Ever find yourself taking the back road instead of the motorway?

flyingsnail

I drive between Limerick and Dublin quite often, more and more often I end up driving home the old N7 home. 9 times out of 10 I drive up the motorway in the morning because of time pressure but in the evening going home I get off at Mountrath and drive the N7 as far as Nenagh, I find it a much more pleasant drive. Before the motorway opened I used to drive the N7 counting the days until the motorway was open, waiting for a quicker hassle free journey to Dublin, I didn’t even mind that it was going to be tolled:eek:.

Am I alone in this? my mates think I am nuts.

MugMugs

My main roads are M1 or M50..... I use the N2 and R132 and N3....... I'm with you.

TestTransmission

I did on Sunday actually.This was more due to the fact that the sun was shining, I had the roof down and Zeppelin was blaring out of the stereo.

padma

if im not pushed for time, coming from Limerick i get off the motorway at moneygall and rejoin again at portlaoise, and on the way back off and on the same as opposite. My reasoning is the hills are very long and my petrol takes a drop when on the motorway compared to the old (now relaxed) route through roscrea etc..

theteal

This example is nowhere as long a journey as yours OP but I can echo your sentiments. When we were still in Dublin, I was in Walkinstown and herself was based in Coolmine. This can be done in about ~10mins via the m50 but I much preferred driving through Chapelizod (possibly my favourite part of Dublin) which would take ~25mins

MugMugs

BTW, that's one hell of a commute. Hope its not daily!

TestTransmission

MugMugs wrote: »

BTW, that's one hell of a commute. Hope its not daily!

Makes my 10 minute drive to work seem short alright :pac:

flyingsnail

MugMugs wrote: »

BTW, that's one hell of a commute. Hope its not daily!

No, usually once a week.

pred racer

No. Because most of the speed traps are on these roads.

padma

in regards to the speed traps, when in the need for speed the motorway does the trick, nowadays the old route is just a nice relaxed route with nice oak trees and the likes, whereas the motorway on that stretch is bare enough, though theres a lovely mountain view on it.

dgt

All the time. Back roads keep me awake and are more fun

I use the motorway when I'm late or situations are hazardous (eg this morning)

redsteveireland

I always prefer the back roads as you actually have to drive. If I wanted to sit still on auto-pilot for my commute I would get the bus.

Also you don't have to deal with fools who don't know how to use a motorway.

Only downside of course is more bearings/bushings etc. that you will replace.(Fact of Fiction)?

djk1000

I used to commute from Dublin to Mullingar, the motorway only saved me about 10 minutes and since most of the traffic was on the motorway, the old road was usually a pleasure to drive.

If I was running late, or if the weather was bad I'd take the motorway, otherwise, I'd enjoy the drive on the old road.

Cedrus

Recently I was trying to join the M8 near Abbeyleix (not my neck of the woods) and I headed down the N8 and thought HEY this is much nicer than the motorway (x10) and and WAAY nicer than the N8 before the motorway (x100), so I kept going. I'll still use the M8 on the way to meetings, airports etc. but on the way back with good weather and low traffic the old roads win out definitely.

the great purveyor of mediocrity

My old commute was Longford (N4) to Dublin. Always skipped off at Kinnegad and rejoined at Kilcock. The toll road is only marginally quicker and not worth it in my opinion. Also the old road is now desolate of traffic and consequently a more chilled out drive.

ottostreet

No, there is an old road and a motorway to my workplace. I take the motorway as much as I can, as a family member was killed on the old road, and I dislike it as a result.

Most other places I'd go are an hour+ drive, so I tend to stick to the motorway. I live on backroads anyway so I don't feel I'm missing out really.

Vicxas

I take the N2 and the R153 Home rather than the M1 or M3