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12ersRule wrote:Do Coloradoans put a "the" in front of the road number, or is that just a California thing? I haven't heard too many Coloradoans say that before.
Def just a California thing.
Also, Coloradans*
Yeah, SoCal thing.
Just like (seen in another thread), calling California "Cali" --> you're not from California
Yep, Southern California specifically.
They also do this in the Golden Horseshoe of southern Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton, etc.). "The 401," etc.
About 285: It's a nice road, but it's easy to get stuck behind a large, slow vehicle and have nowhere to pass safely. It also doesn't feel very safe. The lanes should be wider, seems like there is hardly ever a shoulder, etc. And this is also in South Park where the speed limit is high. Bad combination. I'm not a big fan, personally.
12ersRule wrote:Do Coloradoans put a "the" in front of the road number, or is that just a California thing? I haven't heard too many Coloradoans say that before.
Def just a California thing.
Yeah, SoCal thing.
Just like (seen in another thread), calling California "Cali" --> you're not from California
Well, I'm from Frisco or as some of us locals call it "San Fran." It's hella tight if you just call it "The City"
On topic, the area between Kenosha Pass and Red Hill Pass has a lot of freedom for passing, but watch for the speed traps. The smell of bacon gives them away.
We are all greater artists than we realize -FWN A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. -HDT Peak List
The main problem with 285 is certain drivers from a certain state (with white and green license plates) don't know how to pass on a 2 lane highway. You then get behind, say a subaru outback (just throwing that out there), who is too whimpy to pass a semi, followed by a subaru forester, followed by a 4runner, and and now you have to pass 4 people instead of just one. It's not really that hard, it's the skinny pedal on the right. But, at night time and if you're not too scurred to pass people, 285 is cruiser driver. Even in my underpowered cruiser. But, no different that the people driving in the left lane on i70. Each has its challenges.
My record for number of cars passed in one go on 285 is 11. I think Boggyb has me beat at 12. The perfect situation is hard to come by. Usually the stretch near Jefferson.
"The road to alpine climbing is pocked and poorly marked, ending at an unexpectedly closed gate 5 miles from the trailhead." - MP user Beckerich
Monster5 wrote:My record for number of cars passed in one go on 285 is 11. I think Boggyb has me beat at 12. The perfect situation is hard to come by. Usually the stretch near Jefferson.
LOL Definitely has developed into a mini sport in and of itself after a mountain adventure.
"How many vehicles can I pass?"
"How many vehicles will break out of the pack and pass each other when the passing lane opens?"
"Why aren't half these people passing this camper who is going 20 under?"
RIP - M56
Re-introduce Grizzly Bears into the Colorado Wilderness™
Conor wrote:The main problem with 285 is certain drivers from a certain state (with white and green license plates) don't know how to pass on a 2 lane highway. You then get behind, say a subaru outback (just throwing that out there), who is too whimpy to pass a semi, followed by a subaru forester, followed by a 4runner, and and now you have to pass 4 people instead of just one. It's not really that hard, it's the skinny pedal on the right. But, at night time and if you're not too scurred to pass people, 285 is cruiser driver. Even in my underpowered cruiser. But, no different that the people driving in the left lane on i70. Each has its challenges.
I think the dynamics of traffic - social, psychological, and the physics - are way more complicated than this. An intelligent, responsible, safe driver is a shitty driver by most shitty drivers stretch of the imagination - you can imagine how the psychology can play out from there, which in turn effects the physics of traffic issues and how everyone thinks everyone but them is at fault for traffic. Everyone is at fault for traffic. Though, mostly the Texans.
Though you're right, 285 can get pretty rough if there's more than like 3 people driving on it.
I live in Boulder and I take US6 and I70 whenever I go to the Sawatch or beyond. 285 has never been a kind drive for me. I am usually the guy getting passed by Mr. Pass 12 Vehicles at Once, so I like having the extra lanes on 70. Plus, I will take deep snow and mountain passes any day over wind-blown ice and ground blizzards out on the prairie. I grew up in Wyoming and had to deal with wide-open prairie/plain driving in the snow all the time and it sucked. I've been caught in ground blizzard on the stretch from US24 to Kenosha Pass and I thought I was going to die. Plus, driving 70 to get to the Sawatch means driving down past all the 14ers south of Leadville, which is really scenic.
Monster5 wrote:My record for number of cars passed in one go on 285 is 11. I think Boggyb has me beat at 12. The perfect situation is hard to come by. Usually the stretch near Jefferson.
Sounds like a good Happy Days episode....how many cars on 285 can The Fonz pass at one time?
BTW, whoever came up with the expression 'Jumped the shark' (or uses it on a regular basis) should be electrocuted.
EDIT: As long as I'm on 285 peeves....how about the a-hole tailgater, when I'm in the conga line of vehicles, and that same a-hole tailgater thinking he has the first right to pass the same line of cars that I want to pass? Don't let me catch any of you multiple passers doing that!!!
12ersRule wrote:Do Coloradoans put a "the" in front of the road number, or is that just a California thing? I haven't heard too many Coloradoans say that before.
I've heard it on the east coast, but usually with a name not a number (the Linconln Tunnel). In Kansas, the only time I hear "the" is with "turnpike" because part of it is toll (e.g. the I-70 turnpike, the turnpike, but otherwise just "I-70"). Some times you hear interstate 70, but I've never heard "the interstate 70" ala Ohilo State.
thanks for the inputs :p. at least during winter, sounds like maybe i should stick with the devil i know (I-70, no definite article this time) than try the devil i dont..
I almost always take US 24, then question becomes do I peel off on CO 9 or hit the merge with 285, after that is it north on 24/285 or south on 285. Sometimes I'll use CO 115 to US 50 to CO 67 to CO 96, or I'll take i25 to US 160.
Moral of the story: not everyone drives from Denver.