Costco gas station etiquette: What would you have done?

[mcarley]

@wmj

In the area where I live they have added medians at many intersections compared to how it used to be. This has greatly cut down on people trying to make left turns like this. In my opinion this intersection is also a very good spot for a median like this.

I am guessing these turns are legal. However, just because something is legal does not mean it is the safest or brightest thing to do.

There is at least one place where I do it and it can take quite a while waiting for traffic to clear. But the alternative is driving around a couple of blocks at least, taking several minutes.

[wmj]

@mcarley

There is at least one place where I do it and it can take quite a while waiting for traffic to clear. But the alternative is driving around a couple of blocks at least, taking several minutes.

That must be some unique location. I can not think of any place I have been where there was not some alternative such as making a right to come out and then turning around at the next possible place. That can be tedious, but it can also be a lot safer.

Regardless, it all depends on how you handle it. If you are there by yourself waiting for traffic to clear and nobody is behind you, that is one thing. If, on the other hand, there are cars behind you waiting to make a right turn, which would be possible, but you are holding things up to make a left turn, that would be another thing entirely. If I was behind you, you would be hearing my horn after a while.

[mcarley]

@wmj

That must be some unique location. I can not think of any place I have been where there was not some alternative such as making a right to come out and then turning around at the next possible place. That can be tedious, but it can also be a lot safer.

Regardless, it all depends on how you handle it. If you are there by yourself waiting for traffic to clear and nobody is behind you, that is one thing. If, on the other hand, there are cars behind you waiting to make a right turn, which would be possible, but you are holding things up to make a left turn, that would be another thing entirely. If I was behind you, you would be hearing my horn after a while.

When I drop my kid off at school, if I decide to stop at Panera, the way out leads to a left turn. I could turn right, but I’d be going away from where I want and it would take multiple blocks to get where I’m going.

The turn is legal, but with the timing of the light, sometimes I have to wait a few minutes to make it safely.

[Bears54]

@wmj

No, I have never seen a Costco with a car wash. I had never thought of that. I wonder how much business they would get and if it would be worthwhile.

I saw one in Arizona earlier this year, it was pretty busy and moved pretty quick. I’d use it.

@wmj

Back to the other subject, another one of my peeves is when people try to pull out of a parking lot and make a left turn into the street when the traffic is heavy.

I agree, sometimes 3 rights are safer and quicker than a left. My area is newer and the streets and business entry/exits are planned pretty well, some of the older suburbs suck. I don’t think they planned for the heavier traffic and expansion.

Remember, two wrongs don’t make a right, but 3 lefts do.

[wmj]

@Bears54

Remember, two wrongs don’t make a right, but 3 lefts do.

That is a good one.

[wmj]

@Bears54

The gas line moves pretty quick at my Costco, you have to pay at the pump, it’s all one direction and there’s no store or bathroom.

Costco also does not have windshield wipers, at least here. That is smart. I could see some idiot holding up the line while he wipes all of his windows.

[imabass]

Unless they were pushing the car then hell no.

[jimtoo]

@wmj

Costco also does not have windshield wipers, at least here. That is smart. I could see some idiot holding up the line while he wipes all of his windows.

They used to, but an employee told me they were removed because of the lines created by people doing exactly that.

[Payless]

@crparrothead

@mcarley

If it’s just heavy traffic, but legal, hard to argue with them. Just annoying.

This may be why UPS drivers only make right turns.

If I am trying to take a left hand turn with 2 lanes in each direction, will not do it. Will take a right turn and go further down the road where their are some lights and go from there.

[smartpolitics]

@crparrothead

I have driven 2 miles halfway on the interstate shoulder to keep someone from cutting in.

Same. Drive slowly to match traffic so that people in traffic aren’t constantly getting passed because people come in from the merge lane and the semis cannot get cars to stop from cutting in front of them

[kcflyer]

I wonder how much gas you burned idling in line waiting to get to the pumps.

[mcarley]

@kcflyer

I wonder how much gas you burned idling in line waiting to get to the pumps.

If Costco gas is $.20 cheaper per gallon, and you burn 75 cents worth (probably a high estimate), that still wouldn’t cover the difference. But, my time is worth something, which is why I didn’t get Costco gas.

[wmj]

@kcflyer

I wonder how much gas you burned idling in line waiting to get to the pumps.

Less than what I would have paid had I gone to another station. A lot less.

[glasspilot]

@kcflyer

I wonder how much gas you burned idling in line waiting to get to the pumps.

Ahhhh! I love driving electric!

[Bears54]

@wmj

Less than what I would have paid had I gone to another station. A lot less.

I gassed up at Costco this morning, $3.14 a gallon and the surrounding stations were all over $3.30, plus I get a 2% rebate back from Costco. (Plus the 4% from the Costco Visa, but that’s from any gas station.). It was pretty crowded but I was in and out in around 10 minutes.

[Bears54]

@glasspilot

Ahhhh! I love driving electric!

Plus you can drive across the country with one tank of gas.