h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My, reminds me right away why I don't use the thruway. BTW, if you get on at, say, Depew, going to Buffalo (very short trip), and loose your ticket somewhere along the way, you get to pay from the farthest exit.

Alternatives to the Thruway (at least in my neck of the woods); Route 104, and Route 5. Or you could just skip coming to Upstate altogether...

Please, if you do drive on the Thruway, have exact change ready. Nothing perturbs people (me) more than other people fumbling around for their wallet, only to produce a $50 for a $.50 toll.

-jb

Skip upstate??? Never!!! lol I think the Buffalo end of the thruway is definitely the most dangerous part...although people say that it's pretty bad out near Albany. Buffalo natives don't seem to understand the concept of the 'speed limit'. lol. The thruway is definitely a good, quick way to travel long distances through good ol' NY though...Route 5 takes ages! I think more people should get EZPass though. . .

You're right, 5 does take ages. It's easy to find, though, and it got me home today...

Really, the thruway bores me. At least if I have something to keep me occupied, other than traffic, cows, and trees, I can stay alert.

Buffalo's never seemed that bad to me. Hm. You can add 20 and 20A to the list of alternatives in Western NY. Good, rural routes.

I don't want EZ Pass for a few reasons:

1. I don't drive on the Thruway enough
2. I always have my toll money ready; exact change
3. I don't want where I drive to be a matter of public domain

-jb

Yeah, you've got a point about EZPass...and supposedly they were using it as a means of handing out speeding tickets as well - they'd time your progress from one tollbooth to the next, and then decide if you were going a little too fast for their taste.

If driving on the thruway is boring, you could always try reading a newspaper/novel/encyclopedia whilst driving...I've seen other people do it (scary, eh?)

Indeed. I'll stick to back roads and short jaunts on expressways, myself. Deer are so much more predictable than people...

Ugh, bloody state. Thruway was supposed to be free by now...

lol. I have friends who work at one of the service stations/rest stops near Rochester.

-jb