It is now, officially, the Summer Season here on Cape Cod MA and all thoughts turn to…..TRAFFIC! Of course this isn’t top of mind to the tourists who swarm here every year to enjoy the sand, ocean and New England-y Charm that The Cape has to offer. But, to those of us who live here year round and have to get around and do our errands, etc., it is a big deal. All you have to do is look around at all of the license plates from NY, NJ, CT and from much further away to measure the influx of Out-of-Towners.
Before I go any further, I want to assure you that this is not going to be a hate piece on tourism. For many years before moving here full-time for (semi-) retirement, my wife, kids and I were part of the annual increase in population and we loved it. From a purely economic point of view, the summer months are the fuel that feeds the engine that runs The Cape year round. The number of businesses that shut down during the pandemic is testimony to the size of the impact. I can only imagine what our taxes would be like without the $’s coming in from outside the area.
Of course, central to this annual migration phenomenon, are the bridges (The Bourne and The Sagamore) which – unless you have wings or are a fairly strong swimmer – are the only means of access to The Cape over the canal. Let me just straighten out one thing concerning the bridge traffic heading onto (and sometimes off) The Cape. All the horror stories you have heard…..are ABSOLUTELY TRUE! IT IS A NIGHTMARE! But as they say : you gotta pay for your thrills. There do exist some “short-cuts” that some of us locals like to use to avoid the worst of it at certain times of the day but, I use the term “SHORT-cuts” very lightly. My kids will attest to the fact that a “Dad short-cut” is anything but, as it usually took twice as long back in the days when I used to chauffeur them from one event to another. A different way was probably a more appropriate term but, “short-cut” sounds so much better! Anyway, I am not a fan of these so-called “short-cuts” near the bridges ‘cause eventually you still have to get over the bridge (remember the part about wings and strong swimmer?). With the advent of GPS, there is virtually no such thing as a “secret” route to avoid the traffic.
That being said, strategies to minimize the time in traffic run rampant around here on instagram and other forms of social media. The only foolproof plan is of course….not to come at all! Unfortunately, spending a week in the summer in Onset or Middleboro (both on the mainland side of the bridges) just lacks the romance of being in Falmouth or Chatham. Just not the same.
As with many things in my life as I grow older, my priorities are changing. Unlike my younger years, when I tried to see how late I could leave the house and still make it for my shift at McDonald’s across town (the answer: 4 minutes and 28 seconds), being in a hurry has moved pretty far down the list. Much to the chagrin of those behind me, my “is what it is” attitude toward traffic pretty well describes how I get from one place to another. I see people desperately changing lanes and cutting people off to shorten their wait by a nanosecond or two I just shake my head. Through experience, I know which is the best lane to be in for most situations, at which time I sit back and relax. One of the only flies in the ointment of dealing with traffic are the “Cheaters”. “Cheaters” are those who stretch and/or break the rules of common automotive courtesy. The worst: creating an extra lane by driving in the breakdown lane. These people are not only breaking the law, but are creating a dangerous situation for themselves and those around them. These people are worthy of scorn! (Cranky enough for you?)
There may be some disagreement on the next point but, people who knowingly continue to travel in a lane that is about to end (there are plenty of warning signs,) to get ahead of those of us who are patiently waiting our turn in the continuing travel lanes, are the definition of “Cheaters”. “What makes you so special?!”, Is my immediate thought while they zoom by on my right looking at the rest of us thinking “See ya….Losers.” And then they expect you to recognize the alternate merge when their lane ends! We do not need this in civil society!
The solution: I’m not sure there is one. I guess the best we can do is look at our day-to-day NOT centered on what is best for ME but rather what makes the most sense considering all the people we come in contact with during our day. All of life should not be looked at as a competition to see who “wins” – however that might be defined. I believe it is called focusing on the greater good. The world could be a better place if we considered this “innovative” approach to living our lives.
Perhaps, our elected officials could learn a thing or two from this approach. If I’m not mistaken, that’s how it is supposed to work.
Just sayin’.
Old and Cranky News 
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