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The only state highway in the U.S. where motor vehicles are banned: M-185

GasBuddy Blog -- It's the only state highway in the nation where motor vehicles are prohibited, surrounded by the fresh blue water of Lake Michigan: M-185. About the only rubber hitting the road in this town comes from bicycles making their way around the island loop of 8 miles. The rules date back to the 1890's, and since the start of the ban, just a handful of vehicles have ever rumbled on the asphalt. Even emergency vehicle traffic here is rare, with the local fire department owning a fire truck that probably sees more darkness than light.

In fact, it is likely among the safest roads in America- because of the ban on motor vehicles, no doubt. M-185 hadn't seen one accident since it was bestowed the title of state highway until 2005 rolled around...


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Submitted Jun 19, 2012 By: PD
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REPLIES (newest first)
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 8:41:33 AM

ok
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Jul 10, 2012 8:51:54 AM

old news
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jul 9, 2012 9:15:59 AM

ok
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99dakota
Champion Author Providence

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Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 6:03:40 AM

ok
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my97jeep
Sophomore Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jul 1, 2012 11:14:34 AM

bike paths are not highways! Pull any Federal funding!
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Jul 1, 2012 11:04:46 AM

neat stuff
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clpassenubye
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Jun 30, 2012 4:40:09 PM

Wow
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Sneakers55
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jun 25, 2012 1:16:47 PM

On Jun 25, 2012 8:03:02 AM, albert2008 wrote:

>just a fancy name for a bike path

They also have horse-drawn carriages going around M-185.
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albert2008
Champion Author Winnipeg

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Message Posted: Jun 25, 2012 9:03:02 AM

just a fancy name for a bike path
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gasokie
Champion Author Oklahoma

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Message Posted: Jun 24, 2012 6:08:17 PM

Makes me wonder why M-185 is a designated state highway when it is in reality a walking/biking/riding trail
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Gas4Gore
Champion Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:50:36 PM

Great
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stonecold5005
All-Star Author Waco

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Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 9:11:11 AM

old
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Jun 22, 2012 6:00:02 AM

interesting piece of American life. Though as always, it's a PD piece. Getting old to see two PD posts top the chart of the 5 front page news items.
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sparky808
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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 1:20:57 PM

old
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dlemma
Champion Author Wyoming

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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 4:46:51 AM

state highway or bike path?
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GooseMI
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Jun 21, 2012 1:08:18 AM

Huron, Not Michigan. You haven't spent much time up there, have you, don't look for fire engines, or utility trucks. Snowmobiles in the winter.
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txrojo2005
All-Star Author Austin

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 10:14:05 PM

I have been to beautiful Mackinac Island. The road is more of a pedestrian walkway. But I thought in was on Lake Huron, not Lake Michigan.

[Edited by: txrojo2005 at 6/20/2012 10:15:28 PM EST]
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naiiawah
Champion Author Boise

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 4:53:06 PM

But it experiences a whole lot of horse sh*t. Great "Dirty Jobs" episode with Mike Roe about the island and the no car rules.
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boldrph
Champion Author Topeka

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:09:09 PM

hiways have existed long before motor vehicles and will continue long after
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ratones1
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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:07:58 PM

ok...
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RamboOn66
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:07:24 PM

Swell!
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blazerbob91
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:04:47 PM

Does it have a cloverleaf interchange.
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garjul
Champion Author Flint

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:03:57 PM

Good place to visit-Pure Michigan.
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JCS
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:03:44 PM

Gas tax pays for the road but can't use it!
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Asbury09
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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:02:10 PM

good for Mackinac Island
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bullseye100
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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:01:46 PM

Looks like a cool place to visit.
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ezone
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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:00:46 PM

Very interesting, but I enjoyed it more yesterday.
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jpj23
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:00:43 PM

Interesting perhaps but not relevant to gas prices.
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Ford960MI
Rookie Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 3:00:29 PM

Of course you have to take a ferryboat from Mackinac City or St. Ignace to get there, which uses a lot of fuel, or a snowmobile on the ice bridge in the winter while watching out for cracks or icebreakers. The last time I was there it was in Lake Huron, not Michigan.
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3mta3
All-Star Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:59:43 PM

We are blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery in our state.
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jpgilmor
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:57:42 PM

Ok
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2907
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:55:17 PM

I hope our fuel taxes aren't being used to maintain the HIGHWAY!
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condé
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:52:21 PM

OOPS, that location is on an island located in Lake Huron and not Lake Michigan.

Just in case you'd like to visit the place. I see that most folks just blew this off but they should have caught the error at least.
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Van_Halen
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:50:18 PM

.
Its NOT a highway if cars and trucks don't travel on it, period.

I guess since all the real news is against Nobama for the last 2 weeks, it was time for a fluff piece that if any of us posted would be deleted by PD.
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Tekkersmom57
Champion Author Syracuse

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:48:14 PM

Nice article, but how does it pertain to gas prices?
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seatroad
Champion Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:47:39 PM

Soon it probably will change.
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satrn38mpg
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:47:30 PM

ok >
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gils
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:46:16 PM

old news
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singlemom27
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:46:08 PM

okay...this is relevant here because?
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WBBNC
Veteran Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:45:54 PM

So!?
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truvoice1
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:44:36 PM

Yawn....And this is relevant to saving money on gas how? By walking or taking my bike? Sorry, this won't work in most places of Southern California where I live, But its a nice thought, I guess......
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Paw5X
Champion Author Gary

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:42:35 PM

Ain't that nice!
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THX138
Champion Author San Francisco

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:42:13 PM

k
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tampacrvdriver
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:41:37 PM

Crazy!
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Sarge10
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:41:18 PM

Been there, but didn't know it actually had a number designation!
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toxigas
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:38:37 PM

Looks pleasant.
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humblepie
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:35:33 PM

a wonderful place to visit, horse and buggies instead of cars
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dwbuddy
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:34:26 PM

picture of it here..
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/M-185_Biking_near_Mile_Marker1.jpg/800px-M-185_Biking_near_Mile_Marker1.jpg

[Edited by: dwbuddy at 6/20/2012 2:35:34 PM EST]
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ShockinSean
Veteran Author New York

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:30:05 PM

Kinda interesting.
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blah2blah3
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jun 20, 2012 2:29:29 PM

old news
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