Driving on Gratiot Avenue can be crazy, no doubt about it. It's the main vein of Macomb County and it can certainly get your heart pumping. There are all sorts of weird things going on. Follow this bit of craziness, regarding drivers who are on eastbound 696 and hope to reach Macomb Mall (and are too lazy to take the Gratiot exit off 696):
As soon as those drivers leave 696 and get onto eastbound 94 they must quickly cross all of the lanes to reach the left-lane exit to Gratiot. Once they get onto Gratiot, they must quickly cross all the lanes to turn left into Macomb Mall.
That nexus may be the most avoidable spot in Macomb County.
And on Monday, at about 4:30 p.m., I saw not one, but two, insane acts on northbound Gratiot. One guy, driving south of Masonic, in a burgundy souped-up classic car, gunned it to about 70 mph in the fast lane, then cut across all the lanes to make a right-hand turn into a restaurant parking lot. A couple cars had to brake to avoid hitting him.
Just a minute later, near Macomb Mall, a male pedestrian was trying to walk across northbound Gratiot -- not in a crosswalk -- with people driving 45 mph right at him. A couple drivers had to come to a complete stop to avoid hitting him.
I wish I could take public transportation.