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.
Minnesota, on warning sign plaques.
There used to be a sign on westbound I-66 stating the exit for I-495 was 1/10 of a mile ahead. The sign is no longer there.
I have seen 3/8 somewhere on MA 128.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15373500910_5305044421_z.jpg)
Here's another "1/8 MILE" on southbound US 101 near Palo Alto...
(https://www.aaroads.com/california/images101/us-101_sb_exit_400c_03a.jpg)
Unfortunately, this sign was replaced when Caltrans added a second HOV lane on 101. The distance message was removed and only a down arrow remains.
I've seen 2/10 somewhere recently. Why not 1/4, I don't know.
1/8, being binary, seems intuitive to me.
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.
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 06, 2015, 02:57:35 PM
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".
There's a tons of tenths around Philly esp on 76, 676 and on Woodhaven Road. I think they were in place for a potential conversion to metric which had been tossed around a lot in the 70s 80s and 90s.
The math nerd in me gets put off by the fact that they aren't reduced fractions. All 2/10, 4/10, 6/10.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on February 06, 2015, 02:52:53 PM
I've seen 2/10 somewhere recently. Why not 1/4, I don't know.
1/8, being binary, seems intuitive to me.
Probably because 2/10 is 1/5, rather than 1/4. :bigass:
Thinking about it from a practical standpoint, I kind of like the idea of tenths because that's what a car's odometer or trip meter displays.
There's a few x/8 signs on US 30 in Lancaster IIRC.
Quote from: 1 on February 06, 2015, 03:00:43 PM
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 06, 2015, 02:57:35 PM
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.
Quote from: Cjzani on February 06, 2015, 04:10:04 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 06, 2015, 03:00:43 PM
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 06, 2015, 02:57:35 PM
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
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 06, 2015, 03:11:33 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on February 06, 2015, 02:52:53 PM
I've seen 2/10 somewhere recently. Why not 1/4, I don't know.
1/8, being binary, seems intuitive to me.
Probably because 2/10 is 1/5, rather than 1/4. :bigass:
Thinking about it from a practical standpoint, I kind of like the idea of tenths because that's what a car's odometer or trip meter displays.
1/5 and 1/4 are, for all practical purposes on the highway, the same. Why Philly uses 2/10 rather than 1/4, who knows.
Long ago there was a 1/5 mile sign somewhere on I-95 between Richmond and Ashland.
My country is full of 5/8 and 5/16 of mile signs :bigass:...
Except we sign those as 1000 m and 500 m (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skyscrapercity.com%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Ftroll.gif&hash=1f0b8d7e59f7fc52ca4ea21178391ffb3ee4855c).
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 06, 2015, 03:11:33 PM
Quote from: Pete from Boston on February 06, 2015, 02:52:53 PM
I've seen 2/10 somewhere recently. Why not 1/4, I don't know.
1/8, being binary, seems intuitive to me.
Probably because 2/10 is 1/5, rather than 1/4. :bigass:
Yeah, but after 1/2, 1/4 is people's favorite fraction, and it's close enough (there is plenty of evidence out there that .05 mile is within the margin of error for exit distances).
QuoteThinking about it from a practical standpoint, I kind of like the idea of tenths because that's what a car's odometer or trip meter displays.
That's the answer right there.
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on February 06, 2015, 05:40:17 PM
My country is full of 5/8 and 5/16 of mile signs :bigass:...
Except we sign those as 1000 m and 500 m (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skyscrapercity.com%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Ftroll.gif&hash=1f0b8d7e59f7fc52ca4ea21178391ffb3ee4855c).
:bigass:
It was very common in the 60s and early 70s for NYSDOT to use tenth miles, especially on overhead signs at cloverleaf interchanges. There used to be a button copy sign from the mid 1980s on NY 12 north in Utica that said "JCT (8) 1/3 MILE". It was the only instance I remember of seeing 1/3 mile.
Quote from: upstatenyroads on February 07, 2015, 01:39:50 PM
It was very common in the 60s and early 70s for NYSDOT to use tenth miles, especially on overhead signs at cloverleaf interchanges. There used to be a button copy sign from the mid 1980s on NY 12 north in Utica that said "JCT (8) 1/3 MILE". It was the only instance I remember of seeing 1/3 mile.
Here's another BGS with a
1/3 MILE (http://goo.gl/maps/vwQ7O) listing.
Quote from: PHLBOS on February 07, 2015, 02:53:08 PM
Quote from: upstatenyroads on February 07, 2015, 01:39:50 PM
It was very common in the 60s and early 70s for NYSDOT to use tenth miles, especially on overhead signs at cloverleaf interchanges. There used to be a button copy sign from the mid 1980s on NY 12 north in Utica that said "JCT (8) 1/3 MILE". It was the only instance I remember of seeing 1/3 mile.
Here's another BGS with a 1/3 MILE (http://goo.gl/maps/vwQ7O) listing.
1/3 is not that rare (although probably rarer than eighths).
There's a bunch of "1/3 mile" signs on I-57 north of Champaign. Since 1/3 mile is vaguely close to 1/2 kilometer, I wonder if they were chosen for possible future metrication purposes?
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1814/30143742048_48ec10e94a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MVGyju)
I-95 just south of Daytona Beach; for US 92 near the I-4 interchange:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4747/27973984339_b10f2c6445_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JBXYWP)
There's a similar one for FL 44, but oddly using 3/10 of a mile:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4750/39661009644_8f44fccca0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/23qH3p7)
Quote from: 1 on February 07, 2015, 02:58:35 PM
1/3 is not that rare (although probably rarer than eighths).
I recall seeing more thirds than eighths, and if you read my OP, I don't consider them unusual.
Still waiting for a picture of x/6 or x/7 . . .
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 06, 2015, 02:57:35 PM
What's less common, but not unheard of, is to display distances in feet.
Several of those still in play along the Delaware 141 freeway.
I-10 WB in Tucson, between Kino Pkwy and Park Ave, has a 1/8 mile exit approach
Northbound I-29 in Iowa, north of Missouri Valley, the Modale exit ahead sign shows 1 1/4 miles which gives me a chuckle every time I see it.
The sign was placed ahead of an overpass for some reason (like the overpass would block the view of the sign if it was just past it).
And I also find it a bit weird to have an overpass for a gravel farm road just a mile (OK a tad more) from an interchange, although it was handy when the redecking crew mangled the stringers and the interchange was closed for months longer than anticipated to get the steel fixed.
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.946096,-75.18935,3a,41.8y,43.91h,93.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srP4GPhhpR2ceEGnLCWtJDA!2e0
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.948734,-75.185398,3a,21y,31.27h,108.72t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sqo3mfxkwibbVSBsjqGrT9w!2e0
Despite how bad I-76 through Philadelphia is, that is one nice view you get of the city. 6/10 should've been simplified though (and 9/10? really?) to 3/5 if anything.
Quote from: Zeffy on February 10, 2015, 04:12:16 PMDespite how bad I-76 through Philadelphia is, that is one nice view you get of the city. 6/10 should've been simplified though (and 9/10? really?) to 3/5 if anything.
Tenths match your odometer with no additional thinking required.
Quote from: odditude on February 10, 2015, 04:25:50 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on February 10, 2015, 04:12:16 PMDespite how bad I-76 through Philadelphia is, that is one nice view you get of the city. 6/10 should've been simplified though (and 9/10? really?) to 3/5 if anything.
Tenths match your odometer with no additional thinking required.
1/2 mile is good enough.
https://goo.gl/maps/TqIvE
Looks like this old 1/3 designation in New Orleans got replaced. So that exit just magically got 1/12 of a mile closer
Quote from: bassoon1986 on February 11, 2015, 11:19:45 AM
https://goo.gl/maps/TqIvE
Looks like this old 1/3 designation in New Orleans got replaced. So that exit just magically got 1/12 of a mile closer
If it's a sign, the sign could have moved instead of the exit. (Street View doesn't work due to outdated Flash Player, so I can't see it.)
No, it's the same placement. There are some serious rusted poles holding it up.
Quote from: Zeffy on February 10, 2015, 04:12:16 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.946096,-75.18935,3a,41.8y,43.91h,93.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1srP4GPhhpR2ceEGnLCWtJDA!2e0
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.948734,-75.185398,3a,21y,31.27h,108.72t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sqo3mfxkwibbVSBsjqGrT9w!2e0
Despite how bad I-76 through Philadelphia is, that is one nice view you get of the city. 6/10 should've been simplified though (and 9/10? really?) to 3/5 if anything.
South Street bridge esp in its current form is the one of the best photo spots in the area. I'm surprised they didn't replace those signs when the bridge was replaced. They put in fresh Clearview signs on the eastbound side.
Quote from: odditude on February 10, 2015, 04:25:50 PM
Quote from: Zeffy on February 10, 2015, 04:12:16 PMDespite how bad I-76 through Philadelphia is, that is one nice view you get of the city. 6/10 should've been simplified though (and 9/10? really?) to 3/5 if anything.
Tenths match your odometer with no additional thinking required.
Eighths match the streets you pass. Around Chicago, it's eight blocks to the mile. Pass two, and you've gone a quarter mile.
Quote from: ekt8750 on February 11, 2015, 03:48:05 PMSouth Street bridge esp in its current form is the one of the best photo spots in the area. I'm surprised they didn't replace those signs when the bridge was replaced. They put in fresh Clearview signs on the eastbound side.
The cantilever-mounted 4/10 mile BGS for exit 346B (if that's the one you're referring to) along I-76 East replaced an 1980s vintage structure-mounted BGS. Since the structure in question was replaced as part of the South Street Bridge Replacement project; PennDOT had no choice but to replace that BGS and provide a new gantry.
Scroll down to see the previous bridge-mounted BGS (http://www.alpsroads.net/roads/pa/i-76/s.html)
The newer supplemental BGS located further down I-76 East (on the older overhead gantry sign bridge) was replaced due to either the old BGS being hopelessly vandalized or its legend being modified.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 06, 2015, 04:15:26 PM
Quote from: Cjzani on February 06, 2015, 04:10:04 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 06, 2015, 03:00:43 PM
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 06, 2015, 02:57:35 PM
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
I-95 in Norwalk had 500 ft and 1000 ft on the same gantry until they started construction there recently.
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.103746,-73.430429,3a,75y,66.27h,85.53t/data=!3m5!1e1!3m3!1s1uWVx2rTwmxINqI78l96EA!2e0!5s20120901T000000
2012 Street View
^ Nice and round numbers. What's wrong with them?
I really don't want to have to do mental division while navigating traffic in an unfamiliar city and looking for my exit. 600 feet?? That's, like, ummmm...somewhere between 1/10 and....ummmm...probably 1/8 of a mile.....I guess. But, if I'm glancing in my mirror, answering a question from a passenger, etc., etc., then I really just don't want to have to do that kind of math in my head. Just tell me it's 1/8 or 1/10 of a mile, or better yet, "NEXT EXIT".
In reality, though, anything like that just means "EXIT VERY CLOSE".
Quote from: riiga on February 12, 2015, 02:23:28 PM
^ Nice and round numbers. What's wrong with them?
They're in the same spot. It is impossible for both to be correct.
Quote from: kphoger on February 12, 2015, 02:23:54 PM
I really don't want to have to do mental division while navigating traffic in an unfamiliar city and looking for my exit. 600 feet?? That's, like, ummmm...somewhere between 1/10 and....ummmm...probably 1/8 of a mile.....I guess. But, if I'm glancing in my mirror, answering a question from a passenger, etc., etc., then I really just don't want to have to do that kind of math in my head. Just tell me it's 1/8 or 1/10 of a mile, or better yet, "NEXT EXIT".
In reality, though, anything like that just means "EXIT VERY CLOSE".
Usually they do this when multiple exits are close together, it's more like "These exits are all very close and in this order". Though, if they're numbered (sanely) then the number/lettered suffix of the exit will be enough to deduce the order anyway as long as you know whether they are increasing or decreasing in your direction.
P.S. GPSes seem to like feet (and sometimes yards) in voice output, but mile fractions on the display. Wonder what's going on there.
Quote from: 1 on February 12, 2015, 02:35:53 PM
Quote from: riiga on February 12, 2015, 02:23:28 PM
^ Nice and round numbers. What's wrong with them?
They're in the same spot. It is impossible for both to be correct.
Sure they could be correct. They're two different exits.
The only 1/8 mile sign I've seen in person: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9293225,-85.6817362,3a,75y,193.74h,81.45t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2wDcjfCStzgfxm4txJmnpw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
I-490 at Exit 7 has a 4/10 mile warning.
I always thought it was weird; no reason not to use 1/4 like they do at every other cloverleaf.
I-39/90 in Janesville, WI has some weird ones. These examples are thirds, but I could swear there's a "1/6 mi" sign somewhere in the area, that I can't find...
https://goo.gl/maps/aRthWCf8zaw
https://goo.gl/maps/6HEYpcS8sRo
https://goo.gl/maps/NBtg7ozRwgP2
https://goo.gl/maps/1puXNz3yPNp
Exit 29B on I-295, for US 30 West, is pegged at 1/10 mile from 29A.
The I-295/NJ 42/I-76 interchange area used to have a lot of 1/8 fractions. Many were taken down on 295 South, but this one on 295 North is still there AFAIK:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8728562,-75.1021695,3a,75y,181.81h,101.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgC86P8rsU3KgoY0hDZhniQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
This 1 1/4 one is not as weird except that I don't see the reason for it:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8475807,-75.0953244,3a,75y,336.95h,100.94t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFrKp7GvkB1xv5tSLucHlgA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
After all, there is a 2-mile advance sign and a 1-mile advance sign, and NJ 55 has not merged in yet, so it's not for their benefit.
Here's an odd one I found to the south of Wilkes-Barre, PA
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48877751107_3b2be3644b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2htafwF)
IMG_4868 (https://flic.kr/p/2htafwF) by Paul Drives (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138603251@N02/), on Flickr
1/8 mile in Bensalem, PA.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4433/36220737120_98fc4c8978_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XbGKeA)
Turns out I have a 1/5.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5784/30848945986_a10a3d7b9f_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P11UT5)
Some other odd ones from my collection:
1 3/4:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/29621528651_fc5d2fd35d_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/M8y5te)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/840/42537696914_6a5c601ceb_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/27NUPiu)
2 1/4:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4197/34928814781_625fafec1c_o.png) (https://flic.kr/p/VdxiJv)
2000 feet:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4214/35868454065_e3c6a6a04d_o.png) (https://flic.kr/p/WDzcKP)
1.6:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1768/43238204762_c450c92cef_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28SP6T1)
Philadelphia has a bunch of distances measured in tenths, especially on the Schuylkill (I-76):
2/10
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47959314136_3506ed27f4_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g512du)
3/10
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47959284538_e8dce350dd_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g4ZSqb)
4/10
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47959276932_26ee4ba249_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g4ZQa3)
6/10
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47959317401_865449e47a_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2g513bM)
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
Quote from: jbnv on October 11, 2019, 02:43:52 PM
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.
Quote from: kphoger on February 12, 2015, 02:23:54 PM
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.
Quote from: sprjus4 on October 12, 2019, 04:36:02 AM
Quote from: jbnv on October 11, 2019, 02:43:52 PM
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.
Quote from: paulthemapguy on October 15, 2019, 04:13:22 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on October 12, 2019, 04:36:02 AM
Quote from: jbnv on October 11, 2019, 02:43:52 PM
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.
This sign leading to Kennedy Airport reads
"Passenger Terminals 2.5 miles ahead"
https://goo.gl/maps/pr8QdC34cQ3v5ztu7 (https://goo.gl/maps/pr8QdC34cQ3v5ztu7)
Quote from: 1 on October 16, 2019, 12:56:12 PM
Quote from: roadman on October 16, 2019, 12:29:48 PM
Quote from: paulthemapguy on October 15, 2019, 04:13:22 PM
Quote from: sprjus4 on October 12, 2019, 04:36:02 AM
Quote from: jbnv on October 11, 2019, 02:43:52 PM
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 (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.2336728,-88.8188794,3a,75y,73.84h,96.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWx12_L87woA-qbNVRZVvaQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656). While this one is an integer (17 miles), some others are fractions.
My bad. I misunderstood the post. Have deleted my previous post.
Quote from: Pink Jazz on February 06, 2015, 01:58:05 PM
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.
Quote from: michravera on October 18, 2019, 11:51:56 AM
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.
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.
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on October 18, 2019, 05:37:35 PM
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
Quote from: michravera on October 18, 2019, 11:51:56 AM
... 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.
Quote
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.
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.
Quote from: formulanone on October 18, 2019, 06:06:01 PM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on October 18, 2019, 05:37:35 PM
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
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
Quote from: Finrod on October 18, 2019, 11:12:48 PM
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
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.
Quote from: Finrod on October 18, 2019, 11:12:48 PM
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.
Quote from: KEK Inc. on February 11, 2015, 09:27:06 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 06, 2015, 04:15:26 PM
Quote from: Cjzani on February 06, 2015, 04:10:04 PM
Quote from: 1 on February 06, 2015, 03:00:43 PM
Quote from: stridentweasel on February 06, 2015, 02:57:35 PM
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 (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.182887,-70.8819563,3a,15.9y,288.36h,92.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syMrfcK2YH9hiN0WIskOoCQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
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
Quote from: Finrod on October 18, 2019, 11:12:48 PM
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
Quote from: jeffandnicole on October 18, 2019, 03:38:59 PM
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".
This does not concern weird fractions as it does a "weird consistency": Has any other member noticed that many advance exit signs on I-4 in Florida have a 1 1/4 MILES distance on them? I noticed this back in June visiting my Dad in Lakeland and travelling up to Disney World (between Exits 33 and 64).
Also, on I-264 in Portsmouth, VA, Exit 3-Victory Blvd has a 1/3 MILE distance both east- and west-bound.
Quote from: amroad17 on October 30, 2019, 03:12:38 AM
This does not concern weird fractions as it does a "weird consistency": Has any other member noticed that many advance exit signs on I-4 in Florida have a 1 1/4 MILES distance on them? I noticed this back in June visiting my Dad in Lakeland and travelling up to Disney World (between Exits 33 and 64).
Without looking more closely at it, my guess would be a series of interchange reconfigurations (lengthened ramps, maybe) where they just didn't want to bother with moving the gantries afterward. This seems to be the reason why the advance signs on I-75 for GA 16 (exit 205) are for ¼ and ¾ mile instead of the more typical ½ and 1.
Quote from: amroad17 on October 30, 2019, 03:12:38 AM
This does not concern weird fractions as it does a "weird consistency": Has any other member noticed that many advance exit signs on I-4 in Florida have a 1 1/4 MILES distance on them? I noticed this back in June visiting my Dad in Lakeland and travelling up to Disney World (between Exits 33 and 64).
Maybe they are prepping for Metric
1 1/4 Miles is very close to 2 Kilometers
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 04, 2019, 09:42:32 PM
Quote from: amroad17 on October 30, 2019, 03:12:38 AM
This does not concern weird fractions as it does a "weird consistency": Has any other member noticed that many advance exit signs on I-4 in Florida have a 1 1/4 MILES distance on them? I noticed this back in June visiting my Dad in Lakeland and travelling up to Disney World (between Exits 33 and 64).
Maybe they are prepping for Metric
1 1/4 Miles is very close to 2 Kilometers
In order to prep for it, there would need to be a deadline to change. Or even a proposal. There isn't.
Here are a few funky ones, in order of increasing oddity...
1/3 mile in Lexington, VA.
(https://i.imgur.com/IGz4e4B.jpg)
1000 ft in Denver, CO.
(https://i.imgur.com/b0Kjejj.jpg)
1/8 mile in Chicago, IL. One of several funky ones in Chicago, especially in the Loop.
(https://i.imgur.com/yTtfoeX.jpg)
3/8 mile in Scranton, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/LKnYV7B.jpg)
1/5 mile in Roanoke, VA.
(https://i.imgur.com/Q33Xbor.jpg)
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 04, 2019, 10:07:20 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 04, 2019, 09:42:32 PM
Quote from: amroad17 on October 30, 2019, 03:12:38 AM
This does not concern weird fractions as it does a "weird consistency": Has any other member noticed that many advance exit signs on I-4 in Florida have a 1 1/4 MILES distance on them? I noticed this back in June visiting my Dad in Lakeland and travelling up to Disney World (between Exits 33 and 64).
Maybe they are prepping for Metric
1 1/4 Miles is very close to 2 Kilometers
In order to prep for it, there would need to be a deadline to change. Or even a proposal. There isn't.
1 1/4 Miles is a perfectly fine Imperial measurement, but is typically less used than 1/2 or whole 1 Miles
But it is also the first relatively "clean" fraction for miles that converts very easily to kilometers
Now if 1 1/4 Mile signs are followed by 5/8ths of a Mile signs...very Metric leaning then
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 04, 2019, 10:21:40 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 04, 2019, 10:07:20 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 04, 2019, 09:42:32 PM
Quote from: amroad17 on October 30, 2019, 03:12:38 AM
This does not concern weird fractions as it does a "weird consistency": Has any other member noticed that many advance exit signs on I-4 in Florida have a 1 1/4 MILES distance on them? I noticed this back in June visiting my Dad in Lakeland and travelling up to Disney World (between Exits 33 and 64).
Maybe they are prepping for Metric
1 1/4 Miles is very close to 2 Kilometers
In order to prep for it, there would need to be a deadline to change. Or even a proposal. There isn't.
1 1/4 Miles is a perfectly fine Imperial measurement, but is typically less used than 1/2 or whole 1 Miles
But it is also the first relatively "clean" fraction for miles that converts very easily to kilometers
Now if 1 1/4 Mile signs are followed by 5/8ths of a Mile signs...very Metric leaning then
I *REALLY* want hundreds of meters when the distance is less than a mile and certainly less than 1 km. Of course, I would like metric everywhere.
Quote from: Finrod on October 18, 2019, 11:12:48 PM
How about the largest mileage sign that has a fractional component?
Betcha can't beat this one. On I-270 between Clarksburg and Germantown, MD.
(https://goo.gl/maps/pLLscV3jPvcNDb8Q9)
^ That is both inane and insane! :wow:
As well as the only way I would get 38 km when converting a sign :sombrero: (23 miles is 37 km; 24 miles is 38.6 km, rounds up to 39).
Quote from: csw on November 04, 2019, 10:20:16 PM
Here are a few funky ones, in order of increasing oddity...
1/3 mile in Lexington, VA.
(https://i.imgur.com/IGz4e4B.jpg)
1/3 mile used to be common in Massachusetts on the final advance sign for the second exit at a cloverleaf interchange.
Went through the rest of my photos and found some more.
1/3 mile on another older Virginia spec overhead, this one in Charlottesville.
(https://i.imgur.com/n2cUJsG.jpg)
1/3 mile from I-39/90 in Beloit, WI.
(https://i.imgur.com/dwxPPTF.jpg)
3/8 mile approaching Harrisburg, PA, on US 15.
(https://i.imgur.com/o02QW2j.jpg)
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
I think Pennsylvania is a hotbed for odd fractions.
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2019, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
5/8 mile...aka 1 km
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 07, 2019, 07:55:54 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2019, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
5/8 mile...aka 1 km
No one in PA is caring about that.
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2019, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
This is the best response...Although, I think that we'd probably wind up with 41/64th of a mile and a requirement to touch each light pole along the route.
Found a 1/8th on Wisconsin Route 30 in Madison:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7903/47239089342_86ef5b3244_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2eYmFtC)
Another 1/8, on US 131 in Grand Rapids:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5736/31185081812_8e401dc633_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PvHGmm)
A 1/10 on FL 50, east of Orlando:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1864/43720082345_02bc0446a3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29BoRic)
I remember tenths being more common in Florida, though way back 25-30 years ago.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 07, 2019, 08:23:15 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 07, 2019, 07:55:54 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2019, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
5/8 mile...aka 1 km
No one in PA is caring about that.
Clearview, stretched fraction, and also a seemingly fat US-19 shield?
Quote from: JoePCool14 on November 14, 2019, 11:34:33 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 07, 2019, 08:23:15 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 07, 2019, 07:55:54 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2019, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
5/8 mile...aka 1 km
No one in PA is caring about that.
Clearview, stretched fraction, and also a seemingly fat US-19 shield?
There isn't any Clearview on those signs. The signs were put up soon after the rescinding of Clearview's interim approval, so they're Highway Gothic, though it must have been a last-minute change in the plans as the text seems a bit oversized.
I don't know what's up with the "fat" US shield, though. I see that every so often in newer signs and even on the plans.
Quote from: Roadsguy on November 14, 2019, 09:54:56 PM
Quote from: JoePCool14 on November 14, 2019, 11:34:33 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 07, 2019, 08:23:15 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on November 07, 2019, 07:55:54 AM
Quote from: kphoger on November 06, 2019, 04:02:41 PM
Quote from: csw on November 06, 2019, 03:58:32 PM
5/8 mile from I-70/79 in Washington, PA.
(https://i.imgur.com/eZs5wqf.jpg)
This is why they shouldn't put Adrian Monk in charge of the design. ½ mile would have been just fine.
5/8 mile...aka 1 km
No one in PA is caring about that.
Clearview, stretched fraction, and also a seemingly fat US-19 shield?
There isn't any Clearview on those signs. The signs were put up soon after the rescinding of Clearview's interim approval, so they're Highway Gothic, though it must have been a last-minute change in the plans as the text seems a bit oversized.
I don't know what's up with the "fat" US shield, though. I see that every so often in newer signs and even on the plans.
Sure enough, the "5/8" is vertically-compressed Clearview, the only time it's used on the whole panel. Click the image to see it at 2400 pixels:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/7845/31726814797_bc2b229f8e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QkAdGe)
Ugh. So many terrible "home made" treatments of fractions on these signs.
Series Gothic is a primitive typeface with a very minimal character set. Modern typefaces in OpenType format often include wide variety of fraction figures and full 0-9 numerator and denominator number sets to accommodate any possible fraction, such as 3/16, 3/32.
Clearview Highway has a full numerator/denominator set of numerals along with figures for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1/3, 2/3, 1/5 and 3/5. The complaint is Clearview's fractions are taller than the cap height of letters. Most DOTs prefer the slash mark to be equal to cap letter M-height and the numbers to fall in line with that. So some agencies that used Clearview didn't bother using the built-in fraction sets and home-brewed their own -which really is a kludge approach.
The artificially squished 5/8 Clearview fraction on that "Beau Street" sign was likely squeezed to make it equal to the size of "B" in "Beau."
Two more from recent travels.
Yet another 3/8 near Pittsburgh, this one north on I-79.
(https://i.imgur.com/Sy0h7tj.jpg)
Another 1/5 near the previous one I posted in Roanoke, VA.
(https://i.imgur.com/yUUR8wt.jpg)
Quote from: formulanone on November 07, 2019, 10:17:53 AM
A 1/10 on FL 50, east of Orlando:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1864/43720082345_02bc0446a3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29BoRic)
I remember tenths being more common in Florida, though way back 25-30 years ago.
Check out the placement of the numbers on the shields there. :ded: :no: X-(
Quote from: STLmapboy on August 22, 2020, 02:24:00 PM
Quote from: formulanone on November 07, 2019, 10:17:53 AM
A 1/10 on FL 50, east of Orlando:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1864/43720082345_02bc0446a3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29BoRic)
I remember tenths being more common in Florida, though way back 25-30 years ago.
Check out the placement of the numbers on the shields there. :ded: :no: X-(
The number placement is normal; the problem is that the Florida state outlines on the shields have totally faded.
Incidentally, it looks like this sign has since been replaced (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.5682121,-81.2703989,3a,75y,89.57h,95.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_8c8imiaouMe5JM5O1-84Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192); it now reads "700 feet" instead of "1/10 mile".
Found an 8/10 on a bridge warning sign in Fon du Lac County, Wisconsin:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50011714793_e46650a903_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2jcn7qH)
Quote from: GaryV on October 18, 2019, 06:49:59 PM
Quote from: michravera on October 18, 2019, 11:51:56 AM
... 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.
Quote
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.
100 m is basically the length of a football field (goal line-to-goal line in the CFL or including one end zone in the US) or one 16-to-a-mile block. I think of "300 m" as "3 blocks" or "3 fields".
Quote from: michravera on August 22, 2020, 07:26:06 PM
Quote from: GaryV on October 18, 2019, 06:49:59 PM
Quote from: michravera on October 18, 2019, 11:51:56 AM
... 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.
Quote
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.
100 m is basically the length of a football field (goal line-to-goal line in the CFL or including one end zone in the US) or one 16-to-a-mile block. I think of "300 m" as "3 blocks" or "3 fields".
Meters and yards are very close in size. That being said, the mindset for American drivers is more along the lines of miles (not even feet or yards work well).
8/10 mile is so close to 3/4 mile that I'm surprised it wasn't used. Usually, you expect a sign to round to the nearest 1/4 miles unless it is a distance that is less than 1/4 mile.
I don't think anyone's mentioned this one yet: 4/5 mile on I-81 SB approaching I-64 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.13143,-79.0324469,3a,75y,249.02h,87.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8dSWE3trZs1weFkwY1NEkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
Quote from: jmacswimmer on August 24, 2020, 09:55:25 AM
I don't think anyone's mentioned this one yet: 4/5 mile on I-81 SB approaching I-64 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.13143,-79.0324469,3a,75y,249.02h,87.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8dSWE3trZs1weFkwY1NEkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
That sign assembly is goofy for lots of reasons! Who even thinks in fifths of miles? Might as well round and say "3/4 MILE." And "EAST/WEST?" Both directions are implied when you leave off the cardinal directions entirely. And then the MUTCD would slap them for misusing down arrows like that. :P
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 24, 2020, 10:51:08 AM
Quote from: jmacswimmer on August 24, 2020, 09:55:25 AM
I don't think anyone's mentioned this one yet: 4/5 mile on I-81 SB approaching I-64 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.13143,-79.0324469,3a,75y,249.02h,87.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8dSWE3trZs1weFkwY1NEkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
That sign assembly is goofy for lots of reasons! Who even thinks in fifths of miles? Might as well round and say "3/4 MILE." And "EAST/WEST?" Both directions are implied when you leave off the cardinal directions entirely. And then the MUTCD would slap them for misusing down arrows like that. :P
A lot of signs on the I-81 corridor are off like that.
Quote from: sprjus4 on August 24, 2020, 02:06:26 PM
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 24, 2020, 10:51:08 AM
Quote from: jmacswimmer on August 24, 2020, 09:55:25 AM
I don't think anyone's mentioned this one yet: 4/5 mile on I-81 SB approaching I-64 (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.13143,-79.0324469,3a,75y,249.02h,87.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8dSWE3trZs1weFkwY1NEkw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en).
That sign assembly is goofy for lots of reasons! Who even thinks in fifths of miles? Might as well round and say "3/4 MILE." And "EAST/WEST?" Both directions are implied when you leave off the cardinal directions entirely. And then the MUTCD would slap them for misusing down arrows like that. :P
A lot of signs on the I-81 corridor are off like that.
Relics from the 1960's that are, unfortunately, carbon copied--although I believe these signs may be second set of signs that have been erected here (changed sometime in the late 1980's). The original US 250 sign would have had a black border around the shield along with a smaller font (Series C, I believe).
It is a shame that some DOT's do not update some of their signage. Not everything remains the same forever.
^
Don't know how I didn't think of this before, but another Virginia example of 1/3 mile on VA-168 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7383245,-76.2467063,3a,49.3y,136.24h,89.34t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sYpc5Mc6ZAosbll1nMP6VhA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) in Chesapeake, VA at Exit 13 / VA-168 Business. The other direction uses 1/4 mile.
1/3 mile on US-13 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8969211,-76.1480952,3a,75y,76.41h,86.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saVa9vY6CJCjqW6gj-n5RhA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) in Virginia Beach, VA at VA-225. The other direction also uses 1/3 mile. Down the road, the exit for US-60 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8994359,-76.1349827,3a,33y,78h,89.92t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sEW-cTzG7vEIxuhkcU0PWDw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) also uses 1/3 mile. The exits on US-13 Northampton Blvd in Virginia Beach have some clearly not standard signage, not just because of the 1/3 but font and layout overall. The other direction coming off the CBBT has some more standard (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9103673,-76.1309794,3a,61.9y,185.41h,85.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sng-qYm30z4rr6pUG-cc6WQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) signage.
1/5 mile on US-460 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7681048,-76.6051734,3a,49.6y,133.97h,91.07t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFO2SN4OPDev2WbGXWfOhLA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) in Suffolk, VA approaching the US-58 interchange. Some interesting US route shields. The same situation exists at the VA-32 (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.7692573,-76.5849156,3a,31.5y,205.29h,91.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1_HWkTJO3vfUMl1FXOvf5Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1) approach to the US-58 freeway to the east.
800 feet on CA 133 south at the 405.
(https://i.imgur.com/hUfY6cb.jpg)
There used to be a 10ths of a mile measurement on an overhead advance interchange sign at the Downtown exit for the 710 in Long Beach, but it was replaced.
IMO, all mileage signs in the US should be in miles, not feet or yards, even if something is very close. The use of a small fraction will indicate its proximity.
Any sign less than 1/10 of a mile is so close as to just mark it there with an arrow or something.
Acceptable mileage signs for short distances are: 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4. Any distances above 3/4 should only be for /4 and /2 fractions: (1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, etc.)
Any distance that doesn't fit the above should be rounded to the closest fraction that is on the list. So 800 feet is closest to 1/8 mile and that is what should be reflected on the above sign.
Quote from: mrsman on August 30, 2020, 10:47:51 AM
IMO, all mileage signs in the US should be in miles, not feet or yards, even if something is very close. The use of a small fraction will indicate its proximity.
Kilometers, preferably! But I think the MUTCD agrees with you on using miles and fractions thereof, instead of feet or anything else
Quote
Any sign less than 1/10 of a mile is so close as to just mark it there with an arrow or something.
Disagree. See the MUTCD's
strict rules on down arrows. I'd rather use "NEXT EXIT," "NEXT RIGHT," or (if applicable) "NEXT LEFT."
Quote
Acceptable mileage signs for short distances are: 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4. Any distances above 3/4 should only be for /4 and /2 fractions: (1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, etc.)
I think 1/3 is less intuitive. Our system kind of likes dividing things into multiples of two. I'd round to 1/4 or 3/8. And I don't even think 5/8 is necessary; that could be rounded to 1/2 or 3/4.
Quote
Any distance that doesn't fit the above should be rounded to the closest fraction that is on the list. So 800 feet is closest to 1/8 mile and that is what should be reflected on the above sign.
This came up in the "Redesign This!" thread, and I ended up changing some of my own redesigns in exactly the way you describe.
Quote from: mrsman on August 30, 2020, 10:47:51 AM
IMO, all mileage signs in the US should be in miles, not feet or yards, even if something is very close. The use of a small fraction will indicate its proximity.
Any sign less than 1/10 of a mile is so close as to just mark it there with an arrow or something.
Acceptable mileage signs for short distances are: 1/10, 1/8, 1/4, 1/3, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4. Any distances above 3/4 should only be for /4 and /2 fractions: (1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, etc.)
Any distance that doesn't fit the above should be rounded to the closest fraction that is on the list. So 800 feet is closest to 1/8 mile and that is what should be reflected on the above sign.
I agree that, especially when talking about guide signs on freeways and major highways, distances should be given in miles.
However, I disagree about the short fractional distances. Some drivers already have little concept of fractional distances like 1/4 mile especially while at freeway speed, so there's no need to introduce additional ambiguity when the distance is short. I'm usually good with time and distance, and even I have little concept of what 1/8 or 1/3 of a mile is.
What I would propose is using 1/4, 1/2, & 3/4, like we do now. But in unusual circumstances of closely-spaced exits, lane drops, and other unexpected situations that happen within less than 3/4 mile, tenths of a mile fractions (1/10, 2/10, etc.) would become an option. Many vehicle odometers (or at least a trip odometer) already display (or can be displayed) in decimal tenths, so that is a fractional distance that people either already have some concept of or can easily gauge on their odometer. Anything less than 1/10 of a mile (528 feet) could display in hundreds of feet, to convey the urgency/immediacy of the situation.
Quote from: roadfro on August 30, 2020, 04:21:47 PM
Some drivers already have little concept of fractional distances like 1/4 mile especially while at freeway speed, so there's no need to introduce additional ambiguity when the distance is short. I'm usually good with time and distance, and even I have little concept of what 1/8 or 1/3 of a mile is.
I know that 1/3 is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2, and that's all I really need to know.
I know that 1/8 is half as much as 1/4, and that's all I really need to know.
Fractions like 3/8 and 5/8, on the other hand... Please don't make people do math while driving. In my opinion, 3/4 is the only fraction that should have anything other than a 1 on top.
I also think /2, /3, /4, and /8 should be the only acceptable flavors of fraction. Minnesota, it's not worth my time to figure out how much closer 1/5 is to 1/4 than it is to 1/8.
Quote from: kphoger on August 31, 2020, 01:21:44 PM
Quote from: roadfro on August 30, 2020, 04:21:47 PM
Some drivers already have little concept of fractional distances like 1/4 mile especially while at freeway speed, so there's no need to introduce additional ambiguity when the distance is short. I'm usually good with time and distance, and even I have little concept of what 1/8 or 1/3 of a mile is.
I know that 1/3 is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2, and that's all I really need to know.
I know that 1/8 is half as much as 1/4, and that's all I really need to know.
Fractions like 3/8 and 5/8, on the other hand... Please don't make people do math while driving. In my opinion, 3/4 is the only fraction that should have anything other than a 1 on top.
I also think /2, /3, /4, and /8 should be the only acceptable flavors of fraction. Minnesota, it's not worth my time to figure out how much closer 1/5 is to 1/4 than it is to 1/8.
Not a bad concept. For any distances that are really short and cannot be rounded up to 1/8 because of immediacy, just say next right or next exit. (as stridentweasel suggested).
Then 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1. For distances that are between these points, one should round to the nearest identified point. So if something is between 1/4 or 1/2 mile away use either 1/4 or 1/2, whichever is closer to the actual distance as both indications give a reasonable indication of the relative immediacy of the exit.
The only difficulty is if you have to distinguish many closely spaced exits. Like along I-90/94 in Chicago's west loop (especially before they removed some of those exits). There, you had 6 exits that were 500 feet apart from each other. 500 ft is close to 1/10 mile, but if you had to only use 1/8 the estimate won't make sense. The fifth exit would be 1/2 mile, but you would end up listing it as 5/8 to distinguish the previous exit. Fortunately, this situation is rare.
Quote from: mrsman on August 31, 2020, 03:20:30 PM
So if something is between 1/4 or 1/2 mile away use either 1/4 or 1/2, whichever is closer to the actual distance as both indications give a reasonable indication of the relative immediacy of the exit.
I prefer rounding down in almost all cases. Much better that drivers be surprised at how
far away an exit is than how
close it is.
Quote from: mrsman on August 31, 2020, 03:20:30 PM
The only difficulty is if you have to distinguish many closely spaced exits. Like along I-90/94 in Chicago's west loop (especially before they removed some of those exits). There, you had 6 exits that were 500 feet apart from each other. 500 ft is close to 1/10 mile, but if you had to only use 1/8 the estimate won't make sense. The fifth exit would be 1/2 mile, but you would end up listing it as 5/8 to distinguish the previous exit. Fortunately, this situation is rare.
How many are listed on one sign gantry, though? Typically, all five exits wouldn't be listed together.
Outside of 1/4, 1/2, and 1, I wouldn't list any others unless absolutley necessary. As mentioned above, just round to the next shortest distance.
1/3 and 1/4 are very close. Just go with 1/4. Maybe you could make an argument for 1/10 or 1/8, but that's about it. Any other fraction isn't going to compute with a population that generally doesn't understand fractions anyway. At the Supermarket, Deli workers use fractions all the time (I'll take a 1/2 pound of cheese, etc). I asked - once - for 1/3 of a pound of ham. The person didn't have a clue, because she then had to convert that to a decimal. 0.33 is fine. 0.3 is acceptable. 0.35, whatever. It would've been easier changing my order to 1/4 or 1/2 than to involve the entire deli counter in figuring out what 1/3 equaled.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 31, 2020, 06:44:20 PM
Any other fraction isn't going to compute with a population that generally doesn't understand fractions anyway.
https://youtu.be/nFTRwD85AQ4
Honestly, my preference would be to use kilometers and decimal points, though. Now what are the chances of
that? :-D
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 31, 2020, 08:23:30 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on August 31, 2020, 06:44:20 PM
Any other fraction isn't going to compute with a population that generally doesn't understand fractions anyway.
https://youtu.be/nFTRwD85AQ4
Honestly, my preference would be to use kilometers and decimal points, though. Now what are the chances of that? :-D
If Fractions are too much to compute, Unit Conversions are really a bridge too far
Just start with 5/8 mile and 1 1/4 mile being common advance signage, to get the US traveling pubic ready to simply change those to 1 km and 2 km, respectively. 1/2 mile and 1 mile don't convert cleanly to kilometers
Quote from: ilpt4u on August 31, 2020, 09:01:00 PM
If Fractions are too much to compute, Unit Conversions are really a bridge too far
That's why the metric system is easier! There are no unit conversions that aren't multiples or divisions of 10.
They never should have taken kilometers per hour off of speedometers in U.S.-market cars. I suppose the car companies may have resigned themselves to the improbability of the U.S. joining the vast majority of the world within the lifespan of the car. But did they really think most customers would never want to drive into Canada or Mexico?
At least some newer cars have electronic speedometers that where you can just press a few buttons and switch it. But with my 2009-model car, all I got was miles per hour, and if I ever take a trip across one of the borders, I'm just gonna have to get a sticker to put over it and make certain it's sized and placed correctly.
Quote
Just start with 5/8 mile and 1 1/4 mile being common advance signage, to get the US traveling pubic ready to simply change those to 1 km and 2 km, respectively. 1/2 mile and 1 mile don't convert cleanly to kilometers
I'd love to think that's the reason KDOT replaced a one-mile advance guide sign with this: https://goo.gl/maps/u2toCzTc9C4PPhv27 . But what are the chances!?
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 31, 2020, 09:15:07 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on August 31, 2020, 09:01:00 PM
If Fractions are too much to compute, Unit Conversions are really a bridge too far
That's why the metric system is easier! There are no unit conversions that aren't multiples or divisions of 10.
I meant that Unit Conversions necessary to get the traveling public used to thinking in meters/kilometers and Metric, compared to feet/miles and Imperial
Yes, once Metric is the normal, everything is based on the powers of 10 to convert metric units. But getting from their Imperial counterparts are a bit less straight forward
The only reason I commonly know that (roughly) 1600 meters = 1 mile is because back in High School 4 laps on the 400 meter track was regarded as 1 mile. It is not the exact conversion, but its close (1609.34 meters). 1 yard=3 feet=(roughly) 1 meter. 12 inches=1 foot=(roughly) 30 centimeters, commonly known from a ruler
My favorite conversion is 355 ml=12 fl oz, on every soda and beer can made. For quicker liquid/volume ballpark conversions, 1 quart=(roughly) 1 liter
Quote from: ilpt4u on August 31, 2020, 09:24:32 PM
I meant that Unit Conversions necessary to get the traveling public used to thinking in meters/kilometers and Metric, compared to feet/miles and Imperial
Yes, once Metric is the normal, everything is based on the powers of 10 to convert metric units. But getting from their Imperial counterparts are a bit less straight forward
I get your point, but-- When I was fortunate enough to have the privilege of driving a big-rig long-haul, when I drove in Canada, I just stopped thinking in miles and started thinking in kilometers. Speed limit 80 km/h? No problem; it's right there on my speedometer. How about estimating time? Well, many of us probably think in terms of 60 miles per hour for long-distance trips, and that's obviously a mile a minute. So, when we see a sign saying something close to 120 miles, we think of it as two hours, and when we see 30 miles, we think of it as a half hour. The situation is still easy if you think in terms of 100 kilometers per hour, which is the speed limit in much of Ontario. See a sign that gives a distance close to 200 kilometers? Okay, that's about two hours. See a something listed as being about 50 kilometers away? No sweat; that's about a half-hour. It's pretty easy to remember that every 25-kilometer increment roughly corresponds to 15 minutes (a quarter-hour) of travel time.
That's literally how I thought when I drove in Canada. Miles just got stored away in a filing cabinet after I crossed from Detroit into Windsor.
Now, you may be inclined to mention the elephant in the room: the Jeffersonian Grid. Not much of an issue in the Northeast; but come down to the Midwest or West, and it's everywhere, perhaps most prominently in Phoenix. It brings up questions for which I do not have a sure-fire answer. Will people care about street numbers in increments of eight or 16 being a mile apart? Or will they just accept that the spacing of street numbers doesn't neatly align with kilometers, much like the spacing of streets themselves in New England doesn't typically align with miles? Will people get upset that the names "Six Mile Road," "Seven Mile Road," "Eight Mile Road," etc., are no longer relevant to measured distances? Or will they just accept them as named relics of an old system, much like the plethora of "turnpikes" in the Northeast that haven't been toll roads in any of our lifetimes?
^ The metric system will kill Detroit and the north metro area. :hmm: Yes, named relics of an old system.
I am rather ambivalent on whether we go to metric or not. I know I can adjust to the change, however, how many others (especially "Karen's") may not adjust to the change. :angry:
The Metric System wouldn't be too awful for the Chicago Street Grid, since it is 8 blocks = 1 Mile aka 1 block = 1/8 mile
That also just happens to be 5 blocks = 1 kilometer
Quote from: kphoger on August 31, 2020, 01:21:44 PM
I also think /2, /3, /4, and /8 should be the only acceptable flavors of fraction. Minnesota, it's not worth my time to figure out how much closer 1/5 is to 1/4 than it is to 1/8.
Very much agree. And "Minnesota" fit perfectly in that [insert cuss word of choice] situation: This one (https://www.google.com/maps/@44.8622845,-93.245149,3a,69.4y,274.01h,88.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1si93WUaNQR3-058fTAFCZbA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en) always throws me.
We could potentially add /10 to the list, but by the time you get to 1/10, you might as well measure in feet... as NYSDOT figured out here (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.158101,-77.6773207,3a,75y,304.78h,84.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdCsICzgvtl9brnM_2aQ8_g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1?hl=en). I'd argue you could probably get rid of 1/8 on that basis as well.
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 31, 2020, 09:15:07 PM
But with my 2009-model car, all I got was miles per hour, and if I ever take a trip across one of the borders, I'm just gonna have to get a sticker to put over it and make certain it's sized and placed correctly.
Huh? You mean a sticker to cover up all the m.p.h. with km/h numbers? That sounds unnecessary to me.
I drive in Mexico all the time, and I generally figure out what speed to drive by m.p.h., even though the speed limits are in km/h. Here's how I figure it:
speed limit 110 km/h → somewhere around 68 mph → figure on driving 5 mph over the limit → cruise at 70 to 75 mph
speed limit 100 km/h → somewhere around 60 mph → figure on driving 5 to 10 mph over the limit → cruise at 65 to 70 mph
speed limit 80 km/h → almost exactly 50 mph → figure on driving 10 mph over the limit → cruise at 60 mph
anything under 80 km/h → follow the prevailing speed of traffic
So I only really memorize three conversions for normal highway driving. All of my decisions from that point on are made based on m.p.h.
Quote from: kphoger on September 01, 2020, 10:10:54 AM
Huh? You mean a sticker to cover up all the m.p.h. with km/h numbers? That sounds unnecessary to me.
Ideally, I'd have a transparent sticker that I can overlay on the speedometer that allows me to see both at the same time. I'm not sure if anyone makes those, but I might be able to find a way to get one printed.
Quote
I drive in Mexico all the time, and I generally figure out what speed to drive by m.p.h., even though the speed limits are in km/h. Here's how I figure it:
speed limit 110 km/h → somewhere around 68 mph → figure on driving 5 mph over the limit → cruise at 70 to 75 mph
speed limit 100 km/h → somewhere around 60 mph → figure on driving 5 to 10 mph over the limit → cruise at 65 to 70 mph
speed limit 80 km/h → almost exactly 50 mph → figure on driving 10 mph over the limit → cruise at 60 mph
anything under 80 km/h → follow the prevailing speed of traffic
So I only really memorize three conversions for normal highway driving. All of my decisions from that point on are made based on m.p.h.
Your method sounds workable, just not ideal. I'd still be trying to find a way to get the km/h units somewhere my speedometer needle can point to them accurately, at least in increments of 20, just because I'm like that.
Quote from: kphoger on September 01, 2020, 10:10:54 AM
Quote from: stridentweasel on August 31, 2020, 09:15:07 PM
But with my 2009-model car, all I got was miles per hour, and if I ever take a trip across one of the borders, I'm just gonna have to get a sticker to put over it and make certain it's sized and placed correctly.
Huh? You mean a sticker to cover up all the m.p.h. with km/h numbers? That sounds unnecessary to me.
I drive in Mexico all the time, and I generally figure out what speed to drive by m.p.h., even though the speed limits are in km/h. Here's how I figure it:
speed limit 110 km/h → somewhere around 68 mph → figure on driving 5 mph over the limit → cruise at 70 to 75 mph
speed limit 100 km/h → somewhere around 60 mph → figure on driving 5 to 10 mph over the limit → cruise at 65 to 70 mph
speed limit 80 km/h → almost exactly 50 mph → figure on driving 10 mph over the limit → cruise at 60 mph
anything under 80 km/h → follow the prevailing speed of traffic
So I only really memorize three conversions for normal highway driving. All of my decisions from that point on are made based on m.p.h.
I always think that 120 km/h is very close to 75MPH; 130 km/h is very close to 80MPH; 90 km/h is very close to 55MPH and 50 km/h is very close to 30MPH. In between, it's only an approximation anyway, so stay close to 90 km/h when you need to be slow on the highway and 120 km/h when your way is clear. 50 km/h is more normal on city streets. Maybe a bit faster on thoroughfares.
When my wife and I rented a car in Mexico on our honeymoon in 2006, it was actually kind of hard to use the km/h-only speedometer. If, for example, the speed limit was 110 km/h and I was going 125 km/h, I had very little idea how far over the speed limit I was driving: was it within my comfort range, was it enough to worry about highway patrol? I really didn't know.
Driving our own car, on the other hand, I can simply tell myself that the speed limit is 68 mph. Then, if I want to go 7 mph over the limit, I know to go 75 mph.
Quote from: ilpt4u on August 31, 2020, 10:33:29 PM
The Metric System wouldn't be too awful for the Chicago Street Grid, since it is 8 blocks = 1 Mile aka 1 block = 1/8 mile
That also just happens to be 5 blocks = 1 kilometer
Yep! 100 numbers is 100 m. Outside of town 100 numbers is 200 m. 1000 numbers is 1 km or 2 km. It almost works BETTER than the miles-based thought process.
Quote from: kphoger on August 31, 2020, 01:21:44 PM
Quote from: roadfro on August 30, 2020, 04:21:47 PM
Some drivers already have little concept of fractional distances like 1/4 mile especially while at freeway speed, so there's no need to introduce additional ambiguity when the distance is short. I'm usually good with time and distance, and even I have little concept of what 1/8 or 1/3 of a mile is.
I know that 1/3 is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2, and that's all I really need to know.
I know that 1/8 is half as much as 1/4, and that's all I really need to know.
Fractions like 3/8 and 5/8, on the other hand... Please don't make people do math while driving. In my opinion, 3/4 is the only fraction that should have anything other than a 1 on top.
I also think /2, /3, /4, and /8 should be the only acceptable flavors of fraction. Minnesota, it's not worth my time to figure out how much closer 1/5 is to 1/4 than it is to 1/8.
Honesty, I don't care what the denominator is, when I'm moving at 70 mph and looking for an exit, any distance less than one mile or 5000 feet means get over to the right (assuming a right exit), slow down, and start to look for the exit coming up. It means I'm close, and the difference between 1/2, 1/3, or 1/4 mile isn't significant.
As for metric, it's easier to convert within the system, but the US is deeply familiar with using miles. For me, it would take some adjusting and getting used to, but I could easily do it and would have no problem with it. I can't say the same, though, for the majority of the US.
The concept of km/h has never been a big problem for me, because at least in Ontario, freeway traffic moves. You'd fear for your safety long before you feared getting a ticket.
Quote from: michravera on September 01, 2020, 06:04:42 PM
Quote from: ilpt4u on August 31, 2020, 10:33:29 PM
The Metric System wouldn't be too awful for the Chicago Street Grid, since it is 8 blocks = 1 Mile aka 1 block = 1/8 mile
That also just happens to be 5 blocks = 1 kilometer
Yep! 100 numbers is 100 m. Outside of town 100 numbers is 200 m. 1000 numbers is 1 km or 2 km. It almost works BETTER than the miles-based thought process.
Almost, but not exactly. One mile is not precisely 1.6 km, after all. It's a small difference but, by the time you got down to Sauk Trail, the numbers would be off by about two whole blocks.
220 blocks @ 8 blocks / mile = 27.5 miles
220 blocks @ 5 blocks / km = 44 km
Unfortunately, 27.5 miles = 44.25696 km.
(https://i.imgur.com/wp6v8ym.png)
Quote from: Super Mateo on September 01, 2020, 08:39:18 PM
Honesty, I don't care what the denominator is, when I'm moving at 70 mph and looking for an exit, any distance less than one mile or 5000 feet means get over to the right (assuming a right exit), slow down, and start to look for the exit coming up. It means I'm close, and the difference between 1/2, 1/3, or 1/4 mile isn't significant.
For me, ¾ mile
vs ¼ mile might mean the difference between having time to pass another slow driver before moving right
vs having to slow down and duck in behind him immediately.
Some odd distances from the past few months.
One of three 1/5 mile signs in Danville, VA.
(https://i.imgur.com/iAQmv8r.jpg)
1/10 mile in Charlottesville, VA. (I was very surprised to find this one.)
(https://i.imgur.com/A8AdNKJ.jpg)
1/3 mile near Orange, MA.
(https://i.imgur.com/4o2r6vY.jpg)
900 feet in Providence, RI.
(https://i.imgur.com/rldHkBG.jpg)
I vaguely remember seeing 1/7 mile near Sacramento a few years back.
Edit: 100th post!
Quote from: kphoger on February 07, 2015, 05:48:51 PM
Still waiting for a picture of x/6 or x/7 . . .
The only one-seventh sign I've seen was for a walking trail around the eastbound I-24 rest stop at the Tennessee state line...
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210306/a513599785f5ce3f50460b0f7b441959.jpg)
Quote from: csw on March 05, 2021, 09:13:41 PM
900 feet in Providence, RI.
(https://i.imgur.com/rldHkBG.jpg)
It would appear that
3 on that adjacent I-95 northbound BGS was a later add-on and/or an afterthought.
3/10 mile on VA 195 in Richmond, VA (this sign is now gone):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4072/5080348824_cb12187063.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/8JW7H7)VA 161 Boul vard (https://flic.kr/p/8JW7H7) by Will Weaver (https://www.flickr.com/photos/coredesatchikai/), on Flickr
1/10 mile on VA 146 (gone, but replaced with a different 1/10 mile sign (https://www.google.com/maps/@37.549559,-77.4795343,3a,15y,273.56h,90.85t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sjHNfedCj4A-U65sAjvCIHQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DjHNfedCj4A-U65sAjvCIHQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D202.36525%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)):
(https://live.staticflickr.com/3086/2325329675_71651502df.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/4xtVuX)VA 146 Northern Terminus (https://flic.kr/p/4xtVuX) by Will Weaver (https://www.flickr.com/photos/coredesatchikai/), on Flickr
1/3 MILE ON US 13 IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/2878/9325451890_17792a2d65.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/fd4nXh)K52S8425 (https://flic.kr/p/fd4nXh) by Will Weaver (https://www.flickr.com/photos/coredesatchikai/), on Flickr
For reasons I am unaware, there used to be 1/7 mile markers on VA 143 in Hampton.
a few are still around...here is 1 and 3/7 - https://goo.gl/maps/Rayfq6M4Ss255BZg8