Recently moved to Michigan? Have questions for the locals? Let's hear em! (Grand Rapids: foreclosures)

[magellan]

Did you recently move to Michigan and have questions you'd like answered about the people, local culture, traffic lights, sayings, mannerisms, or any other quirky things you've seen? Let us know and we helpful Michiganians will try and answer your questions.

Welcome to Michigan!!


(Any flame baiting or negative trolling in this thread WILL be reported to the moderators. Thank you).

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by magellan

Did you recently move to Michigan and have questions you'd like answered about the people, local culture, traffic lights, sayings, mannerisms, or any other quirky things you've seen? Let us know and we helpful Michiganians will try and answer your questions.

Welcome to Michigan!!


(Any flame baiting or negative trolling in this thread WILL be reported to the moderators. Thank you).

Cool thread!

[jrmontag]

Is Michigan dying???



(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist)

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by jrmontag

Is Michigan dying???



(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist)

LOL...no, but the answer will depend on who you ask.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by jrmontag

Is Michigan dying???

(I'm sorry, I couldn't resist)

That's an easy one: No.

Next!

[Andre5140]

Michigan cannot die.

Some people are moving there. Grand Rapids area is still strong. The state is too beautiful. The cost of living is very fair. There is a ton of great schools at all levels. Finally, after living in Phoenix, I think Michigan's greatest asset and reason it will not die is its people. Those who stay have a great sense of pride. They care about their neighbors, are mostly friendly, and have a great work ethic.

Everyone seemnigly wants to leave and head out to the West or South. I came to the West. Once you get past the glitz and warmth, you start to appreciate what you left back in Michigan: see list above. There is no appreciation for culture and little respect for their brief history. Growth is uncontrolled and the development that is being built look like the slums of the future: cheaply built, only attractive bc they are "new." Many people who bought them cannot sell 3-5 years later bc they are competing for new builds. And, I recently read where Arizona has a higher rate of foreclosures than Michigan.

Nope. Michigan won't die. It can't...I haven't come back yet!

[khfar]

I love this!

I want to know why some lights have flashing RED, in the left turn lanes. RED to me, always means stop. If it were flashing green or yellow, it would make more sense. The red flashing light is so bizarre to me. Thank GOD my husband lived up here for 5 months before I got here. He gave me lots of driving pointers.

Next - why do all of the traffic lights hang from cable cords, a-la 1955? I come to screeching halts all the time here, because I almost miss them. I'm used to large stop lights on a pole, and medians at intersections, with stop lights there.

OH, I have so many more questions. I'll be back with them, as they come to me! I love this thread - it really is a great idea!

[magellan]

Originally Posted by khfar

I love this!

I want to know why some lights have flashing RED, in the left turn lanes. RED to me, always means stop. If it were flashing green or yellow, it would make more sense. The red flashing light is so bizarre to me. Thank GOD my husband lived up here for 5 months before I got here. He gave me lots of driving pointers.

Next - why do all of the traffic lights hang from cable cords, a-la 1955? I come to screeching halts all the time here, because I almost miss them. I'm used to large stop lights on a pole, and medians at intersections, with stop lights there.

OH, I have so many more questions. I'll be back with them, as they come to me! I love this thread - it really is a great idea!

I assume you mean something like this khfar?:



As opposed to this?



You might be from an area that has newer roads and infrastructure. Many of Michigan's streets and roads were originally built when above ground utilities were still heavily used, and to change them all over now is very expensive. If a city is completely rebuilding a street (widening, new gutters, new street lights, new paving, etc.) then the utility companies will agree to have the utilities buried and the more modern traffic poles installed. Most downtowns have the pole lights like you prefer (or at least downtown Grand Rapids does, because most of the streets have been rebuilt in the last 10 years). And I've seen them used more in newer suburban areas (with new streets). I'd like to see them all changed, but I'm sure that would be $hundreds of millions at least. Maybe DTE or Consumers Energy will pick up the tab.

Flashing reds mean the same as a stop sign. I think they do it on certain intersections so that people stop and properly judge the distance of oncoming traffic (educated guess). Maybe flashing yellow at a left turn to most Michiganders means "green, just go slow".

Maybe someone else with some real traffic engineering background will fill us in some more.

[khfar]

Magellan, this makes a lot of sense. Thank you for the pictures, too. LOL! That is exactly what I was talking about.

As far as the driving "rules" go in my area, I think they make sense. Admittedly, I AM annoyed that I have to turn right to make a left, but it seems that the traffic flow is better, and there are less accidents. I come from an area where you can make a U turn almost anywhere, and we see accidents on a daily basis. I've been in MI for 2 months now, and can count on one hand how many accidents I've seen. I love that.

On to my next question. WHY, oh WHY do people in MI not seem to like spicy food?

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by khfar

On to my next question. WHY, oh WHY do people in MI not seem to like spicy food?

Being raised just north of the border (Mexico that is), I think this is a problem in the entire midwest region! When I order spicy hot food here, I just assume I'll be getting what I consider to be mild flavored food. I have even been known to bring my own spices when we go out to eat!
I have noticed that it gets worse the farther north you go. Once in a blue moon I am pleasantly surprised with actually getting spicy food. Only one time have I truly regretted it That was actually at a hole in the wall Asian restaraunt in Grand Rapids.