Fill in the blank: Happiness is _______.
Make it about roads, or driving on them.
To start with, I'll quote Scott:
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 06, 2024, 04:38:31 PM
. . . any time someone drives like a maniac to pass me and then I end up right behind them at the next light.
Happiness is finding some weird eight foot wide mountain road which straddles along cliffs to drive along.
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2024, 07:12:37 PM
Fill in the blank: Happiness is _______.
Make it about roads, or driving on them.
To start with, I'll quote Scott:
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 06, 2024, 04:38:31 PM
. . . any time someone drives like a maniac to pass me and then I end up right behind them at the next light.
Driving like a maniac, and just barely making it through the yellow light ahead of the guy I passed.
A stretch of road with a big batch of classic signage (more than just one or two signs) still intact. Button copy, old KDOT demountable copy...anything cool like that.
An old highway alignment still paved with 1920s Bates concrete that is in good repair, especially if it still has truss bridges along it. (I've never found one with classic signage still along it, but in theory it's possible.)
Quote from: Max Rockatansky on January 11, 2024, 07:17:14 PM
Happiness is finding some weird eight foot wide mountain road which straddles along cliffs to drive along.
I second that.
Seeing an "elevation" sign with five digits.
Finding a really interesting bridge to drive over.
Any road with a spectacular view. The best views have plenty of water in them. And perhaps lights reflected in the water around dusk.
Roads with lots of wildflowers.
Suddenly finding myself on new, quiet asphalt, after being on an old rough stretch.
Seeing the jammed up traffic going the other way on the freeway.
Happiness is when I pay my tolls with a transponder that works with other agencies so that I don't have to either pay cash or get a bill in the mail.
A freshly-paved concrete highway.
Happiness is......THIS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxquj614dlM
Getting to fly down an open highway. Clinching a highway. The sounds of the road, like bridges or concrete pavement.
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2024, 07:12:37 PM
To start with, I'll quote Scott:
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 06, 2024, 04:38:31 PM
. . . any time someone drives like a maniac to pass me and then I end up right behind them at the next light.
So, are we just assuming that a smug feeling of vindication = happiness ...?
Happiness is clinching 100% of US 17.
Open road, smooth pavement, good tunes, fine weather, and scenery that makes you burn all the time that you have.
Discovering new (old) planning maps from a more ambitious time.
Here's a beauty from 1961: a 360-degree I-291; a CT 20 outer beltway; extended CT 190 both ways:
(https://thumbs2.imgbox.com/27/d1/ndR8rNXS_t.png) (https://imgbox.com/ndR8rNXS)
On the road: discovering old signs, interesting grade separations or interchanges... anything pleasantly surprising.
Also: that feeling when you're on a solo road trip and you wake up to the hum of nearby freeway traffic. The sun is rising, you grab some breakfast, and you get on the road.
My actual answer(s) would be:
- Driving on a long, straight, open stretch of freeway with light (but present) traffic
- Driving 75+ mph and getting passed by a whole string of faster traffic
- Driving on any non-freeway with a speed limit greater than 55 mph (due to nonexistence of such in NY)
- Passing on a two-lane road with cruise control set
- Skyline views on a clear day
- Driving 75 mph at sunset in SW Texas on a 2-lane road with no traffic with 3 friends in the car jamming out to "Life is a Highway."
- When you are on a 2 lane behind a slowpoke but a passing lane appears so you can pass them safely.
- Driving and clinching a toll road before it starts collecting tolls.
- When you have a really strong tailwind on the highway that lets your car coast and save tons of gas.
Letting your imagination run wild by marking up your Rand McNally atlases with a bunch of fantasy highways that will likely never exist IRL, and then creating signs and/or exit lists for these highways.
Riding towards the downtown of any large city (Chicago, New York, L.A., etc.) during the off-peak hours and admiring the ever-looming skyline that grows before you.
Watching YouTube videos of a fellow road geek and envying their creativity, especially in the choice of music as the soundtrack for their setting.
Charles Schulz already defined it.
— Looking at your _____ state road map from the welcome center and planning road trips, or thinking of ways you could've done them.
— Taking road pictures in areas you've never been before.
— Looking at really old road pictures from your area.
Quote from: Rothman on January 11, 2024, 10:28:42 PM
Charles Schulz already defined it.
Happiness is a warm map?
When construction season ends.
I'll sum it up using two signs:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53458679871_446ee7d6fe_z.jpg) (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200804/8d9306d50178d966d961070d6771e516.jpg)
Quote from: Big John on January 12, 2024, 02:29:07 AM
When construction season ends.
"Tomorrow never comes"
Happiness is going to your destination without worrying that your route isn't in the grid.
Driving in a state without winter.
Crossing off a bucket list road, however mundane that bucket list might be.
The song sung by one's tires on concrete with transverse grooves.
The first trip on a new bypass you've been waiting years for. A gauntlet of stop lights before, now you don't even need to tap off the cruise.
Placing interstate shields on fictional maps.
. . . brand-new, perfectly black, freshly striped asphalt.
Quote from: webny99 on January 11, 2024, 08:40:21 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 11, 2024, 07:12:37 PM
To start with, I'll quote Scott:
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 06, 2024, 04:38:31 PM
. . . any time someone drives like a maniac to pass me and then I end up right behind them at the next light.
So, are we just assuming that a smug feeling of vindication = happiness ...?
I was assuming that about Scott, yes.
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 12, 2024, 01:15:07 AM
Happiness is a warm map?
Quote from: GaryV on January 12, 2024, 09:25:51 AM
Tomorrow never comes
You guys are really messing up your Beatles references. It's "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" and "Tomorrow Never Knows".
. . . passing three vehicles in a row on a two-lane highway, without having to duck in between them for oncoming traffic.
Finding a speed limit that actually is the limit of what is reasonable and prudent for safe operation, rather than some random number that everyone ignores. :poke:
When a roadway perfectly matches with the way the song on the radio is playing. For instance, the beat drops the instant a curve starts. Music synchronization with roadways is epic imho... :sombrero:
Driving in a 'safe and sane' manner and beating the boughnhead to the next intersection or interchange.
Mike
2 lane roads with 8ft+ shoulders
Transverse grooved concrete pavements and bridge decks
Well designed, MUTCD-compliant signage (seems like an unpopular opinion 'round here)
Well-signed county routes
Mast arm traffic signals with reflective backplates
Roundabouts
Speed limits that actually feel like limits
<- Finding a route numbered 266 to drive on
Yield signs instead of stop signs
Synchronized traffic signals
Flashing yellow arrows/doghouses/permissive turns
Rectangular rapid flashing beacons at crosswalks (both as a driver and pedestrian)
States that sufficiently fund their DOTs (or equivalents)
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Driving anywhere early on a Sunday morning
Driving when it is dry, daylight, and overcast
Toll roads that feel like you are getting your money's worth (i.e. not the NYS Thruway)
Roadside scenery blanketed in a light coating of snow
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Toll roads that feel like you are getting your money's worth (i.e. not the NYS Thruway)
I don't know about this one. The Thruway is a higher quality road than most other toll roads for a lower rate per mile. Unless you catch it at a busy time and can grumble about the need for widening, it's worth the money relative to pretty much any other toll road I can think of.
Clinching the easternmost two miles of I-70 in Baltimore, about 25 years after I drove the rest of I-70.
Driving in a safe and sane manner, and not constantly being harassed by other drivers who aren't.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Well designed, MUTCD-compliant signage (seems like an unpopular opinion 'round here)
Given the number of posts on this forum complaining about signage that isn't well designed or MUTCD-compliant, I'm not sure how that's unpopular.
A perfect merge onto a somewhat congested freeway. Especially on freeways not built to Interstate standards (ie Arroyo Seco Parkway - CA 110).
The bump from dirt/grooved pavement to new pavement.
And this gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKJQB2qOIV8&ab_channel=Quarius
Quote from: webny99 on January 12, 2024, 06:54:19 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Toll roads that feel like you are getting your money's worth (i.e. not the NYS Thruway)
I don't know about this one. The Thruway is a higher quality road than most other toll roads for a lower rate per mile. Unless you catch it at a busy time and can grumble about the need for widening, it's worth the money relative to pretty much any other toll road I can think of.
Complete with triple-drop epoxy pavement markings, which I believe are even recessed.
Quote from: Rothman on January 13, 2024, 07:10:08 AM
Quote from: webny99 on January 12, 2024, 06:54:19 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Toll roads that feel like you are getting your money's worth (i.e. not the NYS Thruway)
I don't know about this one. The Thruway is a higher quality road than most other toll roads for a lower rate per mile. Unless you catch it at a busy time and can grumble about the need for widening, it's worth the money relative to pretty much any other toll road I can think of.
Complete with triple-drop epoxy pavement markings, which I believe are even recessed.
The very best major highway that I have ever driven is the Lake County part of the Tri-State Tollway (I-94) in Illinois. The east-west part of the Northwest Tollway (I-90) is also pretty good, from what I hear.
In my east coast roadtrips from a couple of decades ago, I have always considered the New York State Truway to be a very good value among tollways.
Mike
Quote from: RM42 on January 12, 2024, 10:10:55 PM
The bump from dirt/grooved pavement to new pavement.
I also enjoy the bump from pavement to gravel.
Quote from: webny99 on January 11, 2024, 09:29:55 PM
My actual answer(s) would be:
- Driving on a long, straight, open stretch of freeway with light (but present) traffic
- Driving 75+ mph and getting passed by a whole string of faster traffic
- Driving on any non-freeway with a speed limit greater than 55 mph (due to nonexistence of such in NY)
- Passing on a two-lane road with cruise control set
- Skyline views on a clear day
Also:
- When you're in a left lane with someone coming up behind you and notice someone to your right merging right (either into the right lane on a 3+ lane carriageway or into an auxiliary or deceleration lane) and you merge right in perfect sync with them to clear the left lane for faster traffic :nod:
Quote from: kphoger on January 15, 2024, 01:23:32 PM
Quote from: RM42 on January 12, 2024, 10:10:55 PM
The bump from dirt/grooved pavement to new pavement.
I also enjoy the bump from pavement to gravel.
Cattle grates have a satisfying sound when tires go over them.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Ooh, that's a good one. I like driving them late at night as well.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving when it is dry, daylight, and overcast
I definitely prefer driving when it's sunny to when it's overcast, though, as a general rule. Maybe I'd make an exception for sunrise and sunset.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 16, 2024, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Ooh, that's a good one. I like driving them late at night as well.
Oh, man, the last time I was in the Chicago area, I left the area on a Sunday morning, and I drove from southwestern Michigan all the way through Joliet without ever dropping below 75 mph. Yeah, that was happiness. Especially considering I had arrived on a Friday afternoon and endured the westbound during the thick of rush hour.
Quote from: kphoger on January 16, 2024, 01:06:47 PM
Oh, man, the last time I was in the Chicago area, I left the area on a Sunday morning, and I drove from southwestern Michigan all the way through Joliet without ever dropping below 75 mph. Yeah, that was happiness. Especially considering I had arrived on a Friday afternoon and endured the westbound during the thick of rush hour.
Hmmm...isn't there a 45mph work zone still active thru central Joliet? I see a lot of 55mph traffic when I go through there but 75mph would really be a flyer...and an expensive one if caught :-) Hopefully your trip was before the work zone was placed there, it's been in place since at least 2022.
Quote from: Rick Powell on January 16, 2024, 01:46:10 PM
Quote from: kphoger on January 16, 2024, 01:06:47 PM
Oh, man, the last time I was in the Chicago area, I left the area on a Sunday morning, and I drove from southwestern Michigan all the way through Joliet without ever dropping below 75 mph. Yeah, that was happiness. Especially considering I had arrived on a Friday afternoon and endured the westbound during the thick of rush hour.
Hmmm...isn't there a 45mph work zone still active thru central Joliet? I see a lot of 55mph traffic when I go through there but 75mph would really be a flyer...and an expensive one if caught :-) Hopefully your trip was before the work zone was placed there, it's been in place since at least 2022.
No clue. I said "the last time I was in the Chicago area". I think it was 14½ years ago. For what it's worth, a lot of that stretch had a regular 55mph speed limit, so cruising at 78 would still have been an expensive ticket. IIRC, there was road construction just west of the IN/IL state line, too.
But we had to get from Lakeside (MI) to Wichita (KS) in one day, and we had a one-year-old, so I was eager to make the trip as fast as possible. From Joliet to Des Moines, I think I only dropped below 80 mph if it was necessary to avoid rear-ending a slower vehicle.
Quote from: kphoger on January 16, 2024, 01:06:47 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 16, 2024, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Ooh, that's a good one. I like driving them late at night as well.
Oh, man, the last time I was in the Chicago area, I left the area on a Sunday morning, and I drove from southwestern Michigan all the way through Joliet without ever dropping below 75 mph. Yeah, that was happiness. Especially considering I had arrived on a Friday afternoon and endured the westbound during the thick of rush hour.
One year, I was traveling north up the I-95 corridor over Labor Day weekend. The drive on the Friday before, between Washington and Baltimore in particular, was just awful, with stop-and-go traffic for hours and hours. That Monday, though, traveling north of Boston was an absolute dream. The same could not be said of the southbound traffic.
Quote from: kphoger on January 16, 2024, 02:00:35 PM
No clue. I said "the last time I was in the Chicago area". I think it was 14½ years ago. For what it's worth, a lot of that stretch had a regular 55mph speed limit, so cruising at 78 would still have been an expensive ticket. IIRC, there was road construction just west of the IN/IL state line, too.
But we had to get from Lakeside (MI) to Wichita (KS) in one day, and we had a one-year-old, so I was eager to make the trip as fast as possible. From Joliet to Des Moines, I think I only dropped below 80 mph if it was necessary to avoid rear-ending a slower vehicle.
OK that was quite a while ago. I-80 is fairly torn up now with a $1B reconstruction project from US 30 to Minooka thru Joliet, and several lane shifts with barrier and not too much shoulder room. 80 mph is fairly common west of I-55 and very few people pulled over at that speed, especially eastbound in the morning with commuter traffic mixed in with long-haul trucks. The trucks are about the only limiting factor when you have two semi's side by side with an excruciatingly incremental LL passer.
Quote from: Rick Powell on January 17, 2024, 01:06:02 PM
80 mph is fairly common west of I-55 and very few people pulled over at that speed
Isn't the speed limit 70 mph these days, though? Back in the 65 days, I remember 80 mph being the safe/ticket dividing line.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 16, 2024, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Ooh, that's a good one. I like driving them late at night as well.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving when it is dry, daylight, and overcast
I definitely prefer driving when it's sunny to when it's overcast, though, as a general rule. Maybe I'd make an exception for sunrise and sunset.
If I'm understanding correctly, I am exactly the opposite. Some of the most beautiful drives, even including my regular commute, are right around sunrise and sunset on a clear day. Meanwhile, I enjoy the vibe of driving when it's overcast as long as it's not raining or snowing. Sunny days are good too, but they tend to be more tiring especially in the afternoon hours.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving when it is dry, daylight, and overcast
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 16, 2024, 12:03:18 PM
I definitely prefer driving when it's sunny
Quote from: webny99 on January 17, 2024, 02:11:18 PM
If I'm understanding correctly, I am exactly the opposite. Some of the most beautiful drives, even including my regular commute, are right around sunrise and sunset on a clear day. Meanwhile, I enjoy the vibe of driving when it's overcast as long as it's not raining or snowing. Sunny days are good too, but they tend to be more tiring especially in the afternoon hours.
I created a poll on this topic a couple of years ago:
The best skies for long-distance driving? (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=31327.msg2725695#msg2725695)
Quote from: webny99 on January 17, 2024, 02:11:18 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 16, 2024, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Ooh, that's a good one. I like driving them late at night as well.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving when it is dry, daylight, and overcast
I definitely prefer driving when it's sunny to when it's overcast, though, as a general rule. Maybe I'd make an exception for sunrise and sunset.
If I'm understanding correctly, I am exactly the opposite. Some of the most beautiful drives, even including my regular commute, are right around sunrise and sunset on a clear day.
I'm imagining driving straight into the sun, like heading straight west at sunset or straight east at sunrise. If it's off to the side a bit, then watching the night turn into day is quite nice.
Quote from: kphoger on January 17, 2024, 01:45:03 PM
Quote from: Rick Powell on January 17, 2024, 01:06:02 PM
80 mph is fairly common west of I-55 and very few people pulled over at that speed
Isn't the speed limit 70 mph these days, though? Back in the 65 days, I remember 80 mph being the safe/ticket dividing line.
Yes IL upped its maximum Interstate speed to 70 several years ago. The IL State Police seem to be selective on when and where they draw the line nowadays. The saying "if you're 8 you're great, if you're 9 you're mine" seems to be the ultra-safe zone, but I have seen cops sitting while there are many 15-overs and not making a move. They are obviously more triggered in construction zones, but even there, 6-7 mph over will usually not draw a pull-over.
Back in the 55mph days of the 70s, I once made the mistake of passing a state trooper on I-80 EB near Minooka inching past him at 56 mph, and he pulled me over and gave me a warning. His excuse for being nit-picky was "yeah, you were doing 56, but you came up behind me faster than that."
Quote from: Rick Powell on January 17, 2024, 06:36:31 PM
Back in the 55mph days of the 70s, I once made the mistake of passing a state trooper on I-80 EB near Minooka inching past him at 56 mph, and he pulled me over and gave me a warning. His excuse for being nit-picky was "yeah, you were doing 56, but you came up behind me faster than that."
Between Carmi and Enfield on IL-14, I once
overtook a police officer while driving a box truck. Didn't get pulled over.
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 17, 2024, 04:38:03 PM
Quote from: webny99 on January 17, 2024, 02:11:18 PM
Quote from: CtrlAltDel on January 16, 2024, 12:03:18 PM
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving old, poorly engineered urban freeways early on Sunday morning
Ooh, that's a good one. I like driving them late at night as well.
Quote from: cockroachking on January 12, 2024, 05:21:15 PM
Driving when it is dry, daylight, and overcast
I definitely prefer driving when it's sunny to when it's overcast, though, as a general rule. Maybe I'd make an exception for sunrise and sunset.
If I'm understanding correctly, I am exactly the opposite. Some of the most beautiful drives, even including my regular commute, are right around sunrise and sunset on a clear day.
I'm imagining driving straight into the sun, like heading straight west at sunset or straight east at sunrise. If it's off to the side a bit, then watching the night turn into day is quite nice.
We're pretty much in agreement then. I would say the times when the sun is in your eyes are normally at least a half hour after sunrise or a half hour before sunset. But when the sun is low enough (even if it's already risen or before it's set) and the sky is clear it can be quite beautiful.
Happiness for me is being able to cruise down a rural or semi-rural two-lane highway at 45+ mph with little other traffic and few red lights or stop signs.
Or when I'm driving down an urban arterial and catch a nice long green wave - once made it close to three miles through 11 sets of lights on College Ave (main drag through Appleton, WI), including a freeway interchange, without having to stop.
Happiness is when the warmer weather arrives,... and the painting crews start striping pavement again.
There is something about seeing a road "pop" with freshly painted lines.
Quote from: WIroadfan on January 19, 2024, 08:10:55 AM
Or when I'm driving down an urban arterial and catch a nice long green wave - once made it close to three miles through 11 sets of lights on College Ave (main drag through Appleton, WI), including a freeway interchange, without having to stop.
You just made
tradephoric's finger twitch.
Quote from: WIroadfan on January 19, 2024, 08:10:55 AM
Happiness for me is being able to cruise down a rural or semi-rural two-lane highway at 45+ mph with little other traffic and few red lights or stop signs.
Or when I'm driving down an urban arterial and catch a nice long green wave - once made it close to three miles through 11 sets of lights on College Ave (main drag through Appleton, WI), including a freeway interchange, without having to stop.
I always like long green light runs, too. I once made it westbound on Outagamie County 'OO' (old US 41) from County 'N' in Little Chute, WI across Appleton's north side, past I-41 via its westward WI 15 extension to Casaloma Dr without hitting a red light.
Mike
Quote from: mgk920 on January 19, 2024, 12:40:27 PM
Quote from: WIroadfan on January 19, 2024, 08:10:55 AM
Happiness for me is being able to cruise down a rural or semi-rural two-lane highway at 45+ mph with little other traffic and few red lights or stop signs.
Or when I'm driving down an urban arterial and catch a nice long green wave - once made it close to three miles through 11 sets of lights on College Ave (main drag through Appleton, WI), including a freeway interchange, without having to stop.
I always like long green light runs, too. I once made it westbound on Outagamie County 'OO' (old US 41) from County 'N' in Little Chute, WI across Appleton's north side, past I-41 via its westward WI 15 extension to Casaloma Dr without hitting a red light.
Mike
Awesome! My best on that one is from 441 over to Lynndale Dr (County 'A') - though does it count because I still had to slow down at the roundabout at WI 47?
Quote from: WIroadfan on January 20, 2024, 09:23:45 AM
Quote from: mgk920 on January 19, 2024, 12:40:27 PM
Quote from: WIroadfan on January 19, 2024, 08:10:55 AM
Happiness for me is being able to cruise down a rural or semi-rural two-lane highway at 45+ mph with little other traffic and few red lights or stop signs.
Or when I'm driving down an urban arterial and catch a nice long green wave - once made it close to three miles through 11 sets of lights on College Ave (main drag through Appleton, WI), including a freeway interchange, without having to stop.
I always like long green light runs, too. I once made it westbound on Outagamie County 'OO' (old US 41) from County 'N' in Little Chute, WI across Appleton's north side, past I-41 via its westward WI 15 extension to Casaloma Dr without hitting a red light.
Mike
Awesome! My best on that one is from 441 over to Lynndale Dr (County 'A') - though does it count because I still had to slow down at the roundabout at WI 47?
I wouldn't worry about a roundabout if you get through it without having to yield to any conflicting traffic, including the one at Northland/Richmond (County 'OO'/WI 47).
Mike
Winter scenery like I saw on US 6 in PA between Towanda and Tunkhannock yesterday.