Drivers in Portland, Maine, Keep Making This Hilariously Bad Error

It's not a stretch to say navigating the roads in Portland, Maine, can be difficult for some.

A lot has changed in just the past few years. Construction projects have led to road closures. The city has also put an increased focus on pedestrian bumpouts and bike lanes.

All of that has led to several major arteries in Portland seeing significant change. And it's that change that continues to cause headaches for motorists as they attempt to drive along Park Ave in the city.

Not that long ago, portions of Park Ave were three full lanes to avoid traffic backup. The street has long served as a key artery connecting other busy streets in the city like Congress, High, and Forest.

But in recent years, Portland observed that the traffic along Park Ave wasn't as substantial as it used to be. That led to a decision to take away one of the lanes and reimagine it for a dual purpose: a dedicated bike lane and some on-street parking.

In theory, that was a great use of a minimally-used lane. But for a couple of years now, it's been causing a lot of problems for motorists who don't normally travel on Park Ave. The parking lane looks like any normal lane. Making matters worse, the parking lane is available all the way up to traffic lights.

If you spend a little time on a bench in Deering Oaks Park, you could have yourself a good chuckle at how many drivers pull up behind a parked car near a traffic light and wonder why that empty car isn't turning right on red. Or green.

To be fair, Portland should probably do something to better identify that Park Ave is a one-lane road, and that those cars in front of the 7-11 are parked and not just waiting for a green light.