Local Color

[Michael in Philly]

I was just out for a drive - Philadelphia, to Bel Air, Md., to York, Pa., and home.  Last two times I was on US 30 east of Lancaster, I was stopped for construction (single-lane traffic with flag bearers to stop traffic) so this time I took Pa. 340 from US 30 to Pa. 10.  340 passes through the heart of Amish country, including the town of Intercourse.  There were more Amish buggies than cars on the road.  Even at 9:30 to 10 p.m.  I didn't know the Amish used apparently-electric head- and taillights (and lots of flashing red and orange on the back and on the sides) - I just figured they didn't go out after dark....

Any other only-in-[name of place] stories?

[signalman]

I was amazed at how many Amish were out after dark too back when I made frequent trips to Lancaster County.  I used to think they went to bed at sunset, but aparently I was wrong.  The lights they use are battery powered and required by law. 

[Michael in Philly]

I'm told by a co-worker who grew up in Ephrata, and whose parents still live there, that they're out a lot on Sundays in particular (they wouldn't be working, obviously).  She avoids "back roads" out there on Sundays for that reason.

[cu2010]

They're all over the place in the North Country...even on main roads!

[allniter89]

Only in Texas, that I know of, will slower drivers on a 2 lane road with paved shoulders pull onto the shoulder to let faster traffic pass. Excellent!!! 

[Ace10]

Not to make this an Amish thread, but I do think I stumbled upon an Amish ... settlement? one time when I was making my way home. This was in Florida - took SR-429 northbound to Exit 1A (Sinclair Rd) and eventually found myself on Goodman Rd - which is a bad idea to drive because it's all dirt. Saw a horse-and-buggy MUTCD sign that I had never seen before. Just seemed like in the middle of nowhere, very out of the way. Luckily I drove and eventually came upon a road that I normally took to get home, and didn't realize it even linked to this settlement. Haven't driven there since but it would be great if it was paved!

[BigMattFromTexas]

Only in Texas, or the South, would you see your newspaper headline stating "Raging Bull Shot Down". And it happened on a highway. I think that make Texas seem real hick. But oh well, at least we're tough .
BigMatt

[US71]

Only in Texas, or the South, would you see your newspaper headline stating "Raging Bull Shot Down". And it happened on a highway. I think that make Texas seem real hick. But oh well, at least we're tough .
BigMatt

What can you about a state that doesn't believe in Thomas Jefferson? 

[Brandon]

Only in Texas, that I know of, will slower drivers on a 2 lane road with paved shoulders pull onto the shoulder to let faster traffic pass. Excellent!!! 

Around Chicago, they do the opposite.  Faster traffic tends to use the shoulder to pass slower traffic in the lanes. 

[agentsteel53]

Only in Texas, that I know of, will slower drivers on a 2 lane road with paved shoulders pull onto the shoulder to let faster traffic pass. Excellent!!! 

I've seen that happen in a lot of places, but the road needs to be rural with good sight lines.  Follow someone on a winding road in the hills, and they are not likely to even use the turnouts, especially when the road is signed "SLOWER VEHICLES USE TURNOUTS".

[Chris]

pulling over on the shoulder to let faster traffic pass is a common practice in Eastern Europe. It's not uncommon to have trucks pass each other in both directions on what was intended to be a two-lane road. Not exactly safe, most people tend to drive half on the shoulder even if nobody is passing them to avoid a head-on accident with people passing in the other direction.

Shoulders on non-freeways in Western Europe are not as common, so you don't have it there.

[BigMattFromTexas]

Here some people actually waive at you to thank you for moving over on the highway. Gotta love that Texan friendliness, unless you make fun of anything Texan. Then everyone could go to their room and get their 12-gauge and make you take it back. And what other states do you see people picking road kill up off the pavement?

[agentsteel53]

And what other states do you see people picking road kill up off the pavement?

I've eaten roadkill before.  Wasn't in Texas.

[BigMattFromTexas]

Well how do you know the roadkill wasn't from Texas? Heh heh.
BigMatt

[Brandon]

Here some people actually waive at you to thank you for moving over on the highway. Gotta love that Texan friendliness, unless you make fun of anything Texan. Then everyone could go to their room and get their 12-gauge and make you take it back. And what other states do you see people picking road kill up off the pavement?

Um, Wisconsin comes to mind.

[BigMattFromTexas]

For what?
BigMatt

[Brandon]

For what?
BigMatt

Roadkill.  But, there are enough 12-gauges up there as well.  Ah, but it is too easy to make fun of what lies beyond the Cheddar Curtain. 

[BigMattFromTexas]

Oh, haha. Well drive down a Texas highway and you'll see how often signs are used for target practice.
BigMatt

[Brandon]

^^ Happens in any rural or podunk area.  You'd be surprised how often it occurs in Illinois.

[BigMattFromTexas]

There's a paintball splatter on a stop sign right down the street from me.
BigMatt

[algorerhythms]

And what other states do you see people picking road kill up off the pavement?

I've eaten roadkill in Kentucky before...

[mightyace]

^^^

Well, I live in the state that, several years ago, officially made it legal take road kill off the highway so you could eat it.

[BigMattFromTexas]

Well, there's Kentucky and then there's the rest of the U.S. Haha, jk.
BigMatt

[algorerhythms]

Well, there's Kentucky and then there's the rest of the U.S. Haha, jk.
BigMatt

Hey, you're the one who brought up eating roadkill in Texas...

[nyratk1]

Well, there's the Fuhgeddaboudit BGSs on the Gowanus Expressway approaching the Verrazano, the BQE approaching the Kosciuczko Bridge, the Belt  near the Queens border and the Belt ramp to the Verrazano

Now that's local flavor