Stop signs that make no sense

[TEG24601]

Found this one on Reddit last night-

[Roadrunner75]

Found this one on Reddit last night-

This seems like a reasonable location.

[Molandfreak]

Found this one on Reddit last night-

This seems like a reasonable location.

what

[Duke87]

Someone needs to put up a "beware of falling rocks" sign right after that stop sign.

[hbelkins]

I detect a "Stop Ahead" sign in the distance in that picture. I suspect the sign crew got it and the stop sign's locations reversed.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

This one doesn't make sense since it favors a local street over a highway: https://www.google.es/maps/@41.8332735,-1.5287375,3a,90y,235.02h,81.48t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1skLV4Au59mmzcabLU1DJuBA!2e0. Yes, that is the town of the 'restored' Ecce Homo .

[froggie]

I'd argue that at least some (if not most) of the recent proliferation of stop signs in the US isn't because of "speed control", but moreso a combination of driver stupidity and the legal mess that uncontrolled intersections have become.  So, in effect, it's to clarify who has right-of-way instead of speed control.  We can, in part, thank our lawsuit-happy society for that.

[PHLBOS]

I'd argue that at least some (if not most) of the recent proliferation of stop signs in the US isn't because of "speed control", but moreso a combination of driver stupidity and the legal mess that uncontrolled intersections have become.

Trust me, the majority of STOP erected along local (non-PennDOT) roads in SEPA were clearly erected as a means of speed control.  See the fore-mentioned Franklin Ave. example in Ridley Twp., Delaware County.  That road went from a PennDOT road (w/out STOP signs) to a local road (w/STOP signs) for that reason and that reason only.

[jeffandnicole]

I'd argue that at least some (if not most) of the recent proliferation of stop signs in the US isn't because of "speed control", but moreso a combination of driver stupidity and the legal mess that uncontrolled intersections have become.  So, in effect, it's to clarify who has right-of-way instead of speed control.  We can, in part, thank our lawsuit-happy society for that.

Technically, a town can't say they want to install a sign to control speed.  They need some other reason to install it.  But it's pretty much guaranteed they're installed to control speed. 

[Brian556]

On the walking/bike trail in Highland Village, Texas, there is a 90-degree turn that has stop signs for no reason. It should have sharp turn ahead and arrow signs instead.

Here it is:

[vdeane]

Is it even wide enough to get two cars though there?  A stop sign might actually be warranted for that reason.

[busman_49]

It made sense years ago before new 30 cut off Kansas Road off to the right of the photo:
http://goo.gl/maps/ssdXt
(on-coming traffic is basically a driveway; give THEM the stop sign)

[Zeffy]

Um...what? What is the purpose of these exactly (if there is one)?

EDIT: Wait a minute, is this a lift bridge? I just noticed that there's a fence there that looks like it swings forward to block traffic and it looks like a part of the bridge is movable...

[hbelkins]

Is it even wide enough to get two cars though there?  A stop sign might actually be warranted for that reason.

It's a walk/bike trail. No vehicular traffic.

[spooky]

Um...what? What is the purpose of these exactly (if there is one)?

EDIT: Wait a minute, is this a lift bridge? I just noticed that there's a fence there that looks like it swings forward to block traffic and it looks like a part of the bridge is movable...

Yeah that seems pretty obvious.

[Roadrunner75]

Um...what? What is the purpose of these exactly (if there is one)?

EDIT: Wait a minute, is this a lift bridge? I just noticed that there's a fence there that looks like it swings forward to block traffic and it looks like a part of the bridge is movable...

Yes - the Burlington Bristol is a lift bridge.

[Zeffy]

Yeah that seems pretty obvious.

Yes - the Burlington Bristol is a lift bridge.

My stupidity strikes again. Sorry! 

[Roadrunner75]

Yeah that seems pretty obvious.

Yes - the Burlington Bristol is a lift bridge.

My stupidity strikes again. Sorry! 

If it makes you feel any better I don't think they have to lift it that often.

[Brandon]

Schmidt Road and Frontage Road, Bolingbrook, and the other way.  It's a curve, and it's been that way for a couple of decades now.

I hate mid-block pedestrian crosswalk stop signs.  A simple yield or stop for pedestrians in crosswalk sign would make more sense.

Roundabouts and stop signs like drinking and driving, don't mix.

[mrsman]

Schmidt Road and Frontage Road, Bolingbrook, and the other way.  It's a curve, and it's been that way for a couple of decades now.

I hate mid-block pedestrian crosswalk stop signs.  A simple yield or stop for pedestrians in crosswalk sign would make more sense.

Roundabouts and stop signs like drinking and driving, don't mix.

I hate the mid-block ped crossing stop signs too.  But at some level, I know that without the sign, most drivers would not stop, even if a pedestrian were present and ready to cross the street.  The mid-block stop sign assigns right of way to the cross-traffic, it just happens that the cross-traffic is entirely pedestrian.

[Mr. Matté]

I hate mid-block pedestrian crosswalk stop signs.  A simple yield or stop for pedestrians in crosswalk sign would make more sense.

I hate the mid-block ped crossing stop signs too.  But at some level, I know that without the sign, most drivers would not stop, even if a pedestrian were present and ready to cross the street.  The mid-block stop sign assigns right of way to the cross-traffic, it just happens that the cross-traffic is entirely pedestrian.

NYC does the stop signs for mid-block crosswalk as seen in this report featuring Stern Show's Scott the Engineer (kch): http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/07/19/stop-signs-along-midtowns-6-12-avenue-catching-drivers-by-surprise/

[wisvishr0]

Roundabouts and stop signs like drinking and driving, don't mix.

Oh gosh, and they had to put an "ALL-WAY" sign below it, which is NOT how a roundabout works...

[Brian556]

Here's another stop sign at roundabout, in Flower Mound, Texas

https://maps.google.com/?ll=32.985352,-97.064861&spn=0.000009,0.006196&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=32.985352,-97.064861&panoid=UIDYKPx4fhcq_UYdIoeEZA&cbp=12,323.83,,0,0

The other approach has yield signs:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=32.985843,-97.064502&spn=0.000009,0.006196&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=32.985843,-97.064502&panoid=WxVeE4kf2htFhGtsp65zaw&cbp=12,269.19,,0,0

[wisvishr0]

Here's another stop sign at roundabout, in Flower Mound, Texas

https://maps.google.com/?ll=32.985352,-97.064861&spn=0.000009,0.006196&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=32.985352,-97.064861&panoid=UIDYKPx4fhcq_UYdIoeEZA&cbp=12,323.83,,0,0

The other approach has yield signs:

https://maps.google.com/?ll=32.985843,-97.064502&spn=0.000009,0.006196&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=32.985843,-97.064502&panoid=WxVeE4kf2htFhGtsp65zaw&cbp=12,269.19,,0,0

That makes a bit more sense -- there's no deflection to slow people down on the approach, so you'd need a stop sign to make sure people slow down and yield. But still, that kinda eliminates the point of a roundabout.

[doorknob60]

I know I've run across STOPs at roundabouts in Portland, OR before. I don't think this is the same one I ran across, but here's one I was able to find on street view:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5080671,-122.6488643,3a,75y,319.09h,73.63t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1siL4tjVgXph3SrwAYAWEYBQ!2e0

That one's a bit of an unconventional roundabout, but Bend has something almost the same, except with the proper yield signs:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0588815,-121.3524115,3a,75y,112.4h,82.57t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1spvTYHqE0a_NTk8KvhNeaZQ!2e0.
Even the minor streets in this one have yields: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.057913,-121.3510988,3a,75y,7.59h,75.47t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sHFyqHztduAmrgb-iojaZHA!2e0

Another one in Portland:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5264078,-122.6236875,3a,75y,88.62h,80.4t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sX88lMW9nqnxvx0aVlUkFhQ!2e0

I also recall these weird mini-roundabouts in Portland. They make a bit more sense to have stops, but due to low traffic and speed limits, I think a Yield would work here too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5136328,-122.6513591,3a,75y,265.98h,72.67t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sYrZJmZ9LVpY8vlDhsQZYVQ!2e0

Bend also has those, except this one is a two way stop (EDIT: Okay, my Portland example was also a two way), with one street having the right of way in this case, which seems even weirder:
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0578245,-121.2915499,3a,75y,3.45h,75.66t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sS9u9V-G1qzeujKmycbQlkw!2e0


It makes me wonder if the City of Portland has any properly signed roundabouts. I can't think of any off the top of my head.
EDIT: I think this counts: https://www.google.com/maps/@45.5779273,-122.5599738,3a,75y,126.77h,73.72t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1shp652eJLXzKstrU6PGGSwg!2e0
I'm pretty sure that's a city street, and not private (though it's close enough to the airport to make me question it)