Daily conversation: What is the worst possible answer?

[jeffandnicole]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 101 was originally going to be a beltway around the entire United States to connect with US 1, but Idaho and Arizona blocked its continuance.

[Max Rockatansky]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 101 was originally going to be a beltway around the entire United States to connect with US 1, but Idaho and Arizona blocked its continuance.

The actual answer isn't much better.  AASHO considered the "10" part of 101 to be a single digit. 

[kphoger]

US69 started when two people were hungry.

That's also where the "us" part comes from.  It would have been U-69, but the two people wanted "something to remember us by", so they named it "us 69".

US 86 was not approved as it got 86ed in the process.

And that's actually the origin of the term "eighty-sixed" in American slang.  Before that, people just said "nixed".  The linguistic transition after US-86's non-approval was facilitated by the fact that "eighty-six" rhymes with "nix".

[TheCatalyst31]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 99 was numbered when Caltrans made too many shields for US 66 and reused them by hanging them upside down on their newest highway.

[MikeTheActuary]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 38 got its number at the request of California, which had a state route they wanted to connect to it and upgrade.

[MikeTheActuary]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

E69 received its number in support of a campaign by the Norwegian government, which was concerned about the ability of Finnmark to support a growing population, but still wanted to encourage intimacy as an element of the region's residents' well-being.

[xonhulu]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 99 was numbered when Caltrans made too many shields for US 66 and reused them by hanging them upside down on their newest highway.

I also heard US 99 was a cruel joke to get British Columbia to number their cross border extension of it as BC 99, only to leave them hanging by getting rid of ours. 

[kphoger]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

[JayhawkCO]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

You are now allowed to dance at the cadence of the yellow ball.

[Max Rockatansky]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 99 was numbered when Caltrans made too many shields for US 66 and reused them by hanging them upside down on their newest highway.

Irony being:

-  The Auto Clubs made the initial Route shields and even posted them.
-  Much of US 99 was signed way before 66 was.
-  66 was intended originally to be 60.  The Los Angeles city council lost their shit over the change.  Their dismay is actually preserved in their minutes. 
-  Caltrans didn't exist until the 1970s which was past the demise of US 99 in California.

Before someone points it out, I am aware this is the "worst answers" thread. 

[GaryV]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

It means the locals are in the business of revenue enhancement, as you can't tell when the light will turn red and they can catch you for running it.

[kphoger]

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

It means the locals are in the business of revenue enhancement, as you can't tell when the light will turn red and they can catch you for running it.

That's why I put the bolded word in there.

[pderocco]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

Time to visit the urologist.

[Big John]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

Caution: you are free to proceed.

[GaryV]

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

It means the locals are in the business of revenue enhancement, as you can't tell when the light will turn red and they can catch you for running it.

That's why I put the bolded word in there.

Right, the locals intended to raise more money, so they configured the signal that way. (This is still the "worst" answer thread, right?)

[PNWRoadgeek]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

You should play dodgeball in your car.

[TheCatalyst31]

June 24, 2026: Pick a US Route (or equivalent system such as the E road network) and explain where it got its number from.

US 99 was numbered when Caltrans made too many shields for US 66 and reused them by hanging them upside down on their newest highway.

Irony being:

-  The Auto Clubs made the initial Route shields and even posted them.
-  Much of US 99 was signed way before 66 was.
-  66 was intended originally to be 60.  The Los Angeles city council lost their shit over the change.  Their dismay is actually preserved in their minutes. 
-  Caltrans didn't exist until the 1970s which was past the demise of US 99 in California.

Before someone points it out, I am aware this is the "worst answers" thread. 

While all of that was unintentional (even though I lived in California for a few years, I'm only passingly familiar with their highway history), I'm glad it made my answer even worse.

[interstatefan990]

25 JUN 2026
What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

The traffic signal is telling you to drive to Brazil.

[Scott5114]

66 was intended originally to be 60.  The Los Angeles city council lost their shit over the change.  Their dismay is actually preserved in their minutes. 

Which is funny because they actually ended up getting 60 eventually anyhow.

[Max Rockatansky]

66 was intended originally to be 60.  The Los Angeles city council lost their shit over the change.  Their dismay is actually preserved in their minutes. 

Which is funny because they actually ended up getting 60 eventually anyhow.

And became a more important highway in California than US 66 ever was. 

[Sapphuby]

25 JUN 2026

This crosswalk signal now displays both a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball at the same time—on all signal heads, in both directions.

What is the intended meaning when a signal displays a combination of a steady green ball and a flashing yellow ball?

Quantum yielding yields and does not yield to a pedestrian when the pedestrian is and is not there.

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

US 13 the politician who started it was having a very bad day.

[PNWRoadgeek]

6-26-2026: What is I-605 in California most well known for?

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

6-26-2026: What is I-605 in California most well known for?

Its control city to quote Control City Freak "605 signed for the scenic LA suburb of Thru Traffic".

[PNWRoadgeek]

6-26-2026: What is I-605 in California most well known for?

Its control city to quote Control City Freak "605 signed for the scenic LA suburb of Thru Traffic".

Good job.