New categories

[hotdogPi]

Some ideas for categories:

General should be split into:

"General"
"Questions"
"List these" (not sure what to call it, but it's the kind where there are some examples, like the threads "Forty Six and Two" and "Consecutive Concurrency Captions")
"Opinions" (all polls, plus other opinions like "best interstate ever" and "most pretentious highway designations")
"News articles"

Off topic should be split into:

"Partially off topic" (geography, cars)
"Completely off topic" (completely unrelated to roads)

[sammi]

"List these" can probably go into "General".

Also, this board needs some categorizing, because this thread isn't exactly "Welcome".

[Alps]

It might be helpful to have a topic called "Ideas" in the "Meta" section, since Welcome is currently the place threads go for lack of anything better.

[Michael]

I'd also like to see a Questions section.  I've had various questions before that weren't big enough to warrant an entire thread, but when I asked them, I tried to find a thread that the question I was asking best fit into.  Recently, I've been considering creating a thread for questions ("Ask A Question That's Too Small To Have Its Own Thread" or something like that), but obviously I haven't.

[froggie]

I presume these would be for questions that are forum-related and not road-related, as road-related questions are more appropriately located within the highway or regional forums.  And on that note, most states have their own threads at this point...could always post your question there, unless it's a topic that's multi-state in nature.

[Indyroads]

It might be helpful to have a topic called "Ideas" in the "Meta" section, since Welcome is currently the place threads go for lack of anything better.

This is a most excellent idea.

[Scott5114]

I would suggest simply splitting this board into two, with a "Welcome" board containing new user introductions, and a "Meta" board containing anything else that has to do with the forum specifically.

[Alps]

I think there was enough impetus for this. We're discussing more changes. We like your ideas!

[Michael]

I presume these would be for questions that are forum-related and not road-related, as road-related questions are more appropriately located within the highway or regional forums.  And on that note, most states have their own threads at this point...could always post your question there, unless it's a topic that's multi-state in nature.

I was actually thinking of road-related questions.  I wouldn't want to start a new thread just to ask something like how wide lane lines were.  I have had questions that were specific to New York before, so when I asked them, I posted them in the existing New York thread.

[Alps]

I presume these would be for questions that are forum-related and not road-related, as road-related questions are more appropriately located within the highway or regional forums.  And on that note, most states have their own threads at this point...could always post your question there, unless it's a topic that's multi-state in nature.

I was actually thinking of road-related questions.  I wouldn't want to start a new thread just to ask something like how wide lane lines were.  I have had questions that were specific to New York before, so when I asked them, I posted them in the existing New York thread.

a) Lane lines are 4" or 6" wide, depending on the agency.
b) General Highway Talk is the place for road-related questions.

[Brandon]

Speaking of new categories... 

[hotdogPi]

a) Lane lines are 4" or 6" wide, depending on the agency.

4 or 6 inches? That sounds more like a balance beam!

[Michael]

a) Lane lines are 4" or 6" wide, depending on the agency.

I knew that, I was just using it as an example.

Since you answered that question in this thread, I guess I'll ask an actual question I have.  Why do many old truss bridges have a thin panel of latticed metal at the top of the truss?  Here's an example of what I'm talking about on the Exchange Street Bridge in Binghamton.  They're only on the ends of the bridges, and I've never seen them on the ends of trusses in the middle of a multiple span bridge.  It it just decoration, or is there another purpose?

[Big John]

a) Lane lines are 4" or 6" wide, depending on the agency.

I knew that, I was just using it as an example.

Since you answered that question in this thread, I guess I'll ask an actual question I have.  Why do many old truss bridges have a thin panel of latticed metal at the top of the truss?  Here's an example of what I'm talking about on the Exchange Street Bridge in Binghamton.  They're only on the ends of the bridges, and I've never seen them on the ends of trusses in the middle of a multiple span bridge.  It it just decoration, or is there another purpose?

That looks like it there for decorative purposes as it holds no structural value.

[Alps]

Yeah, they used to spend money to make bridges look nice. Back when they thought they had easy money for that.

[cpzilliacus]

How about a category discussing highway finance?

Such as tax finance; toll/bond finance; public-private partnerships and how to fund maintenance and operation of highways?

[NE2]

How about a category discussing highway finance?

Such as tax finance; toll/bond finance; public-private partnerships and how to fund maintenance and operation of highways?

Get a blog.

[getemngo]

I second 1's suggestion for a "news articles" section. They got posted to the Yahoo groups a lot but don't really seem to have made the transition to AARoads.

So, topics about roadgeeking as a hobby would go into one of these new Meta categories? I felt uneasy about making the "Areas underrepresented for meets" topic in Road Enthusiasts Meetings, for instance, because that seems to be specifically for announcing upcoming events, but it sure doesn't belong in Off Topic.

[Alps]

I second 1's suggestion for a "news articles" section. They got posted to the Yahoo groups a lot but don't really seem to have made the transition to AARoads.

So, topics about roadgeeking as a hobby would go into one of these new Meta categories? I felt uneasy about making the "Areas underrepresented for meets" topic in Road Enthusiasts Meetings, for instance, because that seems to be specifically for announcing upcoming events, but it sure doesn't belong in Off Topic.

No, your topic was 100% in the right place - it has to do with meets! As for news articles, post them to the relevant region if they're local or statewide in nature, and post them to General if they're national or international.

[froggie]

How about a category discussing highway finance?

Such as tax finance; toll/bond finance; public-private partnerships and how to fund maintenance and operation of highways?

Contrary to its impacts on transportation, very few people post articles/discussions relating to this (you're the only real exception).  I'd think, as with news articles, that finance discussions are appropriate in the relelvant region (or the General Highway thread if multi-region).

[cpzilliacus]

How about a category discussing highway finance?

Such as tax finance; toll/bond finance; public-private partnerships and how to fund maintenance and operation of highways?

Contrary to its impacts on transportation, very few people post articles/discussions relating to this (you're the only real exception).  I'd think, as with news articles, that finance discussions are appropriate in the relelvant region (or the General Highway thread if multi-region).

Without money, the highways do not get built, maintained or improved.

[Alps]

How about a category discussing highway finance?

Such as tax finance; toll/bond finance; public-private partnerships and how to fund maintenance and operation of highways?

Contrary to its impacts on transportation, very few people post articles/discussions relating to this (you're the only real exception).  I'd think, as with news articles, that finance discussions are appropriate in the relelvant region (or the General Highway thread if multi-region).

Without money, the highways do not get built, maintained or improved.

Yes, we know, but most of us are interested in the roads as opposed to the funding. I'm not interested in the funding, but my career depends on it, so I have to keep an eye on it. (:

[froggie]

Without money, the highways do not get built, maintained or improved.

Steve already hit upon this, but most of the users of this forum are not interested in the funding side.