Which state-maintained highways are horse drawn carriages most common?

[kphoger]

M-185 around Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Why is this even a debate?

[webny99]

M-185 around Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Why is this even a debate?

Depends on whether "most common" refers to the total volume, or the percentage of total traffic.

[epzik8]

Anything in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, "Amish Country". I've driven most often on PA 272 and PA 372, and they have been plentiful on both highways.

[kphoger]

M-185 around Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Why is this even a debate?

Depends on whether "most common" refers to the total volume, or the percentage of total traffic.

I wonder if it really does depend or not.   

Below is the map for Mackinac Island Carriage Tours.  The bit right by 'Historic Downtown' is M-185.  So every regular carriage ride involves a horse-drawn carriage on a state-maintained highway.  The total number of carriage rides in a given year might outweigh that on the other highways mentioned.  Perhaps not a place like Lancaster County, though, I suppose.

[Flint1979]

I don't even get why M-185 even exists anymore or ever did in the first place really.

[kphoger]

I don't even get why M-185 even exists anymore or ever did in the first place really.

It was designated a state highway in 1933.  In that year, there were 192 automobiles per 1000 Americans–a number which would double in the next 23 years and quadruple by 1995.  The banning of automobiles on a particular road may have meant less back then compared to now.

It is a state-maintained route that still allows bicycles, horses with or without carriages, and snowmobiles.  That is, it handles traffic.  As such, I think it deserves its state highway designation.  Perhaps it should be unsigned, but I tend to dislike unsigned state highways.

[Buck87]

OH 603 in the Plymouth, Shiloh & Olivesburg areas

[ftballfan]

I saw three "Amish convertibles" (horse-drawn carriages with no cover) along M-91 between Lakeview and Greenville earlier this week

[cpzilliacus]

I have been in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania a lot, and seen plenty of horse-drawn traffic there on roads like PA-896, U.S. 222 and PA-272.  Also seen horse-drawn traffic on state roads in Cecil County and St. Mary's County, Maryland.

But the most I have ever seen at one time is not in those counties, but in Centre County, Pennsylvania along PA-192 (Brush Valley Road) and along intersecting PA-445 (Madisonburg Pike Road). 

PA-445 is a tough road for the horses, for it has steep grades and several switchbacks between PA-192 and PA-64 crossing a mountain ridge.

[Max Rockatansky]

I don't even get why M-185 even exists anymore or ever did in the first place really.

It was designated a state highway in 1933.  In that year, there were 192 automobiles per 1000 Americans–a number which would double in the next 23 years and quadruple by 1995.  The banning of automobiles on a particular road may have meant less back then compared to now.

It is a state-maintained route that still allows bicycles, horses with or without carriages, and snowmobiles.  That is, it handles traffic.  As such, I think it deserves its state highway designation.  Perhaps it should be unsigned, but I tend to dislike unsigned state highways.

Plus it's in a State Park, it might as well be maintained by a State Agency.  There is only one double sided reassurance shield along with mile markers anyways. 

[hobsini2]

The one Amish community I know of in Central Wisconsin is in the Southwestern corner of Green Lake County by Kingston and the Southeastern corner of Marquette County by Dalton. Officially, the state recognizes this as one community all the way up to Marquette.

I usually see them along Wis 22, Wis 44 and Wis 73.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7471177,-89.227589,12z?hl=en

[allniter89]

In Delaware they can be found west of Dover on DE 8, DE 44, there is quite a few large Amish farms out near  Hazlettville, Willow Grove, very rural area west of Dover & Camden-Wyoming.
I've never seen them on US 13 or DE 1, they'd likely would balk paying a toll.
They are very "thrifty". I drove a cab in Dover in the 70s, I'd pick them up to catch a bus to other colonies. Because their homes were a mile or two off the road  they'd ride their buggies to the end of their drive then slap the horse on the ass which sent the buggy back to the house.