Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[kphoger]

10/10/25

Why are toll roads more common in the Midwest and Northeast than in the rest of the country?

There are more people there.  Therefore, more people drive on the roads.  Therefore, they deteriorate faster.  Therefore, they have to be repaired more frequently.  Therefore, more money is required for their maintenance.  Therefore, an additional funding source is more necessary.

Also, there is no fuel tax in Northeastern or Midwestern states.

[xonhulu]

10/10/25

Why are toll roads more common in the Midwest and Northeast than in the rest of the country?

No road is an island, entire unto itself. Each is a piece of the highway network, a part of the main

Therefore, ask not for whom the road tolls: it tolls for thee.

- John Donne (Paying Tolls), 1623

[kphoger]

No road is an island, entire unto itself.
Each is a piece of the highway network,
a part of the main
Therefore, ask not for whom the road tolls:
it tolls for thee,
but half for three.

Fixed.  You forgot the last line, which applies to HOV lanes.

[xonhulu]

No road is an island, entire unto itself.
Each is a piece of the highway network,
a part of the main
Therefore, ask not for whom the road tolls:
it tolls for thee,
but half for three.

Fixed.  You forgot the last line, which applies to HOV lanes.

I'll have to take your word for it. I'm from Oregon, we don't do any of those toll road or HOT lanes shenanigans (yet).

[TheCatalyst31]

10/10/25

Why are toll roads more common in the Midwest and Northeast than in the rest of the country?

It helps keep out the cheapskates from other parts of the country. Nobody wants to hear them complain about how expensive the tourist stuff in New York and Chicago is.