Interstate Speed Limits

Jul 31, 2011
1,355
2,047
Meridian, ID
Name
Trent
Just got back from a 270 mile ride today... half of it on the freeway... Here in Idaho, even at 85 you still have to stay to the right to let vehicles pass you.. This article explains why!! Had such a strong headwind just could not get the Blue Tubby to go any higher than 85.. Even the 18 wheelers are doing 75 to 80 and the semi speed limit is 70. Law enforcement sez they will cut no slack if you are doing over 80, but we passed 3 of them sitting there clocking traffic, and they were not chasing anyone down. Almost like they just gave up! Ha ha!


https://autos.yahoo.com/news/speediest-and-slowest-states--where-does-yours-rank-231406153.html
 
If you stay in the right lane you won't get run over... Most people [none on Trike-Talk though]
That complain about getting run over are left lane hogs.. I ride up to Tug Hill NY via the NY State Throughway quite often' and I can't tell you how many people will ride in the left lane at 55/60 mph in a posted 65 mph zone then pace [stay along side] a car or truck that's in the right lane..
 
Yeah,, that happens here also. Some people are just oblivious to the 10 cars piled up behind them. I feel one of the most dangerous issues here is the dual speed limits for trucks and cars. It seems to cause way more jam up situations when you have larger vehicles forced to go slower for no apparent reason. When you cross the state line from Idaho into Utah, where the speed limit is also 80 for all vehicles, the bottlenecks disappear.
 
I call them Lane Hogs, they pass and stay there till the cows come home. Or they go to pass and sit by the vehicle they are passing causing a bottleneck!
Road courtizy is no longer used on the open roads. One thing that bugs is, coming on to a road way and the people will not pull over to let you in, when the other lane is free. AARRGGHH!
California with their 55 mph when pulling a trailer, no matter what vehicle you are in, semis, motorcycles, or pickups, not good.

Rosy
 
Here in central Illinois; speed limit is either 65 or 70 depending which interstate you're on and if you're near a city or not. Almost everyone exceeds it to some degree. I74 is one of our worst for accidents, most of which seem to involve semis, or drunken drivers. To top it all; our roads are far from maintained properly to support anything near high speed. I do my level best to avoid interstate highways, expecially with the trike.
 
I try to stay off all interstates if possible and take side roads not really caring how much longer it will take me to get to my destination. Don't enjoy going that fast at all! If I do have to get on an Interstate, 99% of the time I'm in the right lane taking my time behind someone who's doing the speed limit or under the limit. And I give my self plenty of room between myself and the vehicle in front of me. Yeah,,, I'm a slow poke!
 
If you stay in the right lane you won't get run over... Most people [none on Trike-Talk though]
That complain about getting run over are left lane hogs.. I ride up to Tug Hill NY via the NY State Throughway quite often' and I can't tell you how many people will ride in the left lane at 55/60 mph in a posted 65 mph zone then pace [stay along side] a car or truck that's in the right lane..

You mustn't have gotten on the right interstate yet, I've had a few close calls when a car comes up fast in the right lane and makes a quick cut to the left.
 
I don't get any pleasure out of riding a trike at 80-85mph as so many of you seem to. I'm quite happy at 60-70 max. Wind noise is less, engine is quieter, more time to look around and enjoy the scenery.

Now, my BMW 525i is a different story. I could cruise all day long in that at 100+mph.
 
I don't get any pleasure out of riding a trike at 80-85mph as so many of you seem to. I'm quite happy at 60-70 max. Wind noise is less, engine is quieter, more time to look around and enjoy the scenery.

Now, my BMW 525i is a different story. I could cruise all day long in that at 100+mph.

"I don't get any pleasure out of riding a trike at 80-85mph as so many of you seem to. I'm quite happy at 60-70 max. Wind noise is less, engine is quieter, more time to look around and enjoy the scenery."

:Agree: Why make it intense? If I wanted to get there fast I would fly!
 
You mustn't have gotten on the right interstate yet, I've had a few close calls when a car comes up fast in the right lane and makes a quick cut to the left.

That's why I only ride in the left lane.....:D
But seriously' I can't control what other drivers do, Only what I do, And how to avoid what others do.
 
That's why I only ride in the left lane.....:D
But seriously' I can't control what other drivers do, Only what I do, And how to avoid what others do.

If you make yourself the path of least resistance they will take you out before hitting another car my friend, My understanding was that the left lane was for passing purposes but then I live in the boonies and don't deal with the loony's in the bigger cities.:Shrug:
 
If you make yourself the path of least resistance they will take you out before hitting another car my friend, My understanding was that the left lane was for passing purposes but then I live in the boonies and don't deal with the loony's in the bigger cities.:Shrug:

The left lane quote was sarcasm on my part... I got to find a over your head/sarcasm smiley ....But all's good..ThumbUp
 
I don't get any pleasure out of riding a trike at 80-85mph as so many of you seem to. I'm quite happy at 60-70 max. Wind noise is less, engine is quieter, more time to look around and enjoy the scenery.

Now, my BMW 525i is a different story. I could cruise all day long in that at 100+mph.

What scenery?! Ha ha!! If you drive I-84 across SW Idaho looking for scenery, you will come up a little short. To me, 80 to 85 is no different than 60 to 70... just faster.. here at 60 to 70 you might get pulled over for obstructing traffic. Even the Subaru drivers here do at least 70!...

:)
 
What scenery?! Ha ha!! If you drive I-84 across SW Idaho looking for scenery, you will come up a little short. To me, 80 to 85 is no different than 60 to 70... just faster.. here at 60 to 70 you might get pulled over for obstructing traffic. Even the Subaru drivers here do at least 70!... :)

What are you from Denver or salt lake or sumpin?

Both places are nuts!:gah:

However you are correct about the scenery in SW Idaho, There is allot of space in Wyoming where the birds fly upside down also!
 
What are you from Denver or salt lake or sumpin?

Both places are nuts!:gah:

However you are correct about the scenery in SW Idaho, There is allot of space in Wyoming where the birds fly upside down also!

HaHa!!! Well,, I did grow up in Layton just 20 minutes north of SLC. I am still in awe of the Wasatch Mountain Range from Tremonton to Salt Lake when I go down to visit Mom. I took it for granted when I lived there and it was right outside my front porch. I suppose that mile after mile of sage brush and dried up prairie grass to look at has merit in some ways, but after making the drive across S Idaho a countless number of times I am more thankful for an Escort radar detector that notifies me to slow down to 85 when needed. The trip is more bearable with a good sound system and 100 mph.

One good thing about the freeway here though, is that around 30 to 45 minutes from most exits north or south can get you into some very nice Trikin' country, so it can get you to those areas faster. And it is not uncommon here to see farm machinery on the freeway with flag cars because there is no other way to get between some exits that are built just for farmers and ranchers to get access to their homes. And yep,, a lot of space in Wyoming is tedious also.. I remember it from my old truck driving days in the 70's when it was 55 mph coming back from Denver...

The vast majority of drivers here love our new faster speed limits fer sure.

- - - Updated - - -

Everything that doesn't include people. vehicles, or buildings is great scenery IMO.

This is a good point also! I don't mind the bland scenery at all when I am on my TG now that you mention it.
 
HaHa!!! Well,, I did grow up in Layton just 20 minutes north of SLC. I am still in awe of the Wasatch Mountain Range from Tremonton to Salt Lake when I go down to visit Mom. I took it for granted when I lived there and it was right outside my front porch. I suppose that mile after mile of sage brush and dried up prairie grass to look at has merit in some ways, but after making the drive across S Idaho a countless number of times I am more thankful for an Escort radar detector that notifies me to slow down to 85 when needed. The trip is more bearable with a good sound system and 100 mph.

One good thing about the freeway here though, is that around 30 to 45 minutes from most exits north or south can get you into some very nice Trikin' country, so it can get you to those areas faster. And it is not uncommon here to see farm machinery on the freeway with flag cars because there is no other way to get between some exits that are built just for farmers and ranchers to get access to their homes. And yep,, a lot of space in Wyoming is tedious also.. I remember it from my old truck driving days in the 70's when it was 55 mph coming back from Denver...

The vast majority of drivers here love our new faster speed limits fer sure.

- - - Updated - - -

This is a good point also! I don't mind the bland scenery at all when I am on my TG now that you mention it.

And the birds flying upside down is a plus!:laugh:
 

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