{"id":15351,"date":"2014-08-14T12:41:22","date_gmt":"2014-08-14T15:41:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/atlantic\/?p=15351"},"modified":"2014-08-14T12:41:22","modified_gmt":"2014-08-14T15:41:22","slug":"the-quantum-intersection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/atlantic\/2014\/08\/14\/the-quantum-intersection\/","title":{"rendered":"The Quantum Intersection"},"content":{"rendered":"

HALIFAX<\/strong> – The city\u00a0is home to some of the most unique intersections in the world, but none is so unique as Chebucto and Windsor. If you have nothing better to do during morning rush hour, stroll over to the Good Food Emporium, have a coffee, and watch the chaos unfold.<\/p>\n

This intersection is on a list somewhere in a filing cabinet for city staff to eventually redesign. I say that would be a tragedy. If we want to attract tourists and talent to Halifax, we need to preserve those aspects of our heritage that make us like nowhere else in the world\u2014and insane traffic planning sets us apart like nothing else.<\/p>\n

Some express concern about the safety of the intersection, but by following a simple set of rules it should pose no risk. Instead of ripping up pavement, let\u2019s put the following guide in the Driver\u2019s Manuals.<\/p>\n

East on Cunard\"Going<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

A. First: choose which turn signal to use. Now, you may wonder, \u201cAm I going right, left, or straight?\u201d<\/p>\n

The answer? All three! You may do as you like with your turn signal because it will not mean anything anyways! (Fun morning game: take bets on who will choose which).<\/p>\n

B. You are now going straight on Windsor, and also, somehow, straight onto Cunard. Savour the moment: you may now legally turn left on a red light. (Or, feel free to stop at the red wondering when or how you are supposed to turn left, as this will entertain onlookers).<\/p>\n

Turning Right onto Windsor from Chebucto<\/b><\/p>\n

So you have turned and now you are going straight South on Windsor. You may wonder, \u201cWhy is there a red light in front of me?\u201d Never fear. That is a \u201cfake\u201d red light. Go ahead, there is nothing to get in your way.<\/p>\n

Wait stop! Pedestrian! I forgot the pedestrians\u2014and so does one driver every ten minutes<\/p>\n

Remember the rule: there are no pedestrians when you are driving green-right-red-left-straight, but there are <\/i>pedestrians when driving green-right-red-straight.\"Going<\/a><\/p>\n

Driving West from Cunard to Chebucto
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

To enjoy this intersection to its fullest, try passing on yellow, so that North traffic will start, and you will be stranded in the centre lane blocking buses and cars lined up on Windsor. Enjoy your time here in this space outside of social and legal norms, and reflect on the choices that brought you here.<\/p>\n

Turning South From Cunard
\n<\/b><\/p>\n

Question. Does that guy in front of you going left-right-straight have priority?<\/p>\n

\"Turning<\/a><\/p>\n

Answer. It depends on the turn signal your opponent has chosen:<\/p>\n