Things never said by roadgeeks

[NE2]

"I already have a road atlas. I don't need the newest version"

I'd say this.

[mightyace]

^^^

Hopefully, you're saying that for different reasons that the average person.

The expanded versions:
Average person:
"I already have a road atlas.  The roads don't change these days, do they?"

Roadgeek:
"I already have a road atlas.  I can handle and changes that aren't in my copy."

[J N Winkler]

It strikes me that most of these "things never said by roadgeeks" are in fact said at one time or another, and generally for very specific and well-thought-out reasons, by road enthusiasts who march to the beat of a different drummer.

[Alps]

Go out and see demolition of truss bridges?  But I just got the new Sports Illustrated and I need to read about the latest Manning rumor.

[Laura]

"Why do you care so much about roads? They just get you where you're going and that's that."

"If it's an old alignment, why do you care? It's not like you can drive on it."

"My GPS is never wrong ever!"

[jwolfer]

^^^

Hopefully, you're saying that for different reasons that the average person.

The expanded versions:
Average person:
"I already have a road atlas.  The roads don't change these days, do they?"

Roadgeek:
"I already have a road atlas.  I can handle and changes that aren't in my copy."

looking forward to new edition of a road atlas to find the mistakes

[berberry]

It's not just GPS that get the routes wrong sometimes.  I live in Vicksburg, MS, and until very recently the Google map of this city got the eastern side of town, near the interstate, completely wrong.  Wrong in such a way that I have to wonder who exactly is responsible for the Google cartography.

The map showed roads that haven't existed since the interstate was built back in the 60s, decades before Google was even thought of.  The interstate itself was labelled correctly, but for some reason there was a non-existent name attached to it - old something highway (in all of Mississippi, there are only about 3 or 4 roads that have the word "highway" in their names, and I-20 is not one of them).    

What's more, if you went to Google for driving directions to Vicksburg from anywhere that would bring you into town from the west on I-20, the instructions had you exit the interstate at Delta, La (the last interchange before the MS River), continue eastbound on old Hwy 80 and cross the river on the old bridge, which was closed in 1993.

[agentsteel53]

old something highway (in all of Mississippi, there are only about 3 or 4 roads that have the word "highway" in their names, and I-20 is not one of them).    

Bankhead?  I think the Bankhead Highway was the 1910s auto trail that ran along the 80 corridor.

[berberry]

^^^

Hopefully, you're saying that for different reasons that the average person.

The expanded versions:
Average person:
"I already have a road atlas.  The roads don't change these days, do they?"

Roadgeek:
"I already have a road atlas.  I can handle and changes that aren't in my copy."

I agree.  It's situational.  The roadgeek response you give here would be mine if the suggestion that prompted it was something like "hey look, Wal-Mart's got the new updated atlas in stock.  Want one?"

Now, if the prompt had been more like "Next exit is the state Welcome Center; let's stop and get a new highway map" then I couldn't imagine saying something like that.

[agentsteel53]

actually, I've never had much of an interest in stopping at the visitors' center and getting the official state map.  

if I ever acquire any surplus maps, I give them to friends who would appreciate them for what they are.  All I have are state atlases, a 2010 (2011?) Rand McNally, which I replace every time it gets worn out, and a 1942 Rand McNally for the finding of old alignments.

I have just enough recent atlases for every state I visit regularly (and, in pipe dream fashion, I also have Alaska and Hawaii!) and I figure that they will be, for the most part, accurate enough that I can route around any unexpected changes.  

(and I also carry a GPS.  apparently roadgeeks are none too fond of them, but they are extremely handy in finding old alignments.  For example, mine still labels Hobsonway in Blythe, CA as "state route 60", despite the fact that it has not been US-60 since the 1970s and was never actually signed as CA-60.  It also labels the old Alaska Highway in downtown Dawson Creek, BC as ... US-97!!!)

[berberry]

old something highway (in all of Mississippi, there are only about 3 or 4 roads that have the word "highway" in their names, and I-20 is not one of them).    

Bankhead?  I think the Bankhead Highway was the 1910s auto trail that ran along the 80 corridor.

Yes, that's correct, at least the part about the auto trail.  It became US 78 though, not 80.  Highway 80 ran along the old Dixie Overland Highway (if I remember correctly).

There are a number of towns along that old 78 route, and some of the segments have Bankhead in their name.  However, if any of those towns call the road "Bankhead Highway" I'm not aware of it.  The signs I've seen say "Bankhead Road", I think.

The only roads I know of that appear on maps and/or signs as having "highway" in the name are Jackson's King's Highway,  Pascagoula's Old Mobile Highway and Southaven's Stateline Highway.  There could be more.  Here in Vicksburg, I've heard reference to "Eagle Lake Highway" and "Grand Gulf Highway", so I know locals sometimes use the word "highway" as though it were official.  But in each of these cases the road in question is signed as a 3-digit state highway.  I suspect people have trouble remember those numbers and so they just describe the road, which comes out as "x highway".

[berberry]

I have just enough recent atlases for every state I visit regularly (and, in pipe dream fashion, I also have Alaska and Hawaii!) and I figure that they will be, for the most part, accurate enough that I can route around any unexpected changes. 

Not the point, though, at least for me.  If I already have an older version, then I'm gonna want to see what all has changed statewide, not just in the areas I'm visiting.  Why, I dunno, but that's me.

As for the GPS, I borrowed one last year, pretty much as an afterthought, when I drove to Houston TX for an Iron Maiden concert.  It was accurate.  I'm glad I did it because although I've been to Houston several times, it's been a couple decades since I had been to the area where the concert was held.  There were LOTS of new roads that led to interesting places, and I likely would have wasted some time and gas without it. 

[agentsteel53]

I'm gonna want to see what all has changed statewide, not just in the areas I'm visiting. 

I don't.  too depressing.  too many things getting torn down and replaced with Walmarts and Clearview.

[agentsteel53]

oh, the Bankhead was US-80 out much further west near San Diego.  I just looked it up and found out it followed quite the circuitous route from Washington DC to San Diego, at least given the later US route system. 

[berberry]

oh, the Bankhead was US-80 out much further west near San Diego.  I just looked it up and found out it followed quite the circuitous route from Washington DC to San Diego, at least given the later US route system. 

Okay, I just looked it up, too, and you're right.  "Circuitous" is definitely the right word for that old highway.

[berberry]

...too many things getting torn down and replaced with Walmarts and Clearview.

I concur to a point.  Sometimes the Walmart fits right in, like it does here.  They didn't tear down anything memorable, and they chose a site near the industrial district very close to the freeway.  I was angry with them at one time because they'd left a perfectly good location behind as an abandoned building in order to build their new supercenter, while their old location had anchored one end of a moderately-bustling indoor mall.  Luckily the old site didn't sit empty long, but I wonder how often it is that an old Walmart building, with only minor modification, is re-opened as a more upscale department store.  I think what happened here is probably an unusual case.

Sometimes I feel that, in terms of development and blight, cities pretty much get what they're willing to put up with.  I suppose the big-box stores deserve their share of blame for the crap they leave behind, but they aren't the only guilty parties.  

[SSOWorld]

Back on topic folks - or we may be forced to lock.

[Tarkus]

This one is pretty much Oregon-specific.

"They really out to put the word 'limit' on the speed signs."

-Alex (Tarkus)

[burgess87]

This one is pretty much Oregon-specific.

"They really out to put the word 'limit' on the speed signs."

-Alex (Tarkus)

It's so true, though. 

[Michael]

"Just follow the GPS."
"I'm lost!"
"I need to turn the map when I make a turn" (my mom does this)
"I don't know!" (when responding to which way is north/south/east/west) (I pick on one of my friends about this one)
"What's the MUCTD?" (from my friends; I've since educated them on the MUTCD, complete with the proper acronym)

"Who cares whether it's a state, US, or Interstate Highway? They're all the same to me."

Actually, sometimes I think there must be newspaper reporters that say that because they so often use highway designations interchangably.

Agreed.

Go out and see demolition of truss bridges?  But I just got the new Sports Illustrated and I need to read about the latest Manning rumor.

I can remember going to construction sites and watching the work with my grandfather when I was younger.  As a matter of fact, I watched crews repair a broken water main yesterday evening.

[Ian]

"Large freeway interchanges are an eyesore. Keep it simple with a nice cloverleaf!"

"State named interstate shields (or any state route shield with the state name in it) are so pointless. We already know what state we are in, so why bother?"

[US71]

"Hi, viatologists!"

HEY! No profanity! 

[jwolfer]

" It really scares me to drive on the new flyover"

[US71]

Who needs a historic truss bridge? These ugly pre-stressed concrete ones will get us there just as easily.

[mightyace]

What's the big deal?  I don't see any difference between FHWA (Highway Gothic) and Clearview.