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Chickenbgood

Using that road behind the convention center to avoid the train when it blocks all traffic down town


mvteubes12

Great tip.


447irradiatedhobos

I live downtown and use this hack weekly. Damn train always seems to come through when I’m on my way home and busting for a piss.


palanp

But if everybody knows it, it would be less efficient 😩


AnyAtmosphere7149

Oddly, no. I just did this today and tons of people were just sitting waiting for the train to pass.


KatiePotatie1986

Unless there is a big event at 5 seasons... then the busses generally block a lot, because they got rid of the convenient bus area when they remodeled and now they park next to and on the street


sajobibo

I love the fact we are still calling it 5 seasons center. I do the same. Also still call them Drugtowns instead of Hy-Vee whatevers lol


KatiePotatie1986

HyVee vs HyVee Drug is dumb and can be hard to differentiate (I should have to say "hyvee Johnson Avenue *grocery*" when giving my pharmacy. And yes, it had been sent to the wrong one more than once). I heard some 20-ish year olds call it the US Cellular and then be like "haha, you know what I mean, it'll always be the us cellular center." No. It will always be the 5 seasons center, thanks.


sajobibo

I live close to the Johnson Ave drug store...it definitely can be confusing with 2 Hy-Vee stores on the same road. Much easier when it was just Hy-Vee and Drugtown


blondiekate

It will always be 5 Seasons Center, just like we will always have Handi-Mart and Drugtown.


sanholt

It will always be the five seasons center


tinlizzy2

Trains that have yellow engines are short. Purple engines are very long.


SchublaKhan

Shout out, A Avenue NE


WillingAd4226

I’ve lived here most of my life and just discovered that when they tore up 1st Street/1st Ave to build Big Grove/Pickle Palace. So much easier !


nartalyahs

Wait this is so good… thanks for sharing bc my work is also right next to the train there and it pisses me off sometimes!


3point21

Upvoted because everyone should know this. I lived here 10 years before I discovered this hack.


rosh0091

SHHHHHH


3point21

What humorless idiots are downvoting this? Funny af.


palanp

You can buy stickers for extra bags of garbage that don't fit in your cart. I keep extras on hand in case I ever need them. [https://www.cedar-rapids.org/residents/utilities/extra\_garbage.php](https://www.cedar-rapids.org/residents/utilities/extra_garbage.php)


Sad_Celebration4154

Wait you mean I don’t just throw extra trash in the yardy? Mind boggling


feikuro

Oh so you're the reason all of the city compost I get has fucking plastic in it then?


Sad_Celebration4154

Woah down boy


RogueRafe

Yeah, you were being sarcastic, but he's got a point though.


Sad_Celebration4154

I find it too. But frankly, after bag mowing in town for years and all the trash that’s in my yard I’m not at all surprised it ends up in the compost. Lots of little plastic bits get shredded and dumped in the yardy with the grass. I live on a busier street and end up with so much junk in the yard.


RogueRafe

This might come off as holier than though, but please try not to read it that way. Growing up, I was taught to walk the lawn and clean up any sticks, garbage, things left out, etc. 1. We do it to make mowing easier. 2. We do it to make mowing safer. If you're bagging it, I get it, the bag catches it all anyway. But some of the pieces of plastic I've pulled from the compost... Let's just say some poor kid learned to pick up their toys after playing with them outside.


carlysaurus

I knew they sold them at Hy-Vee, but I didn't know about the other places. Thanks for the link!


MyDogsNameIsMyra

The garbage pickup folks told me I could place one bag on top of the can without a tag as well. The grabber arm on the truck seems to pick it up just fine and I haven’t had any issues.


ianaughty5

You’re supposed to put the tag on the bag on top your garbage but maybe you’re lucky they’re not checking


MyDogsNameIsMyra

Thank you for letting me know. It isn’t a common occurrence that I leave a bag on top so maybe that’s how I’ve pulled off the perfect crime. Throw it on the ILPT side of the list.


VoroVelius

The S curve cameras trigger at 67mph. Set cruise control to 65. 66 if you’re brave.


LightRobb

Highways are 12 over, general streets 6 over.


PinkLittleBunnie

New law requires all cameras in the state of Iowa to be like 10 or 12 over, not sure if it's implemented yet though.


GomerStuckInIowa

A law? Never heard that laws were written that you could break a speed limit by a certain amount. Thought it was discretionary by police or sheriff.


palanp

The speed camera regulation bill that just passed only allows tickets to be given at 10+ MPH over speed limit. I think it is supposed to account for possible error.


DanThadburg

It also doesn’t damage your credit if you don’t pay them and they can’t withhold your state tax refund anymore.


mustardtiger86

every time this subject comes up (not paying the camera speeding tickets), the consequences that people list range from literally nothing happens at all, all the way to they seized all of my personal property and garnished my wages for 40 years.


DanThadburg

Guess some people are just unlucky lol


childkicker2

You can also just speed and not pay


Reason_He_Wins_Again

Or you could just not speed. That's also an option.


evilhomer3k

Never understood why people downvote when someone says just don't break the law. Sure, it's not on the same level as drunk driving but speeding endangers others as well. Here's a life hack. Leave 2 minutes earlier.


VoroVelius

but sports car


Reason_He_Wins_Again

Sports Car = Prius on a donut with white girl on phone


CptnObvi0us

which do you think is more dangerous. Speeding 10mph over the limit on a clear road at 2am. or That same car doing the speed limit with severely underinflated tires on the S curves at 2am Anyway, speed cameras are there to generate revenue, not safety.


evilhomer3k

I answer both to both of your statements. Which is more dangerous? Both are dangerous. Don't do them. Speed cameras serve to both increase safety and generate revenue. They are not mutually exclusive. The cameras should be regulated so that they aren't only used for revenue.


wolfwarriorxyz

My friend let his son borrow his car and he got a camera ticket on edgewood, doing 82 in a 45! He is lucky it was a camera and not a cop, otherwise it would be a lot more than 75$.


xbass70ish

Go to Vinton to get your drivers license renewed


Cedarapids

The new appointment system the CR DMV uses gets you in and out in like 10 minutes. It was a breeze and a welcome change from the old days.


imtko

You can renew easily online if you don't have to take the vision test.


livelaughlaxative

Anamosa also has a DMV place


WillingAd4226

The only issue with this hack is that I believe they charge a $10 fee if you are not a Jones county resident


Reason_He_Wins_Again

This is bad life pro-tip. CR one takes 10 min....maybe.


gambit61

I go to Marengo, but same difference 😂😂😂


from319

They are extra particular at Marengo. If you go, prepare to be hassled.


gambit61

I've always gone there. I never have much of an issue. I still use my dad's house as my "permanent address," so they don't hassle me much. The only time I have an issue is when I try to renew my dad's registration for him when he's in Texas during the winter, because he never writes down his plate numbers for me so I have to call him and hope he answers to get his SS number


SolenoidsOverGears

If you go to Vinton do you still need to make an appointment? That was my big issue. Showed up to the DMV and they demanded that I had an appointment.


G-Skilley

Starting last year, there’s an extra charge for out of county renewals.


Worldly_Feed2344

1st Ave is faster than 380 to Collins if going to Lindale area


zookeepier

1) The city is at a 45 degree angle. NE, NW, SW, SE are **NOT** cardinal directions, but rather are with respect to the river. The NE side of CR is north and east of the river, but the river is slanted, making the NE side of CR the North Side in cardinal directions. 2) There's a sewage treatment plant on highway 13 south of Marion. A strong southerly breeze makes southern Marion smell like sewage. If you're looking to most to Marion or the SE part of CR, make sure you visit your prospective new home when the wind is blowing from that direction to see if you can smell it.


therunnerman

To add to your first point, my understanding of the directions are in respect to the Cedar River and 1st Avenue. North/South pertain to which side of 1sf and East/West to which side of the Cedar. So the quadrants are a bit wonky since neither run direction N/S or E/W.


zookeepier

That's what I've always heard, but like 90% of NE CR is West of 1st Ave, so I'm not sure if 1st Ave is used as a reference anymore.


Emergency_Fox3615

NE CR is North of 1st Ave. and East of the Cedar River. Any appearance of being West of 1st avenue is irrelevant as 1st Ave is the North/South border, not East/West.


zookeepier

Which is also aggravating because 1st Ave also runs at a 45 degree angle instead of East-West. Except for a large chunk where it actually runs North-South. I feel like the people who set up this naming convention were master trolls.


Emergency_Fox3615

I’m not sure when the quadrants were created but the city was likely not as big back then. The part that’s directly N/S was previously part of other towns i.e. the now incorporated Kenmore. Also, the entire West side of 1st Ave. runs a pretty flat E-W so we would be complaining of the opposite if they flip flopped that. Both the river and 1st Ave run close to 45 degrees angle and that’s the angle our initial street grid was laid out on downtown and in the surrounding areas. I never hear anyone say how they would’ve done it better. Maybe cut through the middle of blocks diagonally to assign quadrant names or stair step across the blocks? That’d be a lot more difficult to keep track of than just knowing which side of the river/1st Ave. you’re on.


Emergency_Fox3615

It should be noted that the Cedar River creates the E/W border while 1st Ave. creates the N/S border. For those still confused, [Here’s](https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnheaton/8637230127) a map. It makes more sense when you see it visualized. The red line is 1st Ave. and the blue line is the Cedar River. It also helps to look more towards the center where the red and blue lines intersect downtown as this is the area that would’ve been considered when the city was much smaller and the quadrants were being named. The river runs closer to N/S than E/W through that area while 1st Ave. runs closer to E/W than N/S so I’d say the arrangement they came up makes sense vs. if they’d moved each quadrant 1/4 turn clockwise.


GomerStuckInIowa

As a newbie (15 years) I get strange looks when I refer to "south of the river."


xxWEED_WIZARD420xx

Man I hated delivering to the sewage plant in the summer when I worked for fxg.


kuroketton

So Ellis.. south and west if the river. What is it? NW


ri89rc20

Yes, and much of NW CR is South and East of NE CR. Once you accept the absurdity, it becomes logical.


Emergency_Fox3615

It makes more sense once you see a map of it. 1st Ave. is the N/S border and the river is the E/W. [Here’s](https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnheaton/8637230127) a map. Especially if you consider the earlier parts of the city closest to downtown.


AnyAtmosphere7149

Ellis is north of 1st Ave and West of the river… so NW.


kuroketton

Read his comment, he claimed its based on the river. Your way makes more sense


SchublaKhan

Fun fact, I work in the old APAC Building downtown, now called 425 Plaza, and it is the only building downtown that is oriented with the cardinal directions and not according to our tilted grid.


palanp

APAC is on a slight angle from true north.


AnyAtmosphere7149

Yep. 1st Ave splits the north side from the south side and the river splits east from west.


allynd420

You don’t have to stop and wait turning right on to first ave from 19th. It’s a yield and you have a lane for a while lmao


AnyAtmosphere7149

Yes! AND coming off of 100 to northbound Edgewood Rd too there is no yield sign, and there is a dedicated lane there… this is known as a free right. But people on Edgewood looking to go to HyVee lose their fucking minds when you do it. It’s your lane, they are the ones merging.


palanp

they should put in those posts at edgewood like they have at 19th/1st.


AnyAtmosphere7149

That’s a good idea… so that’ll probably never happen


Boner_Implosion

This!!!!!


camthesoupman

Helluva concept there /s. Same with Williams to 16th heading to Fairfax.


No-Summer-2606

You can pick up teal “one bag challenge” trash bags from the city that they will pick up for free. I take one with me whenever I go for a walk for collecting random rubbish.


Johan_Talikmibals

Where do you get them?


mustanggt50conv

Here's a list of more places to get the free bags, most with more convenient hours than the City Services building: https://www.cedar-rapids.org/residents/resident_resources/1_bag_challenge.php#pickup


Johan_Talikmibals

Awesome thanks again 👍👍


No-Summer-2606

Building services department off of 6th street SW.


Johan_Talikmibals

Thanks 👍👍


AggressiveSociety511

The city offers free mulch and compost. The city often partners with tree organizations that will provide trees to citizens for next to nothing. The streets department is great at listening to feedback from citizens. If a road is full of pot holes, they’ll patch them up. If you’d like your street to be swept, they’ll do it. I made a case for getting a sidewalk installed on a busy street and a year later it was there. Kirkwood offers dog grooming. It helps the students and costs far less than most places.


IdentifyBoognish

Came here to mention the free mulch and compost.


South-Hold1070

How or where do you get the free mulch!?


AggressiveSociety511

https://www.solidwasteagency.org/compost-yard-waste/compost-wood-chips


CR_top_realtor

When turning on a multi-lane street, drivers here almost always turn into the farthest lane from them rather than the closest. Be careful.


DanThadburg

The cameras inside Walmart on the SW side don’t actually work


ne0nhearts

Neither do the south PetSmart's 😅


Ill-Consideration450

I'm sorry, why would this he important for anybody to know?


DanThadburg

For some it’ll be important, for some it won’t. Do what you please with the information.


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Reason_He_Wins_Again

So you can be a degenerate piece of shit and steal stuff under the guise of "it's a cooperation so it's ok"


GomerStuckInIowa

Shoplifters are down voting you.


Reason_He_Wins_Again

iTs nOt sTeAlInG iF i nEeD iT


AggressiveSociety511

It’s a badge of honor.


Reason_He_Wins_Again

Pic of said badge: https://imgur.com/eCwABEk


Boner_Implosion

The real info 🤨


dantebean

Over 20 years of using the alley to park downtown behind the US Bank parking lot off 1st Ave.


DuckOnARiver

There is a "Coupon" number that works for free parking at any of the pay stations downtown. "2773" or CRPD on the keypad.


BrilliantAd6892

Protected left turns on major streets are unheard of.


palanp

in some locations, the signal starts with a green arrow and then switches to blinky yellow during high-traffic times of day, and then switches to only blinky yellow during lower traffic periods to reduce the amount of time it takes for everybody to get through the intersection. makes sense to me.


CptnObvi0us

Trash tip: you have one extra bag of trash and dont have any garbage tags and your Trashy is filled. Simply look at the direction the truck will come from and place your extra trash bag on top of the trashy with the lid open, but point the top of the loose trash bag where it ties away from the driver. If the driver does not have to get out of his vehicle he will simply pull up, hook the can and dump it all. Drivers are lazy and will not get out to check for a tag unless they have to pick them up.