DOT

[zuma]

[goirish75]

Booooooooooooooooooooooooooo 🙁

Nicely worded correspondance Ralph.

I like how Bob fails to name specific states that he says discourage geocaching at their rest areas. He just speaks in typical politically correct generalities that cant be proven or backed up. UNLIKE Ralph’s fine example’s that are specific, with backed up sources.

[Crow-T-Robot]

That’s too bad. Many rest areas are equivalent to mini-parks in their upkeep and they make for good cache placements.

Perhaps it’s different in other areas of the state, but the rest areas around the Fox Valley area ARE very much like public parks. Restroom facilities and picnic tables…they are greenspaces designed to allow drivers a chance to relax and recharge from driving. I certainly don’t agree that geocaching or any of the “other” activities detract from a rest areas purpose.

[zuma]

@Bassanio wrote:

That’s too bad. Many rest areas are equivalent to mini-parks in their upkeep and they make for good cache placements.

Perhaps it’s different in other areas of the state, but the rest areas around the Fox Valley area ARE very much like public parks. Restroom facilities and picnic tables…they are greenspaces designed to allow drivers a chance to relax and recharge from driving. I certainly don’t agree that geocaching or any of the “other” activities detract from a rest areas purpose.

Just to clarify, the DOT policy applies to state managed rest areas on the interstate highway system. Highway waysides on state and county roads are generally managed by the county highway department, and geocaches are generally allowed in waysides. (I know a wayside and a rest area seem like the same thing, but to the state they are not, they are managed by different groups.)

z

[Northwoods Tom]

@zuma wrote:

Just to clarify, the DOT policy applies to state managed rest areas on the interstate highway system. Highway waysides on state and county roads are generally managed by the county highway department, and geocaches are generally allowed in waysides.

Important point and valuable information. I think a lot of us prefer the scenic route over the 4-8 lane zip thru.

[Crow-T-Robot]

@zuma wrote:

@Bassanio wrote:

That’s too bad. Many rest areas are equivalent to mini-parks in their upkeep and they make for good cache placements.

Perhaps it’s different in other areas of the state, but the rest areas around the Fox Valley area ARE very much like public parks. Restroom facilities and picnic tables…they are greenspaces designed to allow drivers a chance to relax and recharge from driving. I certainly don’t agree that geocaching or any of the “other” activities detract from a rest areas purpose.

Just to clarify, the DOT policy applies to state managed rest areas on the interstate highway system. Highway waysides on state and county roads are generally managed by the county highway department, and geocaches are generally allowed in waysides. (I know a wayside and a rest area seem like the same thing, but to the state they are not, they are managed by different groups.)

z

Ahh, it looks like I was confusing the two. Thanks for the clarification, Ralph!

[BakRdz]

This is an interesting topic. If their statement is true…”Safety rest areas are provided for a specific purpose related to highway safety and are different than public parks. The facilities meet a specific need, serving a narrow mission, and are not intended for use as public fora or as a destination for recreational or leisure activities.”…then why are there historical markers and other points of interest often found at rest areas? Are they not contradictory to this statement?

I think Ralph’s point on geocaching at rest areas being a natural extension of the safety use is spot on. Where available, these “pull off & grab” type hides encourage drivers to take frequent driving breaks. The few available along the I heading south and north in Indiana were a blessing during my late night drive just last year. They helped me stay focused and reduce fatigue by encouraging me to stop for a break. With out them I would have likely driven straight through which would have likely decreased my driving attentiveness (which occurred plenty of times on other long trips before geocaching entered my life).

[musthavemuzk]

well that stinks!

Monty

[Author]

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