I know there's people from Mass here: the Clods are at it again...

I think what they should do is reinstate the tolls from Spfld to NY and give hybrid owners a free pass for the whole length of the Pike. We can't out run the State police so there's a gasoline/cost savings right there! We can't spin our tires so there's less road repair. And the toll takers breathe easier when we drive by.

LOL! Nice try. But I think doing away with the Turnpike Authority would solve the whole problem! No inflated salaries=no need to raise the gas tax!

Sounds simple to me!

Gee, not having to pay tolls would have made my first trip to Pittsfield a lot easier. I had just transferred to the area from California and took the Pike from Mansfield to Pittsfield. I took the service manager to some place that didn't take plastic, so I used the last of my cash. When I was ready to leave the dealership, I asked the service manager where the nearest ATM was and his response was, "what's an ATM?" OK, ATM's hadn't made it to Pittsfield, so I figured I'd stop by a bank on the way back to the Pike, but all the banks were closed, so I took Route 20 all the way back to Mansfield.

Arrrgghhh! This can be downright TRECHEROUS through some sections! I can't remember which stretch of road it is, but it's the perfect drive if you want to check how a car will do in the twisties!

Oh, BOY! Sent to the Turpike Authority this morning:

ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!?! WHY should I pay 10 cents a GALLON to pay for the Turnpike Authority?! I NEVER USE THE MASS PIKE...and the rare occasions I do, the toll doesn't bother me.

Instead of charging 10 cents a gallon, how about doing away with the Turnpike Authority. That ought to save a few bucks a year...

How well is that road kept clear during the winter? My only point of reference is the NYS Thruway. Unless a winter storm is totally friggin' crazy, the crews keep it so clean that it seems they do it using a spatula and a magnifying glass.

Well, it was a 1983 RWD 5-speed Celica GTS with the fat tires & Recaro knock-off seats ;-)

Toll-taking is a huge waste of energy resources (gasoline). It takes as much fuel for a car to accelerate from 0-50 mph as it does to drive 35 to 45 miles.

Same goes for traffic lights and stop signs.

If the US could eliminate toll booths and unnecessary stop signals, we could save 10 billion barrels of oil per day. [bogus statistic]

One thing I respect about Massachusetts is the free-form traffic flow in many suburbs. Whereas Smoggyvale California has a left-turn arrow everywhere that makes drivers have to wait even when nothing's coming.

Using my Tacoma as an example, you think it takes 1/2 gallong to go from

Your Tacoma gets 70 to 90 MPG?

You know for someone who likes to piss away gasoline at the drop of a hat you sure like to be penny wise and pound foolish. Those who don't use the Pike ever can fight their own battles. The Prius is a good buffer if you ask me.

IMO 20's a prettier, less stressful drive, even if not by your choice on that occasion. In the autumn I often choose 20 between Westfield and Lee. And anytime except severe weather or Mondays I take 20 between Ludlow and Sturbridge to eat at the Sunset in Wilbraham; if there's better food for less in MA, I haven't found it.

And to stay on-topic... gas in Palmer is cheaper than on the Pike.

My math was wrong, but it doesn't matter. Your statement is still ridiculous.

My math, corrected: The Tacoma gets 20 mpg highway, using a round number. So, it takes two gallons to go 40 miles. Based on your theory, my truck uses two gallons to accelerate from 0 to 50.

Your theory is nuts.

I agree, 20 and 2 are both more scenic than the mass Pike. I traveled western MA for business, so unless I was already done for the day, I didn't really have much opportunity to sight-see. I will admit that in spite of living in New England for 10 years, my knowledge of the local geography is pretty much limited to towns and cities that had a Toyota dealer, and the towns and cities in-between that had a Dunkin' Donuts.

That wasn't my statement/theory.

Sorry - I attributed Tuthill's insane theory to you. Have a beer.

FWIW, my SWAG for the amount of fuel used to stop from 50 MPH to 0, pay the toll, and accelerate back to 50 is probably closer to the amount of fuel used to travel 3/4 to 1 mile than 30 to 45 miles.

A Buick Lacrosse I rented got about 8-12 mpg while mildly accelerating, and about 40 mpg on the open highway, according to instant read-out.

Your Tacoma would probably be worse due to higher weight.

Assuming one mile to reach 50 mph, that's 4 to 1, not 35-45 to 1. I must have gotten my propaganda from the anti-stop-sign industry.

I agree about stopping, by the way. Too bad so few people are taught to think about whether the cars behind them might want to make a right on red, and then not block the right lane. Cripes...my kid figured that out before he even had his license.