Signage stupidity

[roadfro]

Talk about too much information...

2 Guide Signs
3 California route shields (two 2-digit, one 3-digit)
6 Control Cities (3 on each sign)

They could easily remove Los Angeles and either Yosemite or Sonora from those signs to clear up the legend.  Also, they're using a fairly wide gantry, so I don't see why they couldn't have used slightly wider signs so that everything wasn't so cramped.

[myosh_tino]

Through the magic of Photoshop...



I think the reason for the extra wide sign bridge is because CA-120 used to be a "Super-2" (2-lane limited access road) that ran in the current eastbound lanes.  The current left shoulder was probably the old westbound lane.

[Duke87]

Yeah, I get what it's supposed to mean, but taken literally it sounds like town parks are dangerous and motorists should watch out for them.

[SidS1045]

Stating the obvious:

In that situation, perhaps.  However, years ago in south Brooklyn NY (this may still be true), traffic signals were only placed on some streets every five blocks.  At the corners with no traffic signals, signs said STOP HERE ON RED SIGNAL, meaning: Look down the street to the closest traffic signal and stop if it's red.

[Scott5114]

One of the stupidest things I've seen was when we were leaving Washington, D.C. I wanted to clinch DC-295 on the way out. So there's this sign on unsigned I-695:



Take a good look at that, because that's the last mention of DC-295. None of the signs in the remaining mile between this gantry and the exit say a damn thing about DC-295. We therefore ended up getting to see the best of Anacostia. It was at that point we decided to give up on DC-295 and hightail it back to the Beltway on 395.

[Alps]

One of the stupidest things I've seen was when we were leaving Washington, D.C. I wanted to clinch DC-295 on the way out. So there's this sign on unsigned I-695.  Take a good look at that, because that's the last mention of DC-295. None of the signs in the remaining mile between this gantry and the exit say a damn thing about DC-295. We therefore ended up getting to see the best of Anacostia. It was at that point we decided to give up on DC-295 and hightail it back to the Beltway on 395.

If you just take the exit (basically a forced exit from a stub), you turn right, cross the bridge, and the entrance to DC 295 (which IS signed with a shield) is on the left.  Now, it's entirely possible there's only one sign for DC 295 and it's right there at the exit, so if you're not prepared you could pass it by.

[Scott5114]

One of the stupidest things I've seen was when we were leaving Washington, D.C. I wanted to clinch DC-295 on the way out. So there's this sign on unsigned I-695.  Take a good look at that, because that's the last mention of DC-295. None of the signs in the remaining mile between this gantry and the exit say a damn thing about DC-295. We therefore ended up getting to see the best of Anacostia. It was at that point we decided to give up on DC-295 and hightail it back to the Beltway on 395.

If you just take the exit (basically a forced exit from a stub), you turn right, cross the bridge, and the entrance to DC 295 (which IS signed with a shield) is on the left.  Now, it's entirely possible there's only one sign for DC 295 and it's right there at the exit, so if you're not prepared you could pass it by.

Right, well, my mom was driving, and she was looking for DC 295. We see it here, I snap the picture, and then all the signs from there on out just say "Pennsylvania Avenue". She didn't want to take the exit if it didn't have the DC 295 sign there.

Doesn't the MUTCD say somewhere that the legend has to be the same on all advance and exit direction signage?

[roadfro]

Doesn't the MUTCD say somewhere that the legend has to be the same on all advance and exit direction signage?

I believe it's in a guidance or support statement, and not a required standard.

[froggie]

A couple notes:

- That exit to the left ("TO DC 295 NORTH") has only one direction to go when you get to Pennsylvania Ave...outbound on the Sousa Bridge.  And there are trailblazers to DC 295 NORTH along outbound Pennsylvania Ave, as Steve alluded to.

- Unless you'd gotten it previously, using that route to "clinch DC 295" would've been a moot point or required a U-turn elsewhere, because of missing connections between DC 295 and I-295, as well as missing connections between DC 295 and Pennsylvania Ave.  To clinched the DC 295 part between PA Ave and I-295, you'd have to come up from the south along I-295 (or enter from Howard Rd/Firth Stirling Ave), come from the north along DC 295, or enter coming along PA Ave from the east.

[r-dub]

Along the lines of gantry overkill, check out this doozie outside of Colorado Springs:



Worse, during recent construction, there was a portable VMS on the left side of the road warning of impending doom. Why the main VMS wasn't used is anyone's guess.

And, wanna go swimming?

[mapman]

The font on that overhead sign is too small!  I thought the MUTCD had a minimum font size for signs!   

And no, I don't want to go swimming there.   

[florida]

  A clothed pedestrian sign! Poor things walk everywhere (and sit in wheelchairs) nude, but have to wear clothes to be swept away in a flood.

[akotchi]

Doesn't the MUTCD say somewhere that the legend has to be the same on all advance and exit direction signage?

I believe it's in a guidance or support statement, and not a required standard.

It is, in fact, a SHALL condition.  Section 2E.27 of the 2003 edition states "Consistent destination messages shall be displayed on these signs," referring to Advance Guide and Exit Direction signs.

[mapman]

A clothed pedestrian sign! Poor things walk everywhere (and sit in wheelchairs) nude, but have to wear clothes to be swept away in a flood.

Well, at least its daughter is allowed to wear a dress when walking to school!  And its wife can wear clothes when guarding the bathroom!

[Michael]

HA!