In 2021, I began an article about traveling from one end of the country to the other on Interstate 80
. It heads from New Jersey to California through several other states. However, upon looking at it from a reader’s perspective, it has come to my conclusion that it’s not understandable the way it is. You see, when I tend to write these articles (my nicknamed “Interstate articles”), I tend to use Google Maps on my PC (where I tend to take long edits with them). However, this article has several unreadable spots due to a few issues.
- On the first issue, it’s got states that aren’t simplified. In the case where Ohio has a freebie part and a tollway, I split them up into two separate steps. While that seems good to know, it may not be the easiest to understand. I honor those who tried to understand it but couldn’t (and those that could). But it’s not just that. Done.
- On the second issue, when I wrote this article, I wrote the “trail” as if each crack and turn created a different substep - even if multiple turns got people from step to step. This would’ve made it way, way too long. Kudos to those who tried to understand that too. Done.
- On the third issue, I don’t think that keeping the whole Part One information is vital to this article (or too many), since most of the cities it travels through, from, and to, are relatively minor enough that people would need that information. In a nutshell, this is poor at best and I give you lots of luck if you were able to comprehend it from the standpoint it’s in. Done.
- On the fourth issue, I didn’t explain all that there was to explain where this route merged with other routes to become dual (or in a couple of spots) tertiary and loop routes. (This is my downfall, especially in Utah where the routes break apart and split off and are better explained another way.) Done.
- I need to add some more clarifying details for all the bridges and tunnels it crosses and try to describe each landmark. Done.
- There are also more details that this route could take in several spots - through several states where Wikipedia has more information than ours and where ours can obtain more landmarks that clarify the article more. Done.
- Spot-checking and tweaking the information for the same styling across exit numbers. While some exits are written as just an exit number, others are written as “exit “. Even then some edit numbers are written enclosed in parenthesis and others arent and need to be defined in the same styling. Done.
- Switching this to a LISTarticle. Done.
Now here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to re-write the article from the baseline up. Most of the information is going to be removed and replaced with more readable information that I printed off before. You’ll see times when stuff that readers might enjoy may be removed at first be removed, but don’t worry. As soon as I get the clarified information back up, you’ll see the tidbits that made the information instructional from the better parts of the route from the original edits from 2021 and then get replaced - all in a separate edit. (Nothing gets left behind that is great so just give me time!
There’s a lot to fix. The route travels through ten states, and even if I tackle one state a day, much of this interstate route has more than capable amounts of exit detailing, so this might seem to be a lengthier project of mine and time will only tell where this project will get me.
Am I up for the call? Well, yes and no. Will I get reverted because of the fact I may remove too much information at first? Signs lead to yes. Will these issues be remedied? Again yes.
If you see something missing that you feel might be informational that gets put back, don’t revert and talk to me so I know what it was and I’ll add it back (as I also have a printout of this article the way it was before, and I’m only removing these details as I work through each state, so nothing gets left behind.
If you see others’ actions on this article, please revert their reverts and send them this forums post link so they see what’s going on too.It took me several months to complete its original edit, so it should take me as long or longer to rewrite it with these additional clarifying details.
