AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: US 41 on November 23, 2015, 05:28:10 PM

Poll
Question: Which do you prefer / like better?
Option 1: Big Green Signs
Option 2: Big Blue Signs
Title: BGS or BBS?
Post by: US 41 on November 23, 2015, 05:28:10 PM
For those that don't know.

BGS Example (common in the USA, Canada, and Mexico)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8719/17224963976_f13aa893f9.jpg)

BBS Example (common in the EU, US Airports, and certain Canadian toll roads)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/475/19010697210_aeb28bcbb8_c.jpg)
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: CapeCodder on November 23, 2015, 05:50:54 PM
BGS
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: jakeroot on November 23, 2015, 06:07:37 PM
Just pure aesthetics, I like the way blue stands out from the environment.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 06:18:27 PM
I think a potential reason for the MUTCD specifying green is due to the fact that the human eye is most sensitive to the green and yellow parts of the spectrum (mid-wavelengths), thus they are more visible to the average human.

In countries that use blue guide signs, I wonder what color are their service signs?  Here in the U.S. blue is the standard color for service signs (most commonly logo signs).
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: english si on November 23, 2015, 06:27:38 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F41.media.tumblr.com%2F51179ca4783cd8ca2e29ce7cc21a30d4%2Ftumblr_n1mlbeAuyG1rasnq9o1_500.png&hash=a726a4aa2293b54cbacda42a112f4796059d05c9)
(which shows that more EU countries use green than blue: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czechia, Slovakia, Cyprus, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy is 15/28, with Malta having no motorways and Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Austria, UK and Ireland being the other 12)

Though, of course, some countries have both BBS and BGS - eg here's green ones from Britain and Ireland respectively that I grabbed off SABRE's gallery (and with a bit more effort I could have found some BBS from green-coloured countries on the above map).
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sabre-roads.org.uk%2Fwiki%2Fimages%2Fc%2Fc7%2FTake_your_choice_for_the_west_country_-_Geograph_-_16560.jpg&hash=64ee277525bc1065ba374041aacbe7fcb0e031d2)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sabre-roads.org.uk%2Fwiki%2Fimages%2Fthumb%2F1%2F13%2FGantry_sign_on_the_N18_-_Coppermine_-_3463.JPG%2F800px-Gantry_sign_on_the_N18_-_Coppermine_-_3463.JPG&hash=d119874aa09b453b6e7890915aed407f0aa6a14d)

In Britain, I prefer, aesthetically speaking, the Green directional signage to Blue directional signs, for reasons that have nothing to do with background colour (I prefer the yellow numbers to the different font numbers).
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Thunderbyrd316 on November 23, 2015, 06:51:52 PM
Just for the record, I would like to revise the MUTCD colors as follows; Blue: Guide, Green: Recreational, Brown: Service, School Zone: Purple, Construction: Lime Green. other colors as they are. Just my 2 cents but I really like blue guide signs and not just for freeways but for all roads, though I would be OK with doing it like the UK and having blue for freeways and green for other routes.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: xcellntbuy on November 23, 2015, 07:16:22 PM
I am old enough to remember blue signs on the New York State Thruway (both big and little ones) and the last days of the blue signs on Quebec autoroutes.  I believe a small number of old blue signs still stand in isolated places in Quebec to this day.

I like our green ones.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: jakeroot on November 23, 2015, 07:17:30 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 06:18:27 PM
In countries that use blue guide signs, I wonder what color are their service signs?  Here in the U.S. blue is the standard color for service signs (most commonly logo signs).

The UK uses blue for their services. If I remember correctly, they are blue because "services" are seen as a motorway commodity (and motorway-related context has blue backgrounds, be it an entire sign or a patch on an alternatively-colored sign).

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIQJuEPn.png&hash=86d15bf24c14403b6caf2d32242c9d1981176d3f)

Quote from: Thunderbyrd316 on November 23, 2015, 06:51:52 PM
Just for the record, I would like to revise the MUTCD colors as follows; Blue: Guide, Green: Recreational, Brown: Service, School Zone: Purple, Construction: Lime Green. other colors as they are. Just my 2 cents but I really like blue guide signs and not just for freeways but for all roads, though I would be OK with doing it like the UK and having blue for freeways and green for other routes.

I would reserve purple for toll roads, and leave orange as construction and reserve lime green for school. The other changes I would be okay with.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: 1995hoo on November 23, 2015, 07:22:05 PM
I like the way Ontario uses both on the quad-carriageways.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM
Quote from: Thunderbyrd316 on November 23, 2015, 06:51:52 PM
Brown: Service

Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

Here is my scheme:
  • Guide - Green
  • Recreational - Gray
  • Services (including logo signs) - Pink
  • School/Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossings - Light Blue
  • Electronic Toll Collection - Mint Green
  • Construction - Orange
  • Warning - Yellow
  • Stop/Wrong Way/Yield/Do Not Enter - Red
  • Incident Management - Purple
  • Regulatory - Blue
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Quillz on November 23, 2015, 08:11:56 PM
I liked the older white-on-black guide signs. Those should make a comeback.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: english si on November 23, 2015, 08:13:12 PM
Quote from: Thunderbyrd316 on November 23, 2015, 06:51:52 PMJust my 2 cents but I really like blue guide signs and not just for freeways but for all roads, though I would be OK with doing it like the UK and having blue for freeways and green for other routes.
We have white for most roads' direction signage.

The different colours for differently important roads (or, in France, green signs for important destinations, rather than important roads) is helpful - you can see what is the main route without have to read anything - just follow the green. The monochromatic nature of the Netherlands (the cartouches for road numbers are different colours though) or the USA flattens the hierarchy of routes for navigation and doesn't (which some countries do, but only use two different colours) treat motorways as a special class of road that needs to be highlighted.
Quote from: jakeroot on November 23, 2015, 07:17:30 PMThe UK uses blue for their services. If I remember correctly, they are blue because "services" are seen as a motorway commodity (and motorway-related context has blue backgrounds, be it an entire sign or a patch on an alternatively-colored sign).
Other than a handful like this sign for Cambridge services (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2647906,0.0062883,3a,75y,275h,72.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssDMkP0ehvYm4Li_-SYRSJw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) (which are officially motorway services despite not being near a motorway), where "Cambridge services" is in a blue patch, outside of flag signs pointing into the services (which are blue for official MSAs, IIRC, but can be green or white, depending on the road), green is perfectly acceptable on a primary route (eg Oxford services (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.7444629,-1.1140521,3a,75y,117.41h,90.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUhwLgtsgwYpQkWb0VV8_mQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)) and white on non-primary routes.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: jakeroot on November 23, 2015, 10:32:11 PM
Quote from: Quillz on November 23, 2015, 08:11:56 PM
I liked the older white-on-black guide signs. Those should make a comeback.

If it was an option, I would have selected black-on-white. I shouldn't like them (with their negative contrast and what-not) but I do anyways.

Quote from: english si on November 23, 2015, 08:13:12 PM
Other than a handful like this sign for Cambridge services (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2647906,0.0062883,3a,75y,275h,72.8t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssDMkP0ehvYm4Li_-SYRSJw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) (which are officially motorway services despite not being near a motorway), where "Cambridge services" is in a blue patch, outside of flag signs pointing into the services (which are blue for official MSAs, IIRC, but can be green or white, depending on the road), green is perfectly acceptable on a primary route (eg Oxford services (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.7444629,-1.1140521,3a,75y,117.41h,90.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sUhwLgtsgwYpQkWb0VV8_mQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)) and white on non-primary routes.

Very interesting. I had always thought that services were restricted to motorways, although now that I think about it, the A-road network is far more extensive than the motorway network, so I can see how A-road services would exist. Though I assume motorway services far outweigh A-road services?
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: english si on November 24, 2015, 03:41:21 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 23, 2015, 10:32:11 PMVery interesting. I had always thought that services were restricted to motorways, although now that I think about it, the A-road network is far more extensive than the motorway network, so I can see how A-road services would exist. Though I assume motorway services far outweigh A-road services?
Depends how you count it.
Cambridge North is (I think) unique as it is an official MSA about 10 miles from the nearest motorway, but services that don't have official status though basically provide the same service are many, though the ones that appear on road atlases probably don't quite outweigh the number of MSAs
And then a regular petrol station with a shop might be signed as services - there's way more of these than MSA

(MSA = Motorway Service Area).
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 24, 2015, 06:20:13 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM
Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

I think VA had a brown sign like this somewhere.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Mapmikey on November 24, 2015, 08:03:38 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 24, 2015, 06:20:13 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM
Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

I think VA had a brown sign like this somewhere.

I-295 in Richmond...

https://goo.gl/maps/cz9qPkDPTWr

Mike
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: cpzilliacus on November 25, 2015, 09:37:29 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 24, 2015, 06:20:13 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM
Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

I think VA had a brown sign like this somewhere.

Virginia also has a (somewhat unusual) big brown sign on I-66 westbound in Prince William County here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.801973,-77.5143657,3a,75y,267.18h,79.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDNF9tsOdgEmj2U2O1RbIFA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).

Curiously, nothing of the sort on the eastbound side approaching the same interchange here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8004848,-77.5318789,3a,75y,76.64h,83.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8Q577YjVn8m5O7v4cofnUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)  and here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8010617,-77.5241083,3a,75y,100.36h,91.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2wgbtMfjR55P2bxNaJaCyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Quillz on November 25, 2015, 10:21:35 PM
White-on-brown isn't too bad, either. Associated with national parks, and I don't find them any less readable than white-on-green.

The 5 near the Newhall Pass still has a few white-on-black guide signs remaining, mainly conveying information for truckers.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Pink Jazz on November 25, 2015, 11:58:39 PM
Quote from: Quillz on November 25, 2015, 10:21:35 PM
White-on-brown isn't too bad, either. Associated with national parks, and I don't find them any less readable than white-on-green.


Note that one disadvantage to brown sheeting is that it is more prone to fading than green or blue.  Here in Arizona, ADOT used to use color coded shields for its Phoenix area loops, with Loop 101 in blue, Loop 202 in brown, and Loop 303 in black.  The brown Loop 202 shields faded badly, which is why the colored shields were discontinued.  I would think green would have been a better choice for Loop 202.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: peterj920 on November 26, 2015, 06:17:07 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 25, 2015, 09:37:29 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 24, 2015, 06:20:13 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM
Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

I think VA had a brown sign like this somewhere.

Virginia also has a (somewhat unusual) big brown sign on I-66 westbound in Prince William County here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.801973,-77.5143657,3a,75y,267.18h,79.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDNF9tsOdgEmj2U2O1RbIFA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).

Curiously, nothing of the sort on the eastbound side approaching the same interchange here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8004848,-77.5318789,3a,75y,76.64h,83.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8Q577YjVn8m5O7v4cofnUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)  and here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8010617,-77.5241083,3a,75y,100.36h,91.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2wgbtMfjR55P2bxNaJaCyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).

I've seen big brown signs like that before.  That was put up because it's an exit to a national park.  Along Wis 29 at County X near Chippewa Falls, WI, a brown sign was placed because it leads to Lake Wissota State Park.  I have also seen them used for exits to national parkways.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Big John on November 26, 2015, 07:14:09 AM
Stone Mountain Park east of Atlanta: here (https://www.google.com/maps/@33.822464,-84.1355644,3a,75y,107.12h,99.42t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sO5echViiBSEhwvQogszv-Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DO5echViiBSEhwvQogszv-Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D199.76778%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: CNGL-Leudimin on November 26, 2015, 12:03:41 PM
BBS! Since it is what we use here. I've also seen BWSs (Big White Signs). We used to have BGSs, which were posted on Super-2s, but we phased them out in favor of BWSs.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: cpzilliacus on November 26, 2015, 09:48:30 PM
Quote from: peterj920 on November 26, 2015, 06:17:07 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on November 25, 2015, 09:37:29 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on November 24, 2015, 06:20:13 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM
Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

I think VA had a brown sign like this somewhere.

Virginia also has a (somewhat unusual) big brown sign on I-66 westbound in Prince William County here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.801973,-77.5143657,3a,75y,267.18h,79.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDNF9tsOdgEmj2U2O1RbIFA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).

Curiously, nothing of the sort on the eastbound side approaching the same interchange here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8004848,-77.5318789,3a,75y,76.64h,83.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8Q577YjVn8m5O7v4cofnUg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1)  and here (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8010617,-77.5241083,3a,75y,100.36h,91.76t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2wgbtMfjR55P2bxNaJaCyg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1).

I've seen big brown signs like that before.  That was put up because it's an exit to a national park. 

Though it also leads to destinations beyond the battlefield park as well, including the amusingly-named Catharpin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharpin,_Virginia).


Quote from: peterj920 on November 26, 2015, 06:17:07 AM
Along Wis 29 at County X near Chippewa Falls, WI, a brown sign was placed because it leads to Lake Wissota State Park.  I have also seen them used for exits to national parkways.

Virginia is inconsistent about that. Sometimes they are posted in regular white-on-green, other times they are brown-on-white.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Mapmikey on November 27, 2015, 06:25:40 AM
Virginia will even give the BBS treatment to commercial entities that are not natural or historic parks

https://goo.gl/maps/fr4SWAPwZS72

Mike

Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: roadman on November 27, 2015, 09:04:57 AM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 08:01:34 PM

Somewhere online I think I have actually seen a photo of a brown Attractions logo sign.  Not sure where.

MassDOT uses blue background on the main Attractions sign panels, but allows white on brown for individual logos within those panels for state parks and historical sites.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Pink Jazz on November 27, 2015, 04:15:44 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on November 27, 2015, 06:25:40 AM
Virginia will even give the BBS treatment to commercial entities that are not natural or historic parks

https://goo.gl/maps/fr4SWAPwZS72

Mike

I think Kings Dominion was grandfathered into the program, since prior to introducing the Attractions logo sign category this was the only way attractions could be seen from highways.  I would think if any new commercial entity were to get a sign today, an Attractions logo sign would be their only option.

Speaking of this, in Missouri MoDOT recently threatened to remove Fantastic Caverns' brown signs and make them sign up for an Attractions logo sign.  Protests from the family that owns Fantastic Caverns put an end to these plans and thus Fantastic Caverns is now allowed to keep their brown signs.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Quillz on November 27, 2015, 05:46:55 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 26, 2015, 12:03:41 PM
BBS! Since it is what we use here. I've also seen BWSs (Big White Signs). We used to have BGSs, which were posted on Super-2s, but we phased them out in favor of BWSs.
California has a few white guide signs, and they're okay. Mainly used for technical trucking info, like the black guide signs I mentioned. When featuring route shields, the outer margin is invisible.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: jakeroot on November 29, 2015, 02:13:20 PM
Quote from: Quillz on November 27, 2015, 05:46:55 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 26, 2015, 12:03:41 PM
BBS! Since it is what we use here. I've also seen BWSs (Big White Signs). We used to have BGSs, which were posted on Super-2s, but we phased them out in favor of BWSs.

California has a few white guide signs, and they're okay. Mainly used for technical trucking info, like the black guide signs I mentioned. When featuring route shields, the outer margin is invisible.

That's something that I still can't figure out how to do properly (when I draw up a guide sign). Washington, like many other states, uses white HOV signs. Occasionally they feature route shields for the exit. Sometimes the shields have a black outline and other times they don't. Usually the interstate shields are just plastered on without a black outline, so it looks like each part of the shield is just floating there. Looks pretty awkward.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Quillz on November 29, 2015, 10:59:00 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 29, 2015, 02:13:20 PM
Quote from: Quillz on November 27, 2015, 05:46:55 PM
Quote from: CNGL-Leudimin on November 26, 2015, 12:03:41 PM
BBS! Since it is what we use here. I've also seen BWSs (Big White Signs). We used to have BGSs, which were posted on Super-2s, but we phased them out in favor of BWSs.

California has a few white guide signs, and they're okay. Mainly used for technical trucking info, like the black guide signs I mentioned. When featuring route shields, the outer margin is invisible.

That's something that I still can't figure out how to do properly (when I draw up a guide sign). Washington, like many other states, uses white HOV signs. Occasionally they feature route shields for the exit. Sometimes the shields have a black outline and other times they don't. Usually the interstate shields are just plastered on without a black outline, so it looks like each part of the shield is just floating there. Looks pretty awkward.
It works well for California since they still use the older cutout design for their US routes, so the outermost white margin can disappear and you've still got the inner black margin. On the '70 standards, that black margin has to be added on. Also, California's route shields are green-on-white, so again, the white margin can disappear and you've still got a recognizable green shield. I don't really like how Interstate shields look on guide signs in general because they don't make any alterations. IMO, the crown should have the legend removed (you can't read it anyway), and should be thinner while making the field a bit wider. (Similar to how California has a guide sign specific variation of the US route shields).
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: webfil on December 03, 2015, 01:17:56 AM
Quote from: english si on November 23, 2015, 06:27:38 PM
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F41.media.tumblr.com%2F51179ca4783cd8ca2e29ce7cc21a30d4%2Ftumblr_n1mlbeAuyG1rasnq9o1_500.png&hash=a726a4aa2293b54cbacda42a112f4796059d05c9)
This map is wrong; it is not binomial.
Slovenia uses yellow, blue and green signs depending on which class of road the exit leads to : yellow for local and national roads, blue for H-class expressways (Hitra cesti), green for A-class motorways (Avtocesti) and service areas. Most of the signs encountered are yellow.

Judging by GSV, Croatia uses the same scheme, and applies probably some other ex-jugoslavian states.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: english si on December 03, 2015, 06:55:03 AM
Quote from: webfil on December 03, 2015, 01:17:56 AMThis map is wrong; it is not binomial.
The map is right - look at the title of it. The map isn't sufficient to tell you about road direction sign colouring in those countries, sure, but it is right.

It's not binomial, it's not binary either, but out of the many colours that could be chosen for motorway signs (eg red, yellow, white, black, brown, purple, blue, green), European countries each went with one of only two options - so the map is two-tone (save Iceland and the microstates that are grey as they don't have motorways)
QuoteSlovenia uses yellow, blue and green signs depending on which class of road the exit leads to : yellow for local and national roads, blue for H-class expressways (Hitra cesti), green for A-class motorways (Avtocesti) and service areas.
And so it should be green on the map, as that is the colour of motorway signs. And it is green on the map.
QuoteMost of the signs encountered are yellow.
Not on motorways ;)

The UK, Ireland and France have blue motorway signs (as shown on the map), green primary route (UK, RoI)/major destination (France) signage and most of the signs encountered are white. Should this map show those countries in white? Of course not! Should there be some other map that tells you the colour of signs on local roads: probably!

In my OP, I even touched on this - that this is only motorway signs, and many countries have different colours for different directional signage.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: webfil on December 03, 2015, 11:18:31 AM
Quote from: english si on December 03, 2015, 06:55:03 AM
Quote from: webfil on December 03, 2015, 01:17:56 AMThis map is wrong; it is not binomial.
The map is right - look at the title of it. The map isn't sufficient to tell you about road direction sign colouring in those countries, sure, but it is right.
QuoteSlovenia uses yellow, blue and green signs depending on which class of road the exit leads to : yellow for local and national roads, blue for H-class expressways (Hitra cesti), green for A-class motorways (Avtocesti) and service areas.
And so it should be green on the map, as that is the colour of motorway signs. And it is green on the map.
QuoteMost of the signs encountered are yellow.
Not on motorways ;)
Yes, on motorways.  :eyebrow:

Motorway signs in Slovenia are mostly yellow. Green signs are sparse, with only 5 motorway connections (A1/A3, A1/A2 at razep Kozarje, A2/A1 at razep Malence, A2/A4 and A2/A5), a few service areas and the usual control city distance sign.

Your map shows a sign for an exit to a national route in Greece. In Slovenia, it would have been yellow.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fexit_zpstalieztm.png&hash=999f319e70dcb7c18189c392da9645f4383b9593)
That is a yellow big sign. And it is a motorway sign. It is on A1 near Kastelec (Mestna občina Koper), Koper-bound. Unless the colors in my memory are fading, which can be possible since I've taken a lot of sun since my last visit to central Europe, and the yellow color tend to fade under the sun. Or maybe I'm color blind. Or maybe you are trying to represent a phenomenon that cannot be simplified with two colors on a choropleth map. Or maybe I totally did not understand that your map shows the color of the signs announcing exit to motorways as I've been mingled by the fact that there is a sign pointing towards a 2-lane road in an inset.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: english si on December 03, 2015, 12:11:30 PM
Quote from: webfil on December 03, 2015, 11:18:31 AMMotorway signs in Slovenia are mostly yellow.
Nope.

Here's a streetview of the equivalent sign to the Greek one at the same exit the one in you picture is (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@45.5633418,13.8704735,3a,37.5y,40.17h,87.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sw2-BWO7KW7-Cp3VF_TklDQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) - it's green with a yellow panel. OK, it's in the other direction, but only as there's a tunnel in the way Koper-bound (and thus no sign like this - that there is at almost all other junctions on the Slovenian motorway network).

Also, it's not my map - it's been going around the internet for years without any negative comments (other than, in the early days, corrections like "Belarus needs to be blue"). I've also explained that it looks at a very narrow issue and reality is more complex.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Road Hog on December 04, 2015, 12:56:21 AM
Directional signs in Germany on B-roads and lesser roads use gold background. (On autobahns, of course, they are blue.)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_-3KaVUnu18s%2FS8HAabgSzhI%2FAAAAAAAAFok%2F9UbXbGzB7PI%2Fs1600%2FRR.JPG&hash=9fc0e3b5f5213c6db6e9e03eaa81042b6a3074c6)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmaporter.net%2Fpics%2Fgermany_2005_11%2FIMG_4257.jpg&hash=7e5aec5104bbf2803f012fd6d77763d0cfbc78d6)
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: silverback1065 on December 04, 2015, 09:46:52 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on November 23, 2015, 07:17:30 PM
Quote from: Pink Jazz on November 23, 2015, 06:18:27 PM
In countries that use blue guide signs, I wonder what color are their service signs?  Here in the U.S. blue is the standard color for service signs (most commonly logo signs).

The UK uses blue for their services. If I remember correctly, they are blue because "services" are seen as a motorway commodity (and motorway-related context has blue backgrounds, be it an entire sign or a patch on an alternatively-colored sign).

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIQJuEPn.png&hash=86d15bf24c14403b6caf2d32242c9d1981176d3f)

Quote from: Thunderbyrd316 on November 23, 2015, 06:51:52 PM
Just for the record, I would like to revise the MUTCD colors as follows; Blue: Guide, Green: Recreational, Brown: Service, School Zone: Purple, Construction: Lime Green. other colors as they are. Just my 2 cents but I really like blue guide signs and not just for freeways but for all roads, though I would be OK with doing it like the UK and having blue for freeways and green for other routes.

I would reserve purple for toll roads, and leave orange as construction and reserve lime green for school. The other changes I would be okay with.

What the hell does "1 2 m" mean? Is that sign saying 1/2 meters?
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: myosh_tino on December 04, 2015, 11:54:08 AM
Quote from: silverback1065 on December 04, 2015, 09:46:52 AM
What the hell does "1 2 m" mean? Is that sign saying 1/2 meters?

I believe that's how the UK indicates 1/2 mile.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: silverback1065 on December 04, 2015, 11:56:20 AM
Quote from: myosh_tino on December 04, 2015, 11:54:08 AM
Quote from: silverback1065 on December 04, 2015, 09:46:52 AM
What the hell does "1 2 m" mean? Is that sign saying 1/2 meters?

I believe that's how the UK indicates 1/2 mile.

That's weird. I knew other countries transpose , with . in numbers but I didn't know they did that with fractions, kind of bizarre.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: webfil on December 04, 2015, 01:57:41 PM
Quote from: english si on December 03, 2015, 12:11:30 PM
Quote from: webfil on December 03, 2015, 11:18:31 AMMotorway signs in Slovenia are mostly yellow.
Nope.

Here's a streetview of the equivalent sign to the Greek one at the same exit the one in you picture is (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@45.5633418,13.8704735,3a,37.5y,40.17h,87.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sw2-BWO7KW7-Cp3VF_TklDQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) - it's green with a yellow panel. OK, it's in the other direction, but only as there's a tunnel in the way Koper-bound (and thus no sign like this - that there is at almost all other junctions on the Slovenian motorway network).

My memory did fade away. Thanks for pointing that out.  Definitely did not remember enough things from this trip. Going back in a few weeks, I'll try to get a few snaps. :sombrero:
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: Scott5114 on December 05, 2015, 03:49:19 AM
Quote from: english si on November 23, 2015, 08:13:12 PM
Quote from: Thunderbyrd316 on November 23, 2015, 06:51:52 PMJust my 2 cents but I really like blue guide signs and not just for freeways but for all roads, though I would be OK with doing it like the UK and having blue for freeways and green for other routes.
We have white for most roads' direction signage.

The different colours for differently important roads (or, in France, green signs for important destinations, rather than important roads) is helpful - you can see what is the main route without have to read anything - just follow the green. The monochromatic nature of the Netherlands (the cartouches for road numbers are different colours though) or the USA flattens the hierarchy of routes for navigation and doesn't (which some countries do, but only use two different colours) treat motorways as a special class of road that needs to be highlighted.

On the other hand, having all navigation signage in green allows a driver to filter out signs unrelated to navigation if they are irrelevant. That can be useful in a major junction where there is a TOTSO situation or tricky lane assignments so one can disregard information about hospitals or parks that is irrelevant to where one is going. The different route shield symbols serve the purpose that the sign background colors do in Europe.
Title: Re: BGS or BBS?
Post by: english si on December 05, 2015, 05:03:37 AM
Quote from: silverback1065 on December 04, 2015, 11:56:20 AMThat's weird. I knew other countries transpose , with . in numbers but I didn't know they did that with fractions, kind of bizarre.
It's only done with road signs. Not putting the slash increases legibility (by allowing larger numerals as there's no slash taking up space) - your brain might even start thinking they are there despite not being (the angle that photo was taken isn't conducive to that) as it expects one there.
Quote from: Scott5114 on December 05, 2015, 03:49:19 AMThat can be useful in a major junction where there is a TOTSO situation or tricky lane assignments so one can disregard information about hospitals or parks that is irrelevant to where one is going.
Err this is the same thing as I'm suggesting the different colour signs do in Europe, with the added bonus of being able to disregard information that relates to minor roads via the same process.

Yes shields do add an element of route hierarchy and ignoring minor roads (though a state highway, even a county highway or an unnumbered road, can be a freeway making the idea about what highway system they are on = their importance is diluted), but if your state highway shield is a white blob/box then distinguishing that from a US shield is harder than spotting a patch of colour. It's still pretty easy, but the cognitive load is a tiny bit more.