Pennsylvania Amish Buggies passing etiquette.

I LIKE the Amish.

I have pulled a few loads of oak from eastern Ohio for them. They are absolutely stand up folks IMHO.

I frequently run in areas that are farm country, whether it be an Amish horse horse and buggy or a farmer with a tractor pulling a combine.

Here's the proper etiquette: stay WELL back of the slow moving vehicle. Allow PLENTY of space in front of you for four wheelers to pass you and then pass the slow moving buggy or farm equipment.

Once YOU have an opportunity to pass, turn on your left turn signal and accelerate into the pass. Make SURE the wheelers know your intentions.

Other than that, be very very patient. Turn off the Jake's. Don't scare the horses.

 

I don't know who took the picture, but that's along US20 in Shipshewana Indiana, another area that has a large contingent of Amish. KZ RV manufacturing in the background.

 

As has been said there are many differences between Amish and Mennonite. The Amish are named after Jacob Ammon and the different churches are subject to their particular Bishop. Some are allowed more liberties and others are very strict. The Mennonite name comes from a reformed catholic priest named Menno Simons. They teach basic Biblical principals and believe each member is subject to God. There are guidelines of course for the churches, but more difference is found in their way of living and dress due to that. Unfortunately many Mennonites no longer live the teachings of their ancestors, but their heritage can be traced back through the Annabaptists and before then the Waldenses.

 

I think they are in all the Lower 48 States and Canada. The heavy population
communities are in the Eastern 2/3rds of the Country. Lots of them in Kansas,
Nebraska and from there east. They prefer small fields and hill country.....
cheaper land. They are seldom found on large paved roads, or close to large
cities...….back in the "boonies" that is where they like to live.

They are not all the same. I think there are over 2000 different "flavors" of
them. A lot of similarities but they are very particular about their different groups.
I used to deliver groceries to three different stores within 5 miles on the same
gravel road. They looked the same to me but they would not associate with each other.

There are a lot of similarities between Amish and Mennonite people.....but some
basic differences.
Amish men grow beards---Mennonite men don't.
Amish have church in their homes----Mennonites generally have churches.
Amish usually don't have electricity-----Mennonites generally do.
Amish don't normally have telephones-----Mennonites usually do.
Amish often make their own clothes-----Mennonites buy their clothes.
For example Amish men don't have store bought buttons or zippers, they
use "hooks and eyes" instead.....while Mennonite men buy store bought pants.

They both put a lot of emphasis on living simple, honest lifestyles. Most do not allow
pre-marital sex, most are faithful to their partners "till death do us part". They do allow
remarriage but only if your partner dies......divorce is not permitted. Most expect their
people to work at home....that is why they have so many small family run businesses.
Also they do not allow commercially purchased insurance, no health insurance or life
insurance. When disaster strikes they "pass the hat" and help each other. They do permit
the young people, ages 15 to marriage, to "sow their wild oats" but after that they are
expected to "settle down" and become good church members.


One huge difference in these people versus most Americans is their attitude toward
death. If one of them gets very sick they won't spend unlimited amounts of money on
hospitals. They will try some basic medicine and after that it is their time to dy. Death
is not seen as a bad thing. Some have been accused of child neglect because they took
their sick children home to die rather than spends unlimited time and money in the
hospital.

Most do not vote. They usually prefer a President with an R in front of his
name. They will badmouth a Democrat but will seldom say much about a
Republican.....even if he is a bad person. With Trump, some don't really approve
of him, they just refuse to talk about him at all.

They are not permitted to own a radio or a TV.....but if they are visiting or
working with someone who has a radio or TV they can listen/watch. They can
come to my house and watch my TV but they are not supposed to ask me to change
the channel. I had an older neighbor that liked company so he figured out if he
watched certain sports channels the Mennonite neighbors would stop by to
"visit". They usually prefer country music, some soft rock, but they don't like slow
classical music at all. Baseball is their preferred sport.....most don't care for football,
soccer, or any other "stick and ball" sports. Most aren't much into Motorsports.
They do play some hockey in the winter time.

They do pay taxes...… but since they don't draw Social Security they don't pay
Social Security Taxes. But they do pay Sales Tax, Personal Property Tax, etc. They
also pay the School Tax even though they have their own private school system.

 

They are generally a friendly people.....love to visit. But I find them
to be a little snobbish.....for example they will seldom say much about
themselves but will ask some pretty intimate/personal details about my
life. They are not permitted to have pre-marital sex.....but they love to
hear all the gritty details of somebody else's love life.

They are also very interested in finances.....how much money you make
or how much your pickup cost, etc. They may even ask how much debt you have,
but would not tell such details about themselves. They are a very curious people....
Americans are curious about them and they are curious about the world around
them.

 

I deal with them on a daily basis, many work in the RV industry here in Indiana. If the Amish are nothing else, they are polite. Usually cheery, smiling, friendly. You will always have the occasional grouch, but they are the exception.
Driving down the road, I give them as much room as I can. Sometimes, that's not a lot. But they are used to dealing with traffic, and adjust accordingly.

 

Been awhile since I lived among these people.....memories are coming back.

One piece of advice on how to pass the buggies......don't hang out beside
them. The horses don't like that. Either stay behind or pass. Part of the harness
includes side "blinders". The horse can not see something beside him.....he can't see
you till you get past him. So if you are directly beside him he can hear you but doesn't
know what you are......drives some horses nuts.

Also don't follow to close.....the horse can hear you but not see you. Follow back a
little, wait for a clear shot and than get up some speed so the actual passing doesn't
take to long.

 

The car he wasn't supposed to have......but using the phone was alright.
These people have a kind of funny belief on phones. They don't allow phones
in their houses but they are permitted to borrow a neighbors phone. The
theory is the phone should only be used in emergencies...not for everyday
use.

They have the same belief on cars. Can't own the car but can ride in one all
day long. I asked one of them if I could "borrow" one of his girls for a while...…
if I didn't actually own her, just borrowed her it should be alright....shouldn't it?
He did not think that was funny.

 

And their compressed air phobia...

 

I live around a group of mennonites known as Holdeman Mennonites. They arent really like what y'all describe. They seem to live about normal lives but dont have TV or radio. I've worked with some so I learned to know them quite well and about their belief. That group of Mennonites are different. Actually they say the other Mennonite groups dont really like them. Their youth are really good singers even without musical instruments and seem enthused with it. Some go wild, but many don't. I have checked around different religions and I believe they are as close to the Bible as you can live today, but I dont think it's a really easy life. They do seem happy though. They wear beards, but not really big ones and of course the women wear dresses and a cap. They have always intrigued me. I think about everyone around here appreciates them. Some of the men own businesses in town and they are honest and usually easy to work with.