Do the U

By: Mr. Wilson on February 27, 2009
A traffic question: is it legal for an eastbound vehicle on O Street to perform a u-turn at Cotner Boulevard? Signage at the intersection indicates that left turns are prohibited. As far as I can tell Lincoln's rules of the road (PDF) treat left turns and u-turns separately; thus, a prohibition against one does not seem to affect the other. In addition, a sign (PDF) is available (R3-18) that would clearly prohibit both u-turns and left turns. Since that sign isn't posted, one assumes u-turns are allowed. But the performance of a u-turn at that intersection is surely unsafe, isn't it? It's not the oncoming traffic that concerns me, but the trailing traffic that likely won't understand why some bozo has stopped and turned on his left turn signal when left turns are clearly forbidden. What say you, Lincolnites? Is a u-turn at Cotner and O prohibited? Should it be? Update: I probably ought to clarify that Tom Casady is the reason I started thinking about this.

Comments

See what your friends and neighbors have to say about this.

Eric S
February 27, 2009 at 4:11AM

Well… I would assume you may have outsmarted the civil engineers.

I assume they just assumed that if it’s no left turn, its no u-turn. But you know what ass-u-me-ing does.

You at least have enough of a case to get out of a no U-turn ticket.

Gene
February 27, 2009 at 1:23PM

I would think the intention of that intersection’s design is to prohibit things like U-turns along with left turns, but maybe a sign is in order.

Gene
February 27, 2009 at 1:25PM

After reading the Chief’s blog post, maybe a “no whining” sign should be placed at that intersection as well.

Fletch
February 27, 2009 at 6:31PM

I would think they should put a sign up ruling out u-turns as well.

I posted an anonymous comment on the chief’s blog. I am sure those that read my posts here may recognize my work there.

Fletch
February 27, 2009 at 9:25PM

Dude! They are going to change the signs, due to Mr. Wilson. That’s what it looks like to me. Oh, the power you wield here.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t look like the chief approved my comment, which was (as it relates to Carpenter Motors)... “at least he didn’t blame the smoking ban.”

Mr. Wilson
February 27, 2009 at 9:29PM

Dude! They are going to change the signs, due to Mr. Wilson.

First one to send me a photo of “my” sign gets ... uhh ... something!

Dave K
February 28, 2009 at 7:11PM

I find it bizarre that a dealership that puts 22” wheels and ugly aftermarket grills on every car that comes through their lot is blaming the city government for going out of business.  I went in there once when I was looking for a car about 7 years ago, and the one I was looking at was priced about $5k above what was reasonable for a dealer to be asking for.

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