Old perceptions that linger

[hbelkins]

How many people have outdated perceptions about travel times or other road-related subjects?

Growing up and coming of age in the 55 mph speed limit days, I always assumed that a trip to Louisville or Cincinnati would take three hours.

I still calculate a trip to either of those cities as taking three hours, when in reality it only takes a little more than two hours with the repeal of the 55 mph speed limit and improved access to the freeway network. But the perception that a trip to Louisville or Cincy will take three hours still remains.

[Max Rockatansky]

Every couple years when I visit my home state of Michigan, I'm always surprised that the roads aren't all that bad.  Having Pure Potholes beaten into my head during my early driving years seems to have stuck with me despite a quarter century passing.

[Henry]

Back when Rand McNally also included proposed freeways in their road atlases, I was under the impression that those freeways would be completed and ready to drive eventually. At the time, I knew nothing about the revolts and opposition that wiped out most of those plans, and it wasn't until I started poring over some old articles detailing the cancellations in the early 90s that I finally figured out why they never came to be.

[Roadgeekteen]

Despite Massachusetts switching to mileage exits, I still have the old sequential exits on 128 burned into my memory and couldn't tell you most of the new mileage exits.

[1995hoo]

How many people have outdated perceptions about travel times or other road-related subjects?

Growing up and coming of age in the 55 mph speed limit days, I always assumed that a trip to Louisville or Cincinnati would take three hours.

I still calculate a trip to either of those cities as taking three hours, when in reality it only takes a little more than two hours with the repeal of the 55 mph speed limit and improved access to the freeway network. But the perception that a trip to Louisville or Cincy will take three hours still remains.

I always based travel time on going 60 mph, mainly because it was just convenient as the easiest way to calculate. For the most part, I still do, and the reason is the same—it's just easier to do the math in my head estimating a mile per minute.

When I was a little kid, it was just over 240 miles from our house in Virginia to my grandparents' house in Brooklyn, and except around Thanksgiving it usually did take right around 4 hours not counting stops. I haven't driven to New York City since 2010, so I have no idea how long it takes now. In theory it ought to be a faster drive with E-ZPass, but the increased traffic probably offsets that to some extent. Certainly the drive from Fairfax County to Charlottesville takes longer than it did 30 years ago. I always thought of it as a two-hour drive, but nowadays making it in two and a half is an exceptionally quick trip (due both to more traffic and more traffic lights).

I think in my head, I still visualize the toll roads in the Northeast as having the toll plazas I grew up encountering. Certainly part of that is that I just don't drive north nearly as often as I used to.

[kurumi]

Despite Massachusetts switching to mileage exits, I still have the old sequential exits on 128 burned into my memory and couldn't tell you most of the new mileage exits.

Likely the same deal in Connecticut. Businesses refer to exit numbers (billboards, radio ads, etc.); but so do traffic reports ("stop and go from exit 33 to 37") and even points of reference ("that ice cream shop off exit 12"). The signs will change over, but those old exit numbers will live on for a while.

[vdeane]

Despite Massachusetts switching to mileage exits, I still have the old sequential exits on 128 burned into my memory and couldn't tell you most of the new mileage exits.

Likely the same deal in Connecticut. Businesses refer to exit numbers (billboards, radio ads, etc.); but so do traffic reports ("stop and go from exit 33 to 37") and even points of reference ("that ice cream shop off exit 12"). The signs will change over, but those old exit numbers will live on for a while.

This Cracker Barrel billboard sure didn't waste time to change over!

[Dirt Roads]

How many people have outdated perceptions about travel times or other road-related subjects?

Growing up and coming of age in the 55 mph speed limit days, I always assumed that a trip to Louisville or Cincinnati would take three hours.

In the same vein, I'm still stuck in NMSL days and can't shake the concept that the best route from what's now known as North Chesterfield, Virginia -to- Lexington, Virginia (and points west) ought to run along US-60 over to I-81.

[Rothman]

I have "upgraded my memory," but for decades, the best route east from Floyd County, KY was US 460 -- at least to get from one group of my relatives to the other.  Took that route at some point years ago and my relatives looked at me as if I had two heads: "You know I-64 is complete now, right?"

[Quillz]

When I tell people I visit Alaska, they always ask me how I "survive" the dirt roads and lack of gas stations. I always have to explain to them all the important roads in Alaska are fully paved and maintained like anywhere else, and there are plenty of gas stations, usually any time two major roads junction. The only time you deal with unpaved roads are in the remote parts of the state that generally only serve locals or provide alternate access between two major roads (such as the Denali Highway).

[formulanone]

"I'll make up some time on the road." is the lie I tell myself.

Best I've done is about 5 minutes gained over 3 hours. But typically, I need to bank on 5 extra minutes for every hour of not-rush-hour travel times.

[vdeane]

"I'll make up some time on the road." is the lie I tell myself.

Best I've done is about 5 minutes gained over 3 hours. But typically, I need to bank on 5 extra minutes for every hour of not-rush-hour travel times.

I've actually managed to beat Google's time... but only on my commute home.  I think it's because my last mile on I-87 is on an auxilary lane where I'm often going faster than traffic in the thru lanes.

[Rothman]

"I'll make up some time on the road." is the lie I tell myself.

Best I've done is about 5 minutes gained over 3 hours. But typically, I need to bank on 5 extra minutes for every hour of not-rush-hour travel times.

I've actually managed to beat Google's time... but only on my commute home.  I think it's because my last mile on I-87 is on an auxilary lane where I'm often going faster than traffic in the thru lanes.

On long trips, I've beaten Google's original time considerably if I don't hit traffic jams.  Last Saturday, on a return trip from Boston, I shaved off about 20 minutes.

[freebrickproductions]

"I'll make up some time on the road." is the lie I tell myself.

Best I've done is about 5 minutes gained over 3 hours. But typically, I need to bank on 5 extra minutes for every hour of not-rush-hour travel times.

I've actually managed to beat Google's time... but only on my commute home.  I think it's because my last mile on I-87 is on an auxilary lane where I'm often going faster than traffic in the thru lanes.

On long trips, I've beaten Google's original time considerably if I don't hit traffic jams.  Last Saturday, on a return trip from Boston, I shaved off about 20 minutes.

If there ain't a massive delay somewhere on US 72 or Alt. US 72, I'm usually able to shave-off about 20 minutes over the 3.75-ish hour drive from Huntsville to Memphis.

[thspfc]

In my head: if a trip takes between 5 and 10 minutes, it takes exactly 10 minutes. If it takes between 10 and 15 minutes, it takes exactly 15 minutes. If it takes between 15 and 30 minutes, it takes exactly 30 minutes.

When I started my current job it took me at least a month to break the internalization that the morning commute was 30 minutes. In reality it was between 21 and 24 minutes every day barring bad weather.

[Roadgeekteen]

In my head: if a trip takes between 5 and 10 minutes, it takes exactly 10 minutes. If it takes between 10 and 15 minutes, it takes exactly 15 minutes. If it takes between 15 and 30 minutes, it takes exactly 30 minutes.

When I started my current job it took me at least a month to break the internalization that the morning commute was 30 minutes. In reality it was between 21 and 24 minutes every day barring bad weather.

Same, I always imaged the drive to my grandparents house taking 45 minutes, it actually takes 35-40.

[mgk920]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Mike

[GaryV]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Not according to House Hunters. They're always paying more for a smaller house in the city because it's close to shops, restaurants and bars.

[Roadgeekteen]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Not according to House Hunters. They're always paying more for a smaller house in the city because it's close to shops, restaurants and bars.

whether cities or suburbs are better really depends on your life stage and your lifestyle choices.

[Rothman]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Not according to House Hunters. They're always paying more for a smaller house in the city because it's close to shops, restaurants and bars.

whether cities or suburbs are better really depends on your life stage and your lifestyle choices.

Not so much the former.

[hbelkins]

I have "upgraded my memory," but for decades, the best route east from Floyd County, KY was US 460 -- at least to get from one group of my relatives to the other.  Took that route at some point years ago and my relatives looked at me as if I had two heads: "You know I-64 is complete now, right?"

Depending on where your relatives are from, then pretty soon US 460 will again be the preferred route, once the two missing segments of Corridor Q are finished.

[Roadgeekteen]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Not according to House Hunters. They're always paying more for a smaller house in the city because it's close to shops, restaurants and bars.

whether cities or suburbs are better really depends on your life stage and your lifestyle choices.

Not so much the former.

I mean young people generally like to party more which is better in cities. I guess that's also kinda lifestyle choices as well.

[Max Rockatansky]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Not according to House Hunters. They're always paying more for a smaller house in the city because it's close to shops, restaurants and bars.

whether cities or suburbs are better really depends on your life stage and your lifestyle choices.

Not so much the former.

I mean young people generally like to party more which is better in cities. I guess that's also kinda lifestyle choices as well.

Cities = bad
Suburbs = bad
Parties = bad
People in general = bad

[formulanone]

Cities = BAD, suburbs = GOOD?

Not according to House Hunters. They're always paying more for a smaller house in the city because it's close to shops, restaurants and bars.

whether cities or suburbs are better really depends on your life stage and your lifestyle choices.

Not so much the former.

I mean young people generally like to party more which is better in cities. I guess that's also kinda lifestyle choices as well.

Cities = bad
Suburbs = bad
Parties = bad
People in general = bad

Weird Al = Even Worse