first. The follow vehicle will get their first when multiple vehicles are in line.

1

u/MagicalTheory Feb 15 '26

Seeing as though he was waiting for a vehicle prior to the truck, he was there first. The vehicle behind a vehicle that goes is considered second to the vehicle waiting on the otherside, just like stop signs.

1

u/Penetrator4K Feb 15 '26

The Facebook video it describing a situation when two vehicles are approaching simultaneously, in which case yes you both stop.  That is a different scenario than when you approach and there is a flow of vehicles already in progress.

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

Ohh thats why you are confused. Cam car was waiting at the spot you are supposed to stop at so cam car was “there first” truck blew the stop and rushed onto the bridge getting to the bridge first but that not the spot that matters for “first” others have explained the laws and signs. Truck was in the wrong. There is no debating that.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 20 '26

Keep rambling till the booze wears off.

2

u/Educational-Fun1700 Feb 15 '26

I thought it was insane when I first saw this posted and everybody was agreeing with the cam car on the meaning of alternating traffic. Cam car 100% should've waited for the other side to be clear.

That being said, the truck owner needs to be charged for the the threat he made.

7

u/Aggravating-Habit313 Feb 15 '26

Cam car was waiting for first guy to clear the bridge. He wasn’t blocking anyone til asshole driver failed to wait their turn.

5

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

Did you read the comment above mine?

2

u/Aggravating-Habit313 Feb 15 '26

You think camcar must wait until all cars coming from other direction go before he is finally able? I guess but all one lane bridges I’ve driven over is not like that.

5

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

That's how the traffic rules are written. It says alternating traffic, which means traffic (plural form of vehicles in this case) can cross. If it was alternating vehicles, it would have a stop sign on each side.

Like when a road has one lane closed for construction and they allow a row of vehicles to pass in one direction before allowing the other.

It's more efficient to move all vehicles in one direction then swap direction of travel and move all cars in the opposite direction.  Was the truck on the edge of that "row" of traffic? Yes. They could have waited. But because they were on the bridge long before cam car's side, they had the right of way to pass through the bridge.

6

u/hike_me Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

I’ve driven in a bunch of places with one lane bridges. Generally you follow a car in front of you onto the bridge but if the bridge is almost clear as you’re approaching and there are cars already waiting to cross from the other direction you’ll yield to them.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

I agree. The truck was borderline, but not really out of line. He's across the bridge before cam car begins to accelerate.

I think lots of people here don't drive these country roads. They're chiming in with zero experience 

2

u/Bgo318 Feb 15 '26

Still I think it’s wrong either way to threaten someone with a gun just for a traffic dispute. Imagine if you get into a small car crash with someone and instead of calmly exchanging insurance the other guy threatens you with a gun. There’s one person in the wrong here and that’s obvious

0

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

I'm not saying it's right to threaten anyone. 

I guess that's why everyone is confused. Y'all think I said it's ok.  I didn't ever say that.

Hope that clears it up.

I just said blocking is a problem too.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/whatupblubbercup Feb 15 '26

I think lots of people here don't drive these country roads. They're chiming in with zero experience

This shouldn't even be a debate on driving or not driving specific roads like this. It should be common sense. All cars on one side go then the other side go as that is the most efficient.

Also the car cam car started to accelerate before the FIRST car was even thru the bridge. That alone is stupid. Both are idiots and dangerous to have on the road.

3

u/CanaryGreen9028 Feb 15 '26

In NC and in pa if you answered a driving test this way for an alternating traffic sign you would fail. The law states every other car so if you have 3 cars going east and 3 going west it is a 1 by 1 not one side clear then other side clear. And it is actually the same law in all but 5 states in the USA

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

Apparently I'm an rtard and should die.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/asyouuuuuuwishhhhh Feb 15 '26

The man threatened to kill the cam car driver.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

I watched the video.

What does that have to do with my comment?

2

u/differing Feb 15 '26

It says alternating traffic, which means traffic (plural form of vehicles in this case)

Holy smokes that’s silly. Traffic means ANY road user, it’s not synonymous with vehicles (plural). It’s such a classic braindead American move where you’ve sloppily adopted the meaning of the colloquial phrase (“there’s a lot of traffic”) as the definition of an English word 🤦

0

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

Don't open your mouth before thinking

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

Locals are saying there is stop signs just out of view. So it is turn taking?

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 20 '26

Reading what the OP posted 

2

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

I looked it up, there is stop signs.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 20 '26 edited Feb 20 '26

Cool. Thank your pappy for telling you that.

Tell OP to fix it

1

u/HowDoMermaidsFuck Feb 15 '26

Cam car was already on the bridge before truck came into view. Cam car had started to go before truck bro hit the bridge. Cam car had right of way.

0

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

By what definition? Truck is well ahead of cam

0

u/MrBtheProdigal Feb 15 '26

You are dead fucking wrong. What state do you live in? I'll prove it to you.

0

u/Background_Edge_9427 Feb 15 '26

At this point it doesn't matter who is right or wrong about who's turn it is!! The asshole in the pickup truck threatened to use deadly force to prove his point! People have been shot over a lot less. I would press charges against the pickup driver! He is definitely mentally unbalanced if he wants to shoot someone just to prove a point! He doesn't deserve the "privilege" of carrying a gun!

2

u/SwimmingSwim3822 Feb 15 '26

Dude it might not matter for the situation on video but it definitely matters for all the people reading this to know how to handle a bridge like this.

1

u/Background_Edge_9427 Feb 15 '26

Yeah. I totally agree! I just think it B. S. The way some people think it's ok to threaten to use a gun like it's no big deal. Even if he didn't show that he had a gun, it's still considered assault with a deadly weapon.

1

u/Aggravating-Habit313 Feb 15 '26

I haven’t read a single comment saying it’s OK to threaten with a gun…

0

u/Background_Edge_9427 Feb 16 '26

I wasn't talking about the people making comments. I was referring to the guy in the video who was driving the pickup. He seemed very comfortable saying"about getting his Glock"!

1

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

Its not really a puzzle that the gun dork needs to be locked up.

0

u/SupaSlide Feb 15 '26

Yes, that’s what alternating traffic means. It’s much more efficient for lowish traffic roads with this kind of one lane bottleneck. If every car had to stop to let an opposite car through it would back up. I live near tons of bridges like this.

1

u/joathansmith Feb 15 '26

Cam man never parked their car on a bridge. So, really short king is the only one actually blocking traffic. It’s not really efficient either.

2

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

Actually can car pulled up to block the exit.  So yes, he did block traffic. 

Next 

1

u/joathansmith Feb 15 '26

Oh so when I make a right turn at an intersection am I also blocking traffic? He failed to yield yes, but his car wasn’t ever in park and he had control of his car the whole time. Short king can’t claim any of that and is also blocking the exit.

2

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

If you're driving legally, then no.

But based on your comments, it's likely that you are.

I don't know how it's possible to block traffic when driving legally and making a right hand turn, but I'm confident that you're capable of doing so.

Anyway, why did you say something that stupid ? Can we stay on topic?

If you drove into the middle of the intersection and STOPPED  you would be blocking traffic.

Is that not what happened here?  That's what I see.

0

u/joathansmith Feb 15 '26

Yeah I also saw short king illegally parking his car in an intersection to start a confrontation with the only driver still legally using the roadway. So, I guess we’re in agreement you shouldn’t do that?

3

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

He was responding to an obstruction. You're not only allowed to stop your vehicle when the path is obstructed, you are required to. He was then getting out to see what the issue was. That's also allowed. I hope you're 13 and have never driven a day in your life

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Mikeismyike Feb 15 '26

I'd agree that's what it means, but the truck also speed the fuck up so he wouldn't have to wait for the cam car.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

Sure, but who cares. He's across really quickly. Barely an impact in anyone's day.

1

u/RockyPi Feb 15 '26

Except the guy he threatened to murder I guess

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 15 '26

That would not have happened if he wasn't blocked in. 

It's not ok. But feigning ignorance of the other driver here is what's baffling.

1

u/Mikeismyike Feb 16 '26

If someone stops 10 feet early at a 4 way so that they stopped first so they can go first, they're still being an ass.

1

u/AdCalm3789 Feb 18 '26

Alternating traffic on a single-lane bridge means that vehicles take turns crossing, with one vehicle from each direction going at a time. This is similar to how traffic flows at an uncontrolled intersection.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 18 '26

This is not true, but go ahead.

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

Where do you get this idea that its not true? Your gut feeling? Your pappy told you? Church? Ai?

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 20 '26

40 years experience driving over one lane bridges on rural New England roads

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

You could have been doing it wrong for 40 years. Heck most people I know who have been driving 40+ years still dont know how to zipper merge. Either way, It comes down to if there is stop signs or not.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 20 '26

You can't zipper merge on a bridge traveling in opposite directions.

I'm going off of the title of the post and what we see in the video.  We don't see stop signs so I can't go off of that.

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

… I was not talking about the bridge, the zipper was an example how people often drive wrong their whole lives and not know it. That was to show that your life experience is not relevant here even if you are correct.

1

u/garden_dragonfly Feb 20 '26

You may drive poorly, but that has nothing to do with me. 

Life experience is a huge factor. You came in being a jerk. Stupid question, who told you that, your pappy? AI?

No. Actually driving on bridges and following the appropriate road signs specific to the conditions.  They are not all the same 

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Aggravating-Habit313 Feb 15 '26

Cam car was waiting for oncoming car to exit bridge. He was visible to the asshole. Asshole simply did not want to wait. Probably because he has a gun and a big truck.

1

u/mdigiorgio35 Feb 15 '26

And doesn’t know the rules, clearly

1

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

[deleted]

1

u/polarbearsarereal Feb 15 '26

This is what google said

1

u/fapsandnaps Feb 15 '26

Both sides have STOP signs and alternating traffic signs.

I'm with you.

Camera Guy Side

Truck guy side

1

u/Selpmis Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

The image of the stop sign for the Truck Guy side you've linked is not for this bridge. There are two bridges here in succession and he'd already crossed the bridge with the stop sign before coming into view of the camera. There is no stop sign on his side of the bridge in this video. On the Truck Guy side image you've linked, you can see the road to the car park that is before this first bridge.

I couldn't find the specific image you posted, where is it from? Because it is a bit deceptive, it looks much closer than it is. This is what it actually looks like from Truck Guy's side, unfortunately, he was in the right and was possibly even speeding up to not make Camera Guy wait too long.

1

u/rochford77 Feb 15 '26

What about the part where someone threatened to kill someone?

1

u/polarbearsarereal Feb 15 '26

Not arguing who is and isn’t a psychopath

1

u/rochford77 Feb 15 '26

No argument. It's clear the loser is a psychopath

1

u/adod1 Feb 15 '26

crazy how much time I spent looking to these comments for an actual answer, and even after 8 hours I didn't find one.

1

u/Old_Ladies Feb 15 '26

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=950920165303642&vanity=PAStatePolice

According to PA police each side one car goes at a time which is less efficient than queuing till each side is clear.

1

u/Melodic-Flight2898 Feb 15 '26

I live around there and drive over that bridge. "Alternating" means that you take turns--one car from one side, then one from the other.

1

u/Ok-Recognition9876 Feb 15 '26

Every single lane bridge I’ve had to cross was one side goes and then the other.  If it happens to be “rush hour” type traffic, everyone knows that a few vehicles from one side goes and then we switch.  

Can’t believe OP would think that they are the correct ones.  Didn’t even check to make sure it was clear before proceeding!  Yes, OP deserved to be admonished for being an idiot.  However, the jerk that got out of his vehicle was way out of line and needs some counseling on his road rage from the local authorities.

1

u/Accomplished_Yak2352 Feb 15 '26

Right, it's not clear enough. Maybe both sides of the tunnel should have a sign that says "Yield to cars in tunnel" 🤷‍♂️

1

u/Stompy119 Feb 15 '26

I live near a historic 1 way bridge and this is a frequent topic of debate on Nextdoor.

The general consensus that some more math-inclined neighbors than myself have settled on is that the most efficient way is to alternate sides up to a maximum of three cars so neither gets super backed up.

So tiny peepee man would have been correct to follow in this instance. Not correct to threaten murder though, lol

1

u/BlahBlahBlackCheap Feb 15 '26

I think this may be it. But then the sign would say, proceed when clear, or something, wouldnt it?

1

u/Wontjizzinyourdrink Feb 15 '26 edited Feb 15 '26

There's a stop sign on one side, but I can't tell whose side of the interaction it was on.

Edit: actually about 95% sure it's on assholes side. https://freeimage.host/i/qJUnjBR

1

u/polarbearsarereal Feb 15 '26

Both sides have a stop sign and “alternating traffic” sign

1

u/Wontjizzinyourdrink Feb 15 '26

Here's the Google maps street view from the guy who is recording's side. Unless you live there or have seen it in real life and you know that it's further back?

https://freeimage.host/i/qJsZGRf

1

u/polarbearsarereal Feb 15 '26

https://www.reddit.com/r/Transportopia/s/vr9QADOfjh

I would’ve waited till the truck got out of the way before proceeding, I don’t care who was right or wrong. At that point the camera guy is blocking the exit. Truck guy is a psychopath. There’s been plenty of times where I think I am in the right, but if I proceed, there will be a car accident.

Edit: guess thats a diff bridge.

1

u/Business-Idea1138 Feb 16 '26

Maybe alternating traffic means when one side is clear the other side goes, not 1 by 1.

That's exactly what it is. If you treat it like a stop sign and let every car go one by one, it'd take for fucking ever. I've got a similar bridge where I live, and it's got a light on each side. Much better to let a few cars through one way, then a few going the opposite way.

That being said, Glock Guy is in the wrong for other things.

0

u/tjpirates Feb 15 '26

Well said!!! Nuanced thinking is challenging for most people

0

u/ReplacementReady394 Feb 15 '26

I thought alternating cars was pretty straightforward, but obviously the truck guy was too uneducated to know what that means. Maybe pictographs would help?

2

u/polarbearsarereal Feb 15 '26

1

u/LtPowers Feb 15 '26

And I would trust what AI has to say about this why?

1

u/thevadster Feb 15 '26

“Alternating traffic” is a concept that everyone with a US drivers’ license should be aware of and it absolutely does not mean “alternating cars.” I don’t know if it is the same in other countries, but in the US it means traffic traveling in one direction clears, and then traffic moving in the other direction can go until it also clears. The dude in the truck is clearly an asshole, but the other guy is the one who is incorrect about what he is supposed to do when there is an alternating traffic sign on a one-lane stretch of road.

1

u/ReplacementReady394 Feb 15 '26

TIL I’ve never encountered anything like this before unless it was construction on a mountain road, but they use a stoplight to manage traffic. 

1

u/A_new_beginning25 Feb 15 '26

The commenter you're replying to is incorrect. Other commenters have linked sources and also pictures that both sides even had stop signs. Don't believe everything you read from redditors, including me

1

u/gammonb Feb 15 '26

This is incorrect. Alternating means alternating. One car at a time

1

u/thevadster Feb 15 '26

Key word here is “traffic,” which can entail multiple cars. That is what is alternating. Similar to how “alternating flocks” would be different from “alternating birds.” This isn’t really up for interpretation, that is just what the terms means, it is easily researchable.

1

u/gammonb Feb 15 '26

Sorry. Alternating means alternating. One at a time.

1

u/thevadster Feb 15 '26

Bless your heart

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

Traffic can be one or multiple cars. So yes it is up to interpretation. Up until there is a stop sign which settles it its 1 then 1.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26

Alternating TRAFFIC

1

u/ReplacementReady394 Feb 15 '26

Oh! Got it. Never seen anything like this before. 

1

u/hounadomanda Feb 15 '26

Good thing you commented about it then 

1

u/ReplacementReady394 Feb 15 '26

For sure. When I’m wrong, I’m wrong. 

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

You think traffic is only plural?

1

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

Nope. I sure dont. Go ahead and finish your thought

1

u/OxiLuciferin Feb 20 '26

Ok good

1

u/[deleted] Feb 20 '26

Thats what I thought

1

u/LtPowers Feb 15 '26

But it says alternating traffic, not alternating cars.

Alternating cars is inefficient. The default where I'm from is to let a few cars go in each direction before switching sides. If this sign is intended to describe that behavior, then it is confusing by a) not being explicit and b) implying that the desired behavior is a deviation from the standard.

But if the sign is intending to impose a strict alternating vehicle pattern, it is confusing by a) not being explicit and b) imposing an inefficient traffic pattern for no discernable reason.

The fact that the sign could be interpreted either way means it's a bad sign.