Weird fractions on distance signs

[Mergingtraffic]

1/8 mile in Bensalem, PA.

[jbnv]

Turns out I have a 1/5.



Some other odd ones from my collection:

1 3/4:




2 1/4:



2000 feet:



1.6:

[formulanone]

Philadelphia has a bunch of distances measured in tenths, especially on the Schuylkill (I-76):

2/10


3/10


4/10


6/10

[stevashe]

Here's all the ones I know of in Washington:

⅝ (SR169 before it meets I-405): https://goo.gl/maps/ADVjqxv33gTA8iAM7 (don't think I've seen this particular number from anyone else yet)

600 feet (I-5 just after crossing the Columbia River): https://goo.gl/maps/7wT1xxs4tmFmjX8A6

WSDOT seems to like thirds in Bellingham for some reason, here's two examples:

1⅓: https://goo.gl/maps/HZZ1buhb7Wh6Ka1y5

⅔: https://goo.gl/maps/NPeeha2gvAv2qVCWA

[sprjus4]

1 3/4:
2 1/4:

That's not that uncommon, I've seen those all over, especially with larger junctions. When it follows a 1 and 3/4 mile or 1/2 mile, usually it's standard, even with the full mile added in front of it.

[roadman]

In reality, though, anything like that just means "EXIT VERY CLOSE".

Which is why MassDOT normally uses "XXX FEET", usually in a black on yellow banner, instead of a fraction for any distance less than 1/4 mile.

[paulthemapguy]

1 3/4:
2 1/4:

That's not that uncommon, I've seen those all over, especially with larger junctions. When it follows a 1 and 3/4 mile or 1/2 mile, usually it's standard, even with the full mile added in front of it.

These fractions aren't super-common, but you will find them in districts requiring the distance to the next exit to be posted alongside the BGS for the current exit, like with the Illinois Tollway.  You might also see them on urban freeways with a lot of exit points close together.

[jbnv]

1 3/4:
2 1/4:

That's not that uncommon, I've seen those all over, especially with larger junctions. When it follows a 1 and 3/4 mile or 1/2 mile, usually it's standard, even with the full mile added in front of it.

These fractions aren't super-common, but you will find them in districts requiring the distance to the next exit to be posted alongside the BGS for the current exit, like with the Illinois Tollway.  You might also see them on urban freeways with a lot of exit points close together.

They're "weird" to me because they occur infrequently in my four-figure collection of signs. Only one 2 1/4 and two 1 3/4s.

[lepidopteran]

This sign leading to Kennedy Airport reads
"Passenger Terminals 2.5 miles ahead"

https://goo.gl/maps/pr8QdC34cQ3v5ztu7

[roadman]

1 3/4:
2 1/4:

That’s not that uncommon, I’ve seen those all over, especially with larger junctions. When it follows a 1 and 3/4 mile or 1/2 mile, usually it’s standard, even with the full mile added in front of it.

These fractions aren't super-common, but you will find them in districts requiring the distance to the next exit to be posted alongside the BGS for the current exit, like with the Illinois Tollway.  You might also see them on urban freeways with a lot of exit points close together.

Interesting.  In all my years of travelling in multiple states, I have yet to see a "NEXT EXIT XX MILES" tab that included a fraction in the distance.

It's not a "NEXT EXIT XX MILES" tab.

GSV link here. While this one is an integer (17 miles), some others are fractions.

My bad.  I misunderstood the post.  Have deleted my previous post.

[michravera]

I would like to know of some examples of weird fractions on distance signs.  Typically distance signs use halves or quarters with fractions, with occasional use of thirds.  I would like to know some examples of any distance signs that doesn't use halves, quarters, or thirds.

I remember in Albuquerque there was a sign that had distance of 6/10 mile south of Downtown on I-25 northbound.

About the ONLY good thing that can be said for the continued use of miles is that they divide nicely into haves, thirds, quarters, fifths, sixths, eighths, tenths, and even elevenths and twelfths in whole feet. You can even get whole numbers of inches by dividing into ninths. Now whether anyone in a car can tell the 40ft difference between an eleventh and a twelfth of a mile is debatable.

Seriously guys, can't we just agree to use meters (preferably in hundreds or rarely fifties maybe on city streets) for stuff shorter than a mile? or for intermediate distances between 1 and 2 miles? Is it that much of a stretch? I would like to go all metric, but meters for walkable distances should be the thing.

[jeffandnicole]

Seriously guys, can't we just agree to use meters (preferably in hundreds or rarely fifties maybe on city streets) for stuff shorter than a mile? or for intermediate distances between 1 and 2 miles? Is it that much of a stretch? I would like to go all metric, but meters for walkable distances should be the thing.

No. 

Most people wouldn't have a clue how to do the conversion. And approaching an exit, people will see 1 km but not really see the km part, and think they have a mile left.  As 1/2 Mile and 1 km are about the same distance, there's no reason to use a measurement people aren't familiar with.

[MikeTheActuary]

Just switch Google Maps or your preferred sat-nav tool over to metric, and you get used to working with metric distances very quickly.

I still need to find a good trick to start thinking in terms of metric volumes, however.

[formulanone]

I still need to find a good trick to start thinking in terms of metric volumes, however.

When I go shopping in Canada:

- 300 mL is about 10 liquid ounces
- about 30 grams to an ounce (mass)
- almost 4 L to a US gallon

[GaryV]

... miles is that they divide nicely into haves, thirds, quarters, fifths, sixths, eighths, tenths, and even elevenths and twelfths in whole feet...

The next time I see a sign saying X/11 or X/12 miles will be the first.

Seriously guys, can't we just agree to use meters (preferably in hundreds or rarely fifties maybe on city streets) for stuff shorter than a mile? or for intermediate distances between 1 and 2 miles? Is it that much of a stretch? I would like to go all metric, but meters for walkable distances should be the thing.

When I was in ON last month, I had to keep thinking about distances when I saw "Right, 300 m" or similar signs.  I have a feeling for  1 or 2 km.  But not for some several hundred meters.

[webny99]

The new approaches to NY 390 Exit 21 have "1000 FEET", if that counts as weird. I would way rather that than some unearthly fraction.

[ilpt4u]

I still need to find a good trick to start thinking in terms of metric volumes, however.

When I go shopping in Canada:

- 300 mL is about 10 liquid ounces
- about 30 grams to an ounce (mass)
- almost 4 L to a US gallon

355 mL is a 12 fluid ounce beer or soda can/bottle...thats my conversion: .355 L=12 FL Oz

Just under 3 beers/sodas per Liter

Also a Pint/16 FL Oz Water Bottle is very close to a 1/2 Liter Water Bottle...I believe the 1/2 Liter bottles come in at 16.9 Fluid Ounces aka just over a Pint...so (slightly more than) 2 Pints per Liter.

2 Pints is a Quart, so Quarts are similar Volume to Liters, tho a Liter is 1.8 FL Oz larger

[Finrod]

How about the largest mileage sign that has a fractional component?

On I-75 south approaching Atlanta, inside the Marietta loop, there's a sign for I-285 Atlanta Bypass, 4 3/4 miles.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9527238,-84.5166182,3a,75y,161.22h,107.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scLt6jKHfbrNORxALz4V8kA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[dlsterner]

How about the largest mileage sign that has a fractional component?

On I-75 south approaching Atlanta, inside the Marietta loop, there's a sign for I-285 Atlanta Bypass, 4 3/4 miles.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9527238,-84.5166182,3a,75y,161.22h,107.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scLt6jKHfbrNORxALz4V8kA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

On WB US 50, approaching I-495 (east side of Washington DC) there's a mileage sign that announces 6 1/4 miles to the Cheverly Metro station.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9472424,-76.8289729,3a,75y,264.64h,92.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sHHmH79UWKBHKDfkxTSRckg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[dlsterner]

I remember back in the late 1970's there was a sign on EB I-10 in Florida announcing 9/10 of a mile to the next rest area.  It was one of the rest areas between Tallahassee and Lake City.  The sign is no longer there.

Why they didn't fudge it to a mile, figuring nobody would notice, I do not know.

[michravera]

How about the largest mileage sign that has a fractional component?

On I-75 south approaching Atlanta, inside the Marietta loop, there's a sign for I-285 Atlanta Bypass, 4 3/4 miles.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9527238,-84.5166182,3a,75y,161.22h,107.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scLt6jKHfbrNORxALz4V8kA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

There is (or at least was recently) a "10 1/2" on NB US-101 south of San Jose. I believe that it showed the distance to CASR-85. I haven't, as I recall, seen quarters beyond 7 or any fraction besides quarters (and halves) beyond 2.

[fwydriver405]

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.927049,-94.704756&spn=0.004757,0.010568&t=k&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.92695,-94.704754&panoid=0AEBJF3nbbiY-q9W2ciMpg&cbp=12,17.22,,0,3.02

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.217291,-79.610152&spn=0.01881,0.042272&t=k&z=15&layer=c&cbll=40.217257,-79.610278&panoid=mWDBO17GttpmcXtVRcOhuw&cbp=12,77.03,,0,-11.79

Eighths of miles aren't all that rare.  What's less common, but not unheard of, is to display distances in feet.

I have seen "800 feet".

https://goo.gl/maps/b8U2G, for example.

And http://goo.gl/maps/GU6Hi

600'  https://goo.gl/maps/txYQY

Until around 2017-18 ish when the signs were replacced, there was a sign on the Spaulding Turnpike at Exit 8 W northbound stating 500 FT (0.2 km). It was changed over to 1/4 MILE when it was replaced.

500 FT (0.2 km) signage

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

A couple of 10th mile measurements from Westchester NY

2/10 mile on the I-287 service road. There is another sign with the same measurement on the other service road.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rNdLPbGtQB7LvtwQ6

4/10 mile on the southbound Hutch
https://maps.app.goo.gl/y9D764cKP5ab3GZYA

[amroad17]

How about the largest mileage sign that has a fractional component?

On I-75 south approaching Atlanta, inside the Marietta loop, there's a sign for I-285 Atlanta Bypass, 4 3/4 miles.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.9527238,-84.5166182,3a,75y,161.22h,107.47t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scLt6jKHfbrNORxALz4V8kA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

On I-75 NB at Exit 104 near Lexington, KY: I-64, 7 1/4 MILES

[kphoger]

And approaching an exit, people will see 1 km but not really see the km part, and think they have a mile left.

I'd be willing to bet that half the people driving out there couldn't even tell the difference between 1 mile and 1 kilometer "by feel".