Unique, Odd, or Interesting Signs aka The good, the bad, and the ugly

[Big John]

^^ That is a temporary sign meaning the road is closed ahead, but local traffic can use it up to the point of closure.

[wanderer2575]

^^  Cass Avenue in downtown Detroit.  The bridge over I-94 (one block ahead) is being replaced this year.

[LilianaUwU]

^^ That is a temporary sign meaning the road is closed ahead, but local traffic can use it up to the point of closure.

Speaking of temporary signs, this sign I just saw on Rue Sainte-Catherine in Montréal is announcing a road closure... in September 2022:

Late notice for a closed road, Rue Sainte-Catherine by Liliana Vess, on Flickr

[hotdogPi]

I thought Quebec was pretty good about road signs being understandable to people who only speak English, but that sign only appears to have the part below the divider qualify. Someone who doesn't understand French will see "no parking between these days/times" but not "road closed".

[LilianaUwU]

I thought Quebec was pretty good about road signs being understandable to people who only speak English, but that sign only appears to have the part below the divider qualify. Someone who doesn't understand French will see "no parking between these days/times" but not "road closed".

Especially in Montréal, where the Burger King cashier couldn't even speak French. If I had to guess, there was an identical sign in English below, but it would've been removed in the six months since the restriction became a thing of the past.

[tckma]

Well THAT'S oddly specific.  Let me break out my measuring tape...

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4078999,-75.4729199,3a,41.8y,173.7h,94.09t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s1zUpr3vfcwMTWvIG3qhgHA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D1zUpr3vfcwMTWvIG3qhgHA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D77.80715%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

[tckma]

Unique curve sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.2764999,-75.3968849,3a,19.5y,207.26h,93.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2vP61pFwtNin7LYxGFgvFw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[kirbykart]

Well THAT'S oddly specific.  Let me break out my measuring tape...

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4078999,-75.4729199,3a,41.8y,173.7h,94.09t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s1zUpr3vfcwMTWvIG3qhgHA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D1zUpr3vfcwMTWvIG3qhgHA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D77.80715%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Wow that's weird. It works out to about 170 meters, but that's not a normal distance to post either!

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/D4x2KPSYWcFYjb4SA
The Pennsylvania Turnpike classic giant shield at Turnpike entrances still is one of the most unique and interesting sign assembly around.

[tckma]

https://goo.gl/maps/D4x2KPSYWcFYjb4SA
The Pennsylvania Turnpike classic giant shield at Turnpike entrances still is one of the most unique and interesting sign assembly around.

A somewhat larger example: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0895237,-75.3968346,3a,48y,221h,78.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLPtUScejw-hxbw1TO1OgZQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[JoePCool14]

https://goo.gl/maps/D4x2KPSYWcFYjb4SA
The Pennsylvania Turnpike classic giant shield at Turnpike entrances still is one of the most unique and interesting sign assembly around.

A somewhat larger example: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0895237,-75.3968346,3a,48y,221h,78.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLPtUScejw-hxbw1TO1OgZQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

First one's cooler though for being a cut-out. 

[LilianaUwU]

Well THAT'S oddly specific.  Let me break out my measuring tape...

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4078999,-75.4729199,3a,41.8y,173.7h,94.09t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s1zUpr3vfcwMTWvIG3qhgHA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D1zUpr3vfcwMTWvIG3qhgHA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D77.80715%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192

Wow that's weird. It works out to about 170 meters, but that's not a normal distance to post either!

Strangely, 170 m is a pretty frequent distance in Québec for things such as ped crossings or other miscellaneous stuff. It has to do with the ideal placement of advance signs, IIRC.

[steviep24]

Found this on Quora.



The US had a national speed limit of 35 MPH during WWII to save on fuel and rubber.

[tckma]

The US had a national speed limit of 35 MPH during WWII to save on fuel and rubber.

"35 MILES" -- incorrect units.  In 35 miles, I will reach the town of Victory Speed?  (or else I'll get a ticket?)

[tckma]

Schrödinger's Sign: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steinsky/143733824

[Big John]

Schrödinger's Sign: https://www.flickr.com/photos/steinsky/143733824

The sign itself is prohibited (red).

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/QtFa1aXzQtWoTLym6
Then just behind it around the corner:
https://goo.gl/maps/BrgtPbTwTbET27Jb8

Turn right on NB US 202 Bus. to see it end in just 100 feet.

[jakeroot]

Okay, so this isn't on a road, so bear with me. But it is a rather unique sign.

This boardwalk sign has Clearview, which I have never seen anywhere in Japan until now:


American Village Boardwalk Speed Limit by Jacob Root, on Flickr

[hotdogPi]

My natural walking speed is 4.8 kph. What are they trying to do?

[Scott5114]

I don't think that's actually Clearview, but it's close enough that even I'm not 100% certain.

[jeffandnicole]

The US had a national speed limit of 35 MPH during WWII to save on fuel and rubber.

"35 MILES" -- incorrect units.  In 35 miles, I will reach the town of Victory Speed?  (or else I'll get a ticket?)

It was a relatively common way of showing the speed limit at the time though...

https://www.alexautographs.com/auction-lot/victory-speed-limit-signs_FB14B0895C

https://highwaypatrol.utah.gov/uhp-history/1940-1949/war-speed-limit/

https://images.roadtrafficsigns.com/img/art/1930-state-speed-limit-sign-L.jpg

[LilianaUwU]

I don't think that's actually Clearview, but it's close enough that even I'm not 100% certain.

The "MAXIMUM SPEED" text I'm 99% sure is Clearview, but the "BICYCLE" text sure isn't. Compare to my similarly sized and colored find from my Montréal trip:

Late notice for a closed road, Rue Sainte-Catherine by Liliana Vess, on Flickr

[Scott5114]

The center vertex of the M in "MAXIMUM" on Jake's sign is flat. On the Montréal Clearview, it's pointed.

So it's different fonts, it's just that the letterforms are close enough that they're easy to confuse. Argh!

[jakeroot]

The center vertex of the M in "MAXIMUM" on Jake's sign is flat. On the Montréal Clearview, it's pointed.

So it's different fonts, it's just that the letterforms are close enough that they're easy to confuse. Argh!

Hey, just be glad they didn't use UD Shin Go.

[JoePCool14]

Okay, so this isn't on a road, so bear with me. But it is a rather unique sign.

This boardwalk sign has Clearview, which I have never seen anywhere in Japan until now:


American Village Boardwalk Speed Limit by Jacob Root, on Flickr

Kinda reminds me of some form of Calibri to me.