On the Road

Before I complain about the Wisconsin drivers, let me just say, Seattle is no driver's paradise.  I spent a lot and I mean A LOT of time stuck in Seattle area traffic. Between tourists trying to navigate the one way streets, distracted drivers blowing through intersections, Ubers blocking lanes, bridge openings and your every day traffic, driving in Wisconsin is nowhere near as rage inducing as driving in the Puget sound area. However, I have some thoughts…

First, the good.

Gas Prices 

Most things here are just as expensive as Seattle which was a little surprising when we moved here.  Gas prices though, holy hell, today, it’s almost under 3.00 a gallon! Also they have this magical place called Kwik Trip. The best (and cleanest)  gas station, convenience store, rest area and donut shop that America has to offer. You can find them about every 400 feet here.

Traffic

Or lack there-of.  If you need to go somewhere ten miles away, it’s not going to take you much more than 15 minutes and that is if you hit a bunch of red lights or encounter “traffic”. People in Madison love to complain about the traffic and construction. After spending most of my life in a place where it can take you 45 minutes to travel 4 miles, traveling around Madison is like driving the Autobahn.

Parking

Parking is AMAZING here! Even in Milwaukee and Madison, I have never really had to look for parking. It just appears where you need it. It’s reasonably priced and user friendly.  There aren’t a million signs to read with all sorts of fine print.  Every time I park, I feel like “This can’t possibly be a legal parking spot”  Because it’s so easy.   

The Speed Limit

Ok this one is good and bad.  Most freeways are 70 mph except when they are 55 but sometimes you are left to guess which one it is. Your GPS might tell you one thing and the MPH sign on the road will tell you something else. Sometimes your GPS says its 25 mph and the line of cars behind you beg to differ but there aren’t any speed limit signs for miles around. So you split the difference or let everyone pass you so you can get behind them and follow the flow of traffic. 

Ok, Wisconsin. What’s the deal?

The Four Way Stop. (a mostly true story) 

First guy there, waves through the guy to their right. 

Guy to the right waves to say “thank you” 

Lady  across the way mistakes that for a “No, you go wave” and starts to go

Everyone starts to go.

Everyone stops and gives an apology wave, 

but wait was that a...

A. “Ope, Sorry,” wave

B. “No, you go”, wave

C. “Thanks, I will” wave

D. “Hey Cindy, I haven’t seen you since the VFW Meat Raffle!” wave.

No one knows. 

Everyone starts to go.

Everyone stops 

We continue this until someone dies.

The Roundabout or Traffic Circle

The four way stop has it’s own challenges with these super polite midwestern drivers but the roundabout takes this to a new level.  See, the roundabout only works if everyone knows the rules otherwise you are pretty much trapped in the inner circle as Clark Griswald next to you is pointing out “Parliament! Big Ben!” If everyone is following the rules, its quick and seamless. If just one person is confused then it is…Wisconsin.

Parking lot

Those same drivers who are overly polite at the four way stop will absolutely flatten you in the Target parking lot.   Don’t even think about backing out of your Home Goods space if there is a moving car within a half a mile.  They are not letting you out. You may as well go back and get that box of vaguely European, off brand clearance cookies. You live here now.

Staying in the lines

I haven’t taken a traffic safety course since lived in Kitsap County in 1990 but I’m pretty sure the same basic rules apply. Nope not here.  The lines on the road are simply suggestions round these parts. I don’t know why, but Wisconsin drivers seem to have trouble driving within the lines. In related news, Wisconsin is the drunkest state in the US. 

Stop Lights.

Did you know they are called Stop and Go lights here? That's all. just a fun fact.

In conclusion, driving in Wisconsin is really no better or worse than driving in Washington, it’s just different. People here seem to struggle with driving in the rain but they have mastered driving in the snow.  It’s just a matter of time before I am the one inducing eye rolls as I try to navigate through my first Wisconsin winter which according to my weather app is…tomorrow.