M-91 Amish Buggy Model T Shoulder Demonstration

[@boatbuilder1954]

This is great mdot is doing this, the Amish are wonderful people and deserve to be able to travel in their buggies and be as safe as possible in them!

[@aidanacebo9529]

that's fascinating. I never expected to see a working Model T, as in a Model T doing a legitimate job, in 2024. she's 98 years old and still keeps on going like it's 1926. what a great example of getting out and driving an old car.

[@gentlegiants1974]

I'm in Ontario Canada, and I'm impressed that a governmental agency actually cares about non-motorized road users. I farm with horses and the modern traffic/drivers makes for a often tense drive for myself with the horses. My horses are fine with the passing traffic, but the terribly rough and broken pavement edges and washed out rough gravel shoulders, or no shoulder at all on secondary roads, make for a rough ride. As he mentions, horses can trip and stumble on the typical debris field lining the edges of most roads, scrap iron, car parts, broken glass, beer cans, flotsam and jetsam tossed from cars, giant lumps of sod dug up by road graders grading the shoulder. If I just drive down the travelled portion of the road blocking traffic you can imagine the road ragers this would create in this high speed streamlined world of today. Even on my own dead end road the tourists who venture down it are desperate to pass me when I have a 4 abreast on a wide implement and no shoulder whatsoever, and they are forced to stay behind me at 3.5 mph for a mile or do. I do try to get over if I see a field entrance or a wide flat spot enough to get to the side.

[@LoganJohnson-lm2bh]

I have great respect for the Amish .years ago as a truck driver i would go some of there farms on occasion .And what your doing is a wonderful and a useful thing for all

[@outdoors717]

Thanks MDOT for looking out for all the residents in Michigan. A great story. A great employee educating the public about our great state and its residents.

[@penelopepurr]

Oh! I love this! Here is a man who is thinking it all through. Its practical, cost effective, safe, and makes perfect sense. This man deserves a raise for this excellent idea. Well done sir!

[@GoddessNeith]

This is amazing and very considerate. I want a ride!!

[@arfink]

Always excellent to see a DOT who is working hard to meet the needs of the folks actually using the roads. Good job!

[@chriszenker2468]

Thank you for thinking of these folks in your road plans because it's scary to come upon the buggy's and not have enough room for all Thank you again Chris Zenker

[@bladder1010]

Very impressed that they put so much thought and consideration into this!

[@evanyeagered.d.9604]

Great job on efficient use of resources. I suspect that the Ford Model T does a better job than some expensive machinery that uses lasers to do conture/surface mapping. Having a Model T in the stable not only makes best practices and economic sense, it can't hurt from a public relations standpoint. Congratulations all around.

[@charlestishman7117]

This is such a good idea. Nice work MDOT!

[@antihippiesoldier]

That extra clearance will also really benefit local bike travel tourism!

[@jeremyyff3632]

That is such a beautiful car, it makes my day that its still used and a valuable tool in your department. We have one just like yours in my family that was bought new in 27 in Ada MN. They are also a great off road vehicle too.

[@timwaddell9450]

This is good to see, i think it is a good thing for both side and shows that as a group, we respect their ways and are also willing to help a ne9ghbor out.

[@davidhussell8581]

Good work ! Well done.

[@merccadoosis8847]

Thank you for improving safety for all.

[@wesbrackmanthercenthusiast4695]

As someone who is trying to get into horse drawn equipment repair this is very useful to know and just tickles me pink that a model t would be useful still in a modern environment , because unlike using horsedrawn farm equipment where you have a freedom from fossil fuels or even in the example of the trucker protests in Canada where they were locked out of their bank accounts so they could no longer travel , this is where horses give you freedom where you can't be stopped from traveling even if you are disagreed with so you lose that one sided tyranny

[@robguttridge6591]

Mr. Kerby seems like a really nice fellow, and this is a fine demonstration of putting out good public information and outreach via video.

[@samuelh5567]

Riding in an old car like that is on my bucket list.

[@GoddessNeith]

Mine too!!!!

[@adp5R3x]

OWNING an Old Car is on MY bucket list !

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

Love seeing old cars still getting used

[@randymagnum143]

Very interesting way to audit a very interesting project!

[@brandongaines1731]

First! Nice video! I do hope that you got that one man's permission to capture his image and use it :-)

[@guitarhippie]

I love this so much ♥

[@SockyNoob]

A very rare sight indeed. Definitely an honest idea.

[@MOOGSTINE]

Wow god bless, thank you for your work. Happy independence day.

[@fodderfresh1869]

Good demo

[@eknuds]

Neat!I have ridden a bicycle around the world. Unfortunately, my native northwestern LP of Michigan is one of the more hair raising areas because paved shoulders are too rare.

[@LaurasLastDitch]

Everyone should have a safe way to get where they need to go. This will be great for bikes, too.

[@joshuanishanthchristian5217]

How interesting!

[@deannasinclair-parker7590]

All secondary roads near Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities should have extra wide shoulders to make travel safer!

[@Michael-S-vk1pp]

Henry's T still at work!

[@stephenharper6638]

Cyclists and pedestrians appreciate the improvements.

[@kateathend]

Makes sense to have policed reduced speed non-paved roads as alternates I guess. Everyone is such a rush these days. With the way they are building modern cars these days with higher and higher price tags those old buggies are looking attractive again.🐄

[@taylorjtaylorj]

Out of curiosity, is the Model T a state owned asset or was its use procured from a private owner?

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! That Model T is Del's personal vehicle.

[@brandonquinto4852]

This is very cool. Who maintains the Model Ts, I wonder?

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! This Model T in particular is Del's personal vehicle.

[@RobertJarecki]

"The Amish buggies aren't that safe and aren't that heavy. " Model T's: The modern equivalent.

[@majordendrocopos]

Horse drawn vehicles always had a locally standardised width between the wheels, right in history back for hundreds of years. If the wheels on your cart were wider or narrower than the standard then they wouldn’t roll in the bottom of the ruts but would quickly break by being constantly splayed out or pinched in. Tarmac roads ended the problem.

[@Brandongoheen-f3y]

Does that mean you are going to fix the roads, all I see around Michigan is cold patch and it won't stay in because they don't fix the roads properly

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! We've certainly got plenty of full rebuilds and resurfacing projects happening across the state. You can see current and upcoming state road and bridge projects (I, M and US routes) at www.Michigan.gov/Drive, state road and bridge projects set for the next five years at www.Michigan.gov/MDOT5YearPlan, and state road and bridge projects made possible by Gov. Whitmer's Rebuilding Michigan program providing an additional $3.5 billion over five years to rebuild the state roads and bridges that carry the most traffic and are critical to the state's economy at www.Michigan.gov/RebuildingMichigan. Thanks for following MDOT!

[@JohnBarry-g5l]

When the tractor was trying to pass, 🤣🤣

[@sydrider6023]

Cool!

[@PatrickWDwyer]

This guy convinced the government to buy him a vintage car “for work”

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! No, this was already Del's personal vehicle. He's providing it free of charge to help ensure the safety of all road users. Thanks for following MDOT.

[@patrickshaw8595]

Hmmm - I learned something!

[@austindowney7473]

Good, roads are for all! Now how do we make the safer for walkers and bikers.

[@phillijp]

This is how Gretchen is fixing the roads?

[@ronaldsmith6829]

Well, it's better to have all pavement than half and half. However the graveled area is better for the horses than the pavement is.

[@microdesigns2000]

I'm glad to hear I'm glad to hear this outcome. I don't suppose that Amish and Mennonite buggies pay any road taxes or gas taxes, so the general public will have to pay for this. It is a religious accommodation.

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! Amish and Mennonite folks do indeed pay the same taxes as everyone else, including the state and federal gas taxes on fuel they buy to run their various machinery, along with any taxes and fees that go into the General Fund, which then are applied to the state transportation budget.

[@microdesigns2000]

@@MichiganDOT I'm sure they do, but I was speaking of automobile gasoline tax because they are using buggies without fuel. I have nothing against the Amish or Mennonite communities. I'm just counting the costs, a biblical concept. I wonder what their bishops might say if they were asked. Incidentally, electric cars have the same question, which is why many states are charging extra taxes for electric vehicle registration to capture the lost fuel taxes. I mean no disrespect.

[@GoddessNeith]

No, it's not. It's a safety precaution. If you used a horse and buggy they'd be doing it for you.

[@GoddessNeith]

And if they are treated like electronic vehicles, they pay taxes on their horses!

[@MichiganDOT]

No worries! Yes, Amish folks do purchase auto fuel to operate that machinery we mentioned. Michigan is indeed one of the state that adds a surcharge to electic vehiles registration in lieu of the fuel not being purchased for that vehicle

[@Austin-modelt]

Are you hiring??

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! You can find and apply for jobs at MDOT at www.governmentjobs.com/careers/michigan/MDOT. Hope this helps! Thanks for following MDOT.

[@DizzyDiddy]

Is there not a concern that the wider shoulder will encourage drivers of modern vehicles to travel at even higher speeds? I am concerned that interventions such as the one mentioned in the video will actually decrease safety overall. Turn those roads into more narrow gravel roads without lane markings and modern cars will slow down enough to safely navigate around the horse drawn carriages.

[@David-e1b3t]

good

[@dennismayer4936]

If the system is extensive it could attract and be safely used by bicyclists.

[@ACamelEmoji]

🐪

[@vader0ne]

WTG

[@MrPacosTacoz]

Y'all, it's NOT an Amish Ford Buggy.

[@ktanner11]

What a colossal waste of taxpayers money. I live in presquisle county, the Amish population is growing, and it's horse crap literally. It's everywhere. I know a man on a motorcycle that has wrecked do to the mess they leave on the road, that they use and don't pay a single cent towards the road tax to repair and maintain them. Join modern society drive a car or walk. None of the biggies in the community around me have lights, they ride around at dark or dusk, it's only a matter of time. As a CDL holder and driver it's going to be ugly. Plain and simple, they should be outlawed. Modern roads were built for cars period.

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! Amish and Mennonite folks do indeed purchase fuel to operate certain machinery they have, so they're paying the same fuel taxes as everyone else, along with other fees and taxes they pay for goods that go toward the General Fund, which is also applied to the state transportation budget, which certainly entitles them to using the same transportation system we all use and pay for as well. Thanks for following MDOT.

[@ThecultofCon]

The government has gotten really good at justifying a waste of taxpayers dollars such as this Jimbob guy drinking and driving around a Model T for fun on a state Salary.

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi there! That Model T is Del's personal vehicle he is kind enough to share with the department to do road safety audits for the benefit of all road users. Thanks for following MDOT.

[@NakedUndone]

Horse wagons riding on the side of the road never made sense to me. They should really take the lane. It will be a lot safer. Let the phrase "as far to the right as practicable" be stricken from every Highway Code and Traffic Act.

[@icefoxracing]

At least you can be sure that alcohol was not involved.......... just sayin'...........

[@DonSchafer-p8k]

Msp it is against law

[@williammacdonald2948]

My tax dollars are being used to fund this BS? How about we require all users of a road to carry insurance and register their vehicles (bicycles too), then we require MSP to do their jobs and enforce the traffic laws! At that point, we could have the folks at MDOT actually fix the roads instead of wasting time studying a “problem” that only exists for a small subset of road users.

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi William! Since Amish and Mennonite folks also pay fuel taxes and other fees thast go toward the roads, then we will indeed continue to ensure safety for all road users, just as we do for you and your family. Thanks for following MDOT.

[@phillijp]

This is how Gretchen is fixing the roads?

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi Phillip! This is indeed part of the overall effort to ensure the safety of all road users. Thanks for following MDOT!

[@phillijp]

If she's interested in motorist safety, could we get northbound US 23 repaired from the border to Dundee? There are sections of the right lane that are not roadworthy and haven't been so for many years. Could I also request replacing every piece of US 131 going through Grand Rapids? Putting patches on previously repaired patches isn't a solution to "fixing the roads".

[@MichiganDOT]

Hi Phillip! Indeed, there is a rebuilding project coming to that area US-23 in 2025-2027. As for US-131, we have work this year between M-11 (28th Street) and Pearl Street, then in 2029-2030 between Pearl Street and Richmond Street, and in 2027 between I-96 and Post Drive. That patching your mentioned is meant to help get the freeway through to when resurfacing or rebuilding can be afforded.