Is the kahve causing traffic congestion in the centre of Alsancak?

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 10:09

Those of us who drive through Alsancak are well aware that the road narrows in the centre of the village. This in itself is not a problem, but when cars are parked alongside the road in the centre there is indeed a problem of traffic congestion.



In the relatively short time I have been living here, there have been several occasions when our passage through the village has been obstructed by a car parked alongside the bakkal-come-kahve-come-birahane on the corner of Gençlik Sokak … where the driver of the car is having a chat with his friends at the tables outside the said kahve. And because of the narrowness of the road, literally half of it … well at least 40% … has been blocked by the offending car.

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 10:10

(Cont from message 1)



There will be those of who that will probably say I have only been here a few weeks and I'm already whinging like a typical Brit, trying to create a "Little Britain" in the KKTC. However, in my defence, I should say that my TC partner also feels that this parking problem is unacceptable.



In any case, before I give a formal dilekçe to the police and/or the belediye I wanted to get the ideas of others driving through the village. Has your passage also been blocked by a car, the driver of which is in the throes of a certainly-not-brief-chat with his mates on the tables of the said kahve. Maybe though, it has just been my bad luck in that I always seem to drive through the village at the wrong time … and that in actual fact, this is not a serious problem.

LaptaMike


Joined: 07/10/2009
Posts: 1679

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 10:23

I've witnessed it numerous times. One time a copper was walking along so he had a go at the driver to move along ;-)

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 10:32

Thanks for that Mike. I think the problem lies with the kahve having its tables outside ... I suppose if I were driving along and saw my mate having a beer etc, I would want stop to say hello etc.. But this problem wouldn't arise if the tables weren't there.

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 10:52

I have lived in Alsancak for 6 years and drive every day through that area to get to and from my house - and yes sometimes it can be a little frustrating, but no more so than driving anywhere in Cyprus.

The coffeshops are the heart of village life - and to be honest I am not so sure that they are the actual problem most problems tend to arise because of peoples poor driving and or parking abilities and also the dolmuşes stopping as and when they want .

So this issue is not as simple as getting rid of the tables and the problem will be solved.

So lighten up and be patient when driving through the village - I remember driving in the UK through my town - it was far more problematic than Alsancak!

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:19

Fair enough Airy_Fairy ... I posted here to get other people's opinions ... so thanks ... and in replying, I also take the thread to the top to page ... to hopefully persuade a few more to comment on the matter ...

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:25

Crumpy - do you not think that, perhaps, 'congestion' is too strong a word?



It's hardly a 15 mile tailback on the M25, after all

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:28

Ian,



You have not acclimatised yet.... You must start to let this sort of thing wash over you or you are going to go mental...



Just remember it will enable you to stop and chat with mates sitting at a roadside table when you've got the opportunity..

paddywack


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 959

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:29

Another case of Brit mentality,when you come to N.C.you will find people will stop and chat as they have always done,learn to live with it.

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:44

Crumpy, I drive through Alsancak a lot as have lived in Lapta 4 1/2 years. Relax, soon you will also be stopping the car for a chat when you see someone you know, when they are either walking, in their garden or even in their car. This is Cyprus, where people are friendly, and have time for each other. Don't panic if someone or something might slow you up a bit. Don't bring road rage here please.

tarry67


Joined: 16/05/2008
Posts: 1053

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:52

Stella If I see you stopped in your car blocking the road and talking to someone at a bar, I will ram you up the rear.....!!!!

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 11:54

Re : msg 5



Having lived in Turkey for 15 years, I am well aware that the kahves or coffeehouse are often the "heart" of the community.



Re : msg 8



Groucho wrote "You have not acclimatised yet" - Yeah, maybe ... at least not yet to the more relaxed way of life here in the KKTC.



Re : msg 9



"Another case of Brit mentality" - Hmmm ... I did write a whole paragraph in msg 2 where I told you that my TC partner felt the same way. Maybe, you didn't read that Pat:-( In any case, I love you too

Chegwin


Joined: 24/03/2009
Posts: 775

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:04

Statements like that tarry67 you'll have queues forming.............

Chegwin


Joined: 24/03/2009
Posts: 775

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:05

Traffic queues.................What were you all thinking??

deputydawg


Joined: 30/03/2010
Posts: 1727

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:05

From time to time the police descend upon the village centre in large numbers and fine those they deem to be offenders. There can hardly be a complaint by these drivers if they have parked selfishly or without thought that they could impede the progress of ambulance or fire engine for example. The only thing that occurs to me is that the approach roads to the village have double yellow lines and perhaps they should be also where it is dangerous to park so that all are well warned and can have no complaint if their collar is felt by the police. Nobody wants to see double yellow lines increasing but sometimes there would appear to be no alternative. Other than it is sometimes full what is wrong with using the free car park opposite Fast Cafe ?.

rigsby


Joined: 21/09/2007
Posts: 912

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:09

Tarry67 must have got the Suzuki fixed then,becaise a little while ago he had no power,sorry Steve lol

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:18

Crumpy (or is it Grumpy?)

Am I Missing something here? You do not have to drive through the village if you find it stressful. There are other routes you can take. Get used to village life, you never know you might enjoy it one day.

kayalar_10



Joined: 02/08/2009
Posts: 17

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:19

Why drive through the centre of the village? Unless you have business in the village why not use the coast road and take the many turnings of it to get to or from your destination. May take a few minutes longer but leaves the 'village centre' to the people (locals, expats and tourist alike). Keep the village traffic free



Rob

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:26

Re ; msg 18



"Why drive through the centre of the village?" - Because taking the coastal road would almost double the distance from my work to home ... well it would at least increase it by 70%

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:32

Crumpy

You do not have to take the coastal road to bypass the village. On the mountain side of Alsancak there are a couple of routes that you can take to bypass the village without adding anything extra to your time. I think maybe you need to explore Alsancak a bit more.

AJ

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 12:51

Chill out Crumpy!!

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:02

Many of you, like AJ in message 17, seem to think I find driving through the village stressful ... far from it ... though yes, I think it's wrong when I see the consequences of selfishness. I have just been through the village now ... and again observed two cars parked outside the said kahve (albeit driverless) at the narrowest part of the road, when there were off-the-road parking places less than 30 metres away.



Re : msg 15



DeputyDawg wrote "The only thing that occurs to me is that the approach roads to the village have double yellow lines and perhaps they should be also where it is dangerous to park."



There are already double yellow lines on both sides, all along the road. Unfortunately no one takes any notice of them :-(

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:07

By the way AlsancakJack ... about taking these back roads you suggested in message 20 :



I thought I would take your advice, and have just been out on my scooter (yes we have a scooter as well as a car) for about 30 minutes to explore the back roads "on the mountain side" of Alsancak. It was certainly fun riding around on those narrow roads, so I thank you for your suggestion ... but as for a regular commute to work, I have to say that your advice is TOTALLY inpractical



Seeing as I have to commute from Sunny Lane to a site on the main village road, just to the west of Yavuzlar Lisesi, taking the back roads to avoid the village centre would probably add about 5 minutes to my current 5-minute journey. And as I wrote above, I am certainly not that stressed (if at all) to want to take such roads just to avoid passing through the centre of the village

matula


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 647

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:13

"Driver awareness" and road courtesy are two of the many unknown things in North Cyprus.

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:23

Crumpy - try this -



come out of sunny lane and turn right (bit of a bumpy road ) stay on this road until you get to a junction where there is a road to the left - do not turn left keep straight for another 150m then take this left - stright ahead would take you round to riverside . Stay on thia road and follow to the right as one way syatem - take next right (Dr Yucel Atakar house - pink railings ) stay on this road now it goes past a small playground and then round a bend to the left - passed the cami on your right ( large greek church used as cami in centre of village) as you pass the cami go straight ahead ( DO NOT stay on the road as it will take you down into the village) now stay on this road until you get to a T junction - left for lapta (başpinar) and right takes you to the Lapta school.



Hope that helps - this is a great route to take and may be quicker for you - worth a try !!!

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:37

Ian,



You have to remember that what in the UK is a pedestrian crossing is a TRNC citizen's designated parking space... double yellow lines are just two omelettes having a race and a cross-hatched box at a junction is where accidents should happen - and do...

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:38

Re : msg 25



Hi Airy_Fairy,



I did in fact try routes, involving turning to the right coming out of Sunny Lane ... and the furthest I ever got along the main village road was close to the Atakar supermarket ... which, bearing in mind the "bumpy road", I didn't think was that useful. In any case, I promise I will print out your directions and try the route. Thanks for going to all the trouble of writing them

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:45

In message 26, Groucho wrote "Ian, you have to remember that a pedestrian crossing is a TRNC citizen's designated parking space and double yellow lines are just two omelettes having a race" - Thanks for that Groucho But I have to say, my TC other half does not conform to these TRNC rules

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:45

Yep,



There's always more than one way to get lost here!

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:47

Crumpy,

Just say "8/3 pi r cubed"

- & give in - it's easier

measey


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 1037

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:54

AJ. If your not Grumpy then i dont know who is.

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:55

Hi again Keith - " 8/3 pi r cubed " ... You're a treasure mate

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 14:57

Hi again Keith - " 8/3 pi r cubed " ... You're a treasure mate

airy____fairy


Joined: 14/06/2008
Posts: 813

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 15:30

Crumpy - I assume by you ending up near Atakara where I said you turn left (otherwise goes passed riverside( you must have gone straight - yes do try out this route!!!

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 16:04

Re ; message 34



Hi again Airy_Fairy



I don't think I was anywhere near Riverside :-( ... in any case, I certainly will try out "your" route ... and if it works you'll be getting a pint from me ... or whatever your tipple is

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 20:40

I used to live in a little village a couple of miles from Swanage in Dorset. Swanage, as well as being a seaside resort, is also a retirement centre. It was quite usual to drive through Swanage and see elderly peole driving their cars, seeing a friend and stop for a chat.(In the middle of the High Stgreet) In fact, in Swanage, double yellow lines meant double car parking!!!!!!!!!! Alsancak is nothing compared to that.

bonnie1707


Joined: 06/06/2010
Posts: 95

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 20:53

Message 30



"Just say 8/3 pi r cubed"



What's funny about this ??!!

keithcaley



Joined: 13/06/2008
Posts: 2521

Message Posted:
05/09/2010 23:54

bonnie1707,

That was for Crumpy - not normal folks like you...

Crumpy



Joined: 05/06/2010
Posts: 419

Message Posted:
06/09/2010 09:19

Re ; messages 37 and 38



Translating from ABnormalca to Normalca :



"Just say 8/3 pi r cubed ... and give in" = Just say b*ll**ks ... and give in



Explanation : 4/3 pi r cubed gives the volume of a sphere or ball ... so 8/3 pi r cubed would mean TWO BALLS



Wishing everyone a pleasant week