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

[jakeroot]

So there's no regulation beyond the color (for construction signage)? I saw some Clearview construction warning signs about a year ago in Seattle. At the time, I assumed they were design errors, but this is not necessarily the case?

[Zeffy]

They should follow the MUTCD, but given its temporary nature, that doesn't always happen. There is plenty of Clearview construction signs in Philadelphia.

[jakeroot]

There is plenty of Clearview construction signs in Philadelphia.

Just to be clear (...), this is what I mean:

[SignGeek101]

There is plenty of Clearview construction signs in Philadelphia.

Just to be clear (...), this is what I mean:

I'd take Clearview any day over Helvetica (which is often seen here in construction zones).

[cbeach40]

That sign is new too (it wasn't there in June 2015, look at the asphalt on the shoulder for the following link). https://goo.gl/maps/2sMdCdyw82G2

I like the green on white, looks unique. Though 'Second Exit' I feel would only be used if that second exit is close to the first, which in this scenario is the case. Mixed-case is also a bit interesting. Most times it's always written as 'NEXT EXIT' (in caps) or simply 'NEXT' at least here where I live.

Was it recently added to the Ontario Traffic Manual? I don't remember seeing that in previous versions, only the G416 and G417 signs in Book 8.

I am not sure if this sign style is reflected in the Ontario Traffic Manual.  I suspect this sign was designed to deliberately be a bit unique in order to make it stand out more to drivers.  The MTO tried a similar approach on this sign at the north end of Hurontario Street in Brampton to try and make Highway 10 stand out more as the through route:

1. Nope, not in the OTM, it's a custom one-off
2. Yes, deliberately non-standard as it's a bit of a unique situation.

[roadfro]

So there's no regulation beyond the color (for construction signage)? I saw some Clearview construction warning signs about a year ago in Seattle. At the time, I assumed they were design errors, but this is not necessarily the case?

The MUTCD governs construction signage, which basically has the same design standards as normal signs--for warning signs, this also means using orange instead of yellow for warnings. Language that governs text appearance and symbol design for normal signs also applies to construction signs. Hence, Clearview lettering on construction signs are design errors.

[jakeroot]

So there's no regulation beyond the color (for construction signage)? I saw some Clearview construction warning signs about a year ago in Seattle. At the time, I assumed they were design errors, but this is not necessarily the case?

The MUTCD governs construction signage, which basically has the same design standards as normal signs--for warning signs, this also means using orange instead of yellow for warnings. Language that governs text appearance and symbol design for normal signs also applies to construction signs. Hence, Clearview lettering on construction signs are design errors.

Thank you for the clarification. I assumed there was regulation -- glad to see I'm correct.

[formulanone]

I know construction signage plays by its own rules the anything-goes rule, but creativity points ought to be given here...
P1210360 by Ryan busman_49, on Flickr

It's almost......cute. I can't believe I'm saying it. Like, they tried and failed so hard, it's cute. 

A few years ago, someone posted a construction route sign for Ohio with numerals made from electrical tape.

ah, here we go:

Not my pic but it has to be here..

[hbelkins]

On I-66 eastbound.

[WillWeaverRVA]

On I-66 eastbound.

Yuck! Unfortunately, this font has appeared elsewhere...



It seems to be a VDOT Fredericksburg Region thing...although this is in Fauquier County in the Culpeper Region. I guess it's contagious.

[SignGeek101]

On I-66 eastbound.

Yuck! Unfortunately, this font has appeared elsewhere...



It seems to be a VDOT Fredericksburg Region thing...although this is in Fauquier County in the Culpeper Region. I guess it's contagious.

Not ugly enough to be Helvetica. I'd put my money on Arial.

[D-Dey65]

I am not sure if this sign style is reflected in the Ontario Traffic Manual.  I suspect this sign was designed to deliberately be a bit unique in order to make it stand out more to drivers.  The MTO tried a similar approach on this sign at the north end of Hurontario Street in Brampton to try and make Highway 10 stand out more as the through route:

In the USA, that sign would indicate that "Valleywood Boulevard" was some kind of park road or maybe a historic district.

[Big John]

On I-66 eastbound.

Yuck! Unfortunately, this font has appeared elsewhere...



It seems to be a VDOT Fredericksburg Region thing...although this is in Fauquier County in the Culpeper Region. I guess it's contagious.

Not ugly enough to be Helvetica. I'd put my money on Arial.

The tail on the 1 in 17 confirms it is Arial. (The bottom of the tail is parallel to the top of the tail rather than horizontal.) and the 3 has the thinner stroke weight of Arial.

[SD Mapman]

picture

On I-66 eastbound.

Yuck! Unfortunately, this font has appeared elsewhere...

picture

It seems to be a VDOT Fredericksburg Region thing...although this is in Fauquier County in the Culpeper Region. I guess it's contagious.

Not ugly enough to be Helvetica. I'd put my money on Arial.

The tail on the 1 in 17 confirms it is Arial. (The bottom of the tail is parallel to the top of the tail rather than horizontal.) and the 3 has the thinner stroke weight of Arial.

Speaking of ugly, here's one from KC: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3265151,-94.7131925,3a,34.6y,141.2h,90.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTwkwHKnhbTys7qF-9X4aIw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The airport needs to get its act together.

[SignGeek101]

picture

On I-66 eastbound.

Yuck! Unfortunately, this font has appeared elsewhere...

picture

It seems to be a VDOT Fredericksburg Region thing...although this is in Fauquier County in the Culpeper Region. I guess it's contagious.

Not ugly enough to be Helvetica. I'd put my money on Arial.

The tail on the 1 in 17 confirms it is Arial. (The bottom of the tail is parallel to the top of the tail rather than horizontal.) and the 3 has the thinner stroke weight of Arial.

Speaking of ugly, here's one from KC: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3265151,-94.7131925,3a,34.6y,141.2h,90.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTwkwHKnhbTys7qF-9X4aIw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The airport needs to get its act together.

Not standard, but far from ugly. I've seen airport signage with the most ridiculous fonts. That sign, although the strokes are thin, is pretty well spaced and easy to read IMO.

[thenetwork]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3265151,-94.7131925,3a,34.6y,141.2h,90.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTwkwHKnhbTys7qF-9X4aIw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Not standard, but far from ugly. I've seen airport signage with the most ridiculous fonts. That sign, although the strokes are thin, is pretty well spaced and easy to read IMO.

I agree with the legibility on the BGS, but that little afterthought sign below it is way on the other end of the (il-)legibility spectrum.

[SignGeek101]

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3265151,-94.7131925,3a,34.6y,141.2h,90.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTwkwHKnhbTys7qF-9X4aIw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Not standard, but far from ugly. I've seen airport signage with the most ridiculous fonts. That sign, although the strokes are thin, is pretty well spaced and easy to read IMO.

I agree with the legibility on the BGS, but that little afterthought sign below it is way on the other end of the (il-)legibility spectrum.

I thought about that too. The bottom sign could be redone in a better way.

[formulanone]

Speaking of ugly, here's one from KC: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3265151,-94.7131925,3a,34.6y,141.2h,90.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sTwkwHKnhbTys7qF-9X4aIw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The airport needs to get its act together.

Compared to most airports' choices for fonts, that's not half-bad. Airport authorities almost always use some sort of weird font; they can't all be Milwaukee.

Decent spacing saves it, and you're not going all that fast around MCI's airport grounds.

[freebrickproductions]

Compared to most airports' choices for fonts, that's not half-bad. Airport authorities almost always use some sort of weird font; they can't all be Milwaukee.

Never seen button-copy airport signage before.

[jbnv]

Cross-quote from another thread. The unique/odd/interesting sign is the one on the side street indicating correct turning procedure.

Northbound US-1 near Melbourne, Florida, has a continuous green for the two right lanes and no barrier for the left turns. Seems to work OK there, but I wouldn't want to see it tried in more urban areas without some sort of barrier because this design relies on the idea that people making lefts ONTO Route 1 will turn into the correct lane. That's not a premise on which I'd especially want to rely, given how often I see people turning into the wrong lanes in dual-turn situations and the like (even when there's a car in the adjacent lane).

Advance sign advising two right lanes have continuous green:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.091486,-80.608913,3a,66.8y,15.52h,82.55t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sjuZDcuocgWHJczWkTcdcYA!2e0

Intersection itself:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.09317,-80.609807,3a,66.8y,352.88h,82.59t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1siymh4sBTnbCwdPpL00bGCw!2e0

Warning sign on the other street intended to make sure people turn into the correct lane:
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.09344,-80.611085,3a,66.8y,97.5h,84.23t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sXhpp6kwCm2xd7fjhza2utQ!2e0

As a practical matter, there would seem to be little reason to want to go straight out of the one lane that doesn't get the continuous green, unless perhaps you know the light cycle so well that you know it won't turn before you get there.

[thenetwork]

Compared to most airports' choices for fonts, that's not half-bad. Airport authorities almost always use some sort of weird font; they can't all be Milwaukee.

Never seen button-copy airport signage before.

CLE -- Cleveland Hopkins Airport -- used to have some button-copy white on an orange-red background near the entrance and exit ramps to/from SR-237.  Those have been gone for well over a decade.

[roadfro]

Compared to most airports' choices for fonts, that's not half-bad. Airport authorities almost always use some sort of weird font; they can't all be Milwaukee.

They all really should be like Milwaukee...

[Zeffy]

Very European-esque signs in this roundabout/circle in Chester, MD:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9786438,-76.289187,3a,43.8y,293.48h,86.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFexcwIW2P2iBEcXs-5kprQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[riiga]

Nice find Zeffy!

[1995hoo]

Very European-esque signs in this roundabout/circle in Chester, MD:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9786438,-76.289187,3a,43.8y,293.48h,86.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFexcwIW2P2iBEcXs-5kprQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Maryland had those in several places. There used to be a few at the two roundabouts near the Naylor Road Metrorail station, but they were replaced with US-style signs. I kind of liked them. No reason to reinvent good signage.