Old-fashioned Rest Stops Disappearing in Florida and Other States

 
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Politicians and Diapers must be changed often for the exact same reason...

Sad to Hear

This is sad to hear. They mention a rest stop on 1-75 in Punta Gorda here in Florida in that story you linked. I used to stop at that one all the time to eat lunch and sometimes take a nap during my travels all over Southwest Florida. I went to stop there once about two years ago and I noticed it was closed. I used to like taking a quiet break there. I had been stopping there for over 20 years.

They Ought to

keep track of the accident rate, before & after the change.
Wouldn't surprise me to see rates rising with fewer stops, food, etc.

Fred

I think

it's a bit melodramatic to say it's an end of an era. The times have changed. Would you want your son or daughter hitchhiking and seeing America with strangers? We did that when we were in college. Those rest areas can become hotbeds for a lot of illicit activity nowadays, once the sun goes down.

Plazas which sell fuel and overpriced food are much safer in this day and age. my .02

 

johnnatash4 wrote:

it's a bit melodramatic to say it's an end of an era. The times have changed. Would you want your son or daughter hitchhiking and seeing America with strangers? We did that when we were in college. Those rest areas can become hotbeds for a lot of illicit activity nowadays, once the sun goes down.

Plazas which sell fuel and overpriced food are much safer in this day and age. my .02

Massachusetts closed a lot of the rest stops years ago due to a lot of sexual activity in and around the buildings. Nobody wants to spend money on operating them either.

Rest stops

What are you supposed to do when you have to go to the bathroom?
Look for a nice healthy bush.
As you get older you have to go more often.
I bet you would get in trouble for stopping to go behind a bush.
As usual, the public be damned!

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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things!

Alternative plan

Timantide wrote:

What are you supposed to do when you have to go to the bathroom?
Look for a nice healthy bush.
As you get older you have to go more often.
I bet you would get in trouble for stopping to go behind a bush.
As usual, the public be damned!

Look for the golden arches!

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Nuvi 2460LMT

Public - Private Rest Stops

I think the trend is towards P3 Rest Stops, where gas stations coordinate with State and Provincial governments to offer "approved" rest stops. They have a couple of these facilities on the I-15 in Idaho and quite a few in Utah. The ones we have stopped at usually have large parking lots, picnic tables and pet areas - along with restrooms inside the station.

They may not be as picturesque as other rest stops, but they definitely serve their purpose. And probably at a significantly lower cost than more traditional rest stops.

As many people on this site are concerned about taxes, this is likely the future of Interstate travel.

We took a trip out West..

...a couple of years ago and thoroughly enjoyed stopping at some of these rest areas. They are still available in Montana and South Dakota.
No restaurants, gas stations, or anything else. Just picnic tables and the traffic rushing by on the interstate. You could sit there, eat your lunch, and watch the traffic cruise on by. Very nice. Gives one a chance to unwind and take it easy for awhile. Kind of reminds me of my childhood when time moved a whole lot slower.

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With God, all things are possible. ——State motto of the Great State of Ohio

do what

mmullins98 wrote:
Timantide wrote:

What are you supposed to do when you have to go to the bathroom?
Look for a nice healthy bush.
As you get older you have to go more often.
I bet you would get in trouble for stopping to go behind a bush.
As usual, the public be damned!

Look for the golden arches!

my buddy used to do in Manhattan (and he was in his 20's)....keep a 2 liter empty soda bottle in the car, or, open the trunk pretending to look for something while relieving oneself...

do what

mmullins98 wrote:
Timantide wrote:

What are you supposed to do when you have to go to the bathroom?
Look for a nice healthy bush.
As you get older you have to go more often.
I bet you would get in trouble for stopping to go behind a bush.
As usual, the public be damned!

Look for the golden arches!

my buddy used to do in Manhattan (and he was in his 20's)....keep a 2 liter empty soda bottle in the car, or, open the trunk pretending to look for something while relieving oneself...

Ah, the Good Old Days

maddog67 wrote:

Kind of reminds me of my childhood when time moved a whole lot slower.

I have this theory that, as people age, time begins to compress.

Remember as a kid sitting in school on Tuesday or Wednesday, and thinking the next weekend seemed sooo far away? And remember, as a young adult, driving behind that senior citizen that you couldn't pass, who was meandering down the road at 20 MPH?

Now that we're in our 50s or 60s, we look nostalgically back on the "slower time" of our youth - because nowadays everything seems to be moving at such a breakneck speed.

Of course, an hour still has sixty minutes and a week still has seven days. But our nostalgia filters out the pressure of life - so time does not seem so compressed.

My thought for today!

Time when you think about it

At 5 years old, time goes by at 5 miles per hour.
At 25 years old, time goes by at 25 miles per hour.
At 50 years old, time goes by at 50 miles per hour.
At 75 years old, time goes by at 75 miles per hour & even though you try and slow it down somewhat it's impossible.

Yes I'm also anxious for retirement but when I have to wake up every morning at 04:00 am during the week to go to work I'm thankful that I'm still underneath the Interstate speed limit smile

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Nüvi 255WT with nüMaps Lifetime North America born on 602117815 / Nüvi 3597LMTHD born on 805972514 / I love Friday’s except when I’m on holidays ~ canuk

Almost 60...

and on Monday the week looks as long as it did back in school. I can't wait for Friday....Still
I think in general though it's correct. Time does seems to be moving faster as I get older though it can't be. It's perception.
I find I don't stop at rest areas much anymore. Maybe it's perception again but upkeep doesn't seem to be as good and there are just too many people out there that can use these places for bad purposes.
Maybe when we are kids we didn't know enough to see all the dangers out there. As we get up in years unfortunately with the good there is the bad.

rest areas

I read a news story not long ago that said rest areas will soon be a thing of the past.

The cost of rest area upkeep can no longer be justified with facilities at (almost) every exit that offers more services.

Some states still do a good job buy many are closing most rest areas.
I have to sadly agree with the fact rest areas will be a thing of the past.

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garry

ontzrio service centers

DanielT wrote:

I think the trend is towards P3 Rest Stops, where gas stations coordinate with State and Provincial governments to offer "approved" rest stops. They have a couple of these facilities on the I-15 in Idaho and quite a few in Utah. The ones we have stopped at usually have large parking lots, picnic tables and pet areas - along with restrooms inside the station.

They may not be as picturesque as other rest stops, but they definitely serve their purpose. And probably at a significantly lower cost than more traditional rest stops.

As many people on this site are concerned about taxes, this is likely the future of Interstate travel.

The stops on Ontario's 400 series highways and the QEW are full service centers. They offer picnic tables, washrooms, about 3 or 4 fast food choices, washrooms, gas and lots of room for transports. When the weather isn't suited for outdoor eating there are usually plenty of tables indoors, where you're still welcome to stop and eat something from your own cooler, if you prefer.

All are privately run by a single company (Onroute)and almost all have been renovated, in the past 3 or 4 years or are being renovated. Admittedly the picnic areas aren't always as nice as some in the US, but much nicer to be able to get gas, food, or just a Tim Horton coffee and a pack of Tim Bits, than vendor food all in one convenient stop.

If money the problem, these states should consider Ontario's model and privatize these and offer more choices, including gas.

The article said the vending profits often go to charitable groups, and if so whats to stop the state to stipulate that a percentage of profits from the private group go to charity?

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DriveSmart 65, NUVI2555LMT, (NUVI350 is Now Retired)