Asheville Driving Tips

Asheville Driving Tips

• You must learn to pronounce the city name. It is “ashvul.”

• Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Asheville has its own version of traffic rules…the truck with the loudest exhaust goes next at a 4-way stop. The truck with the biggest tires goes after that. (Note: Blue haired ladies driving anything have right of way ANYTIME.)

• To find anything in Asheville it is required that you know where Patton Avenue is… which is the Alpha and Omega. The beginning and the end.

• The morning rush hour is from 6:00 to 10:00. The evening rush hour is from 3:00 to 7:00. Friday’s rush hour starts Thursday morning.

• If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended, cussed out and possibly shot.

• You must know that “I-240″ and “I-40″ are the same road. Also, “Hwy 25″, “Hendersonville Road”, and “Asheville Hwy” are one and the same.

• Construction is a permanent fixture in Asheville. The barrels are moved around in the middle of the night to make the next days driving a bit more exciting.

• Watch very carefully for road hazards such as deer, skunks, dogs, barrels, cones, cows, horses, pot holes, cats, pieces of other cars, opossum, truck tires, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and ravens or vultures feeding on any of these items. .

• If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been “accidentally activated.”

• The minimum acceptable speed on I-240 is 75 mph. Anything less is considered downright sissy. This is the Asheville version of NASCAR. If considered sissy on I-240, do not even consider driving on I-26.

• Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously.
  

• If you are in the left lane, and only going 70 in a 55-65 zone…..you are considered a road hazard, and will be admonished with the acceptable sign language.

• Ground clearance of at least 12 inches is recommended for city driving.

• If it’s 60 degrees, “Leaf looking” must be next weekend.

• If it’s 10-20 degrees and sleeting/snowing, then watch out, Asheville residents consider this “demolition derby” day and will be all over the roads (front ways, back ways, etc). Proceed with caution as you could be their next target. Also note that the mere possibility of ice on the road will shut down all schools and most businesses until the crisis passes.

• The Smokey Park Bridge, suspended high over the French Broad River and recently converted for your convenience as the access point for the I-26 expansion, the Expressway Entrance, and a flow through of Patton Avenue, is considered one of the city’s most exciting amusement attractions. Beware though…it is not for the faint of heart.
  

• Tunnel Rd. and Biltmore Village convert to parking lots during all holidays and weekends. Please enter these streets cautiously, find the nearest parking space and walk to the mall for the quickest access.

• The area formally known as “Skyland” no longer exists. It’s now considered South Asheville. Arden is slowly being taken over as well.

• “Malfunction Junction” (the I-26, I-40, and I-40 intersections) is open year round. You can catch dinner and a movie at this free event! Bring your picnic basket and plenty of drinks! And make sure you have plenty of DVDs for those portable players! You’ll be there for a while. Asheville city planners do not claim responsibility for football game being played in the median of I-26.

Welcome to Asheville.