These two signs are in Chesterfield County, VA in the Brandermill area on opposite sides of the same crosswalk. I've seen them before but finally had a chance to photograph them today.
(https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/27900_10200960241229503_847968510_n.jpg)
I'm interested to see some other signs with unusual distances on them.
They don't convert to clean metric numbers either. Maybe they arbitrarily put the sign down first?
Can't be any worse than these two curve advisory signs on Quito Road in the San Jose area...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit21.jpg&hash=2da17481f14b8b39d28d0fce1524090cb3a6c2fa)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit22.jpg&hash=b4491738e8771931f7ae57870954516f3624a767)
I've seen some shopping center parking lot signs that say "Speed limit 8 mph", etc. and wondered how they arrived at that exact number.
Hmmm.... I was avoiding posting oddly specific other measurements. But, while we're on the topic, I like Texas' signing WEIGHT LIMIT / GROSS 58420 LBS.
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2013, 11:03:58 AM
Hmmm.... I was avoiding posting oddly specific other measurements. But, while we're on the topic, I like Texas' signing WEIGHT LIMIT / GROSS 58420 LBS.
Which comes out fairly close to 26500 kg.
I've noticed this quite often in Virginia. "School Bus Stop Ahead" with an auxiliary "700 Feet" sign, for example. Maybe it's a question of how far the sign is supposed to be from the warned scenario vs. where it is actually placed due to other factors. Does the MUTCD specify distances for how far away such signs should be placed from the feature it's warning about?
I would like to know why 100 meters is not listed as 1 hectimeter on Ontario road signs. As hectimeters are the unit used for multiples of 100 meters in the metric system. Just as you do not see 1000 meters used, but 1 kilometer on their road signs it would be more appropriate.
Quote from: roadman65 on April 23, 2013, 02:04:43 PM
I would like to know why 100 meters is not listed as 1 hectimeter on Ontario road signs. As hectimeters are the unit used for multiples of 100 meters in the metric system. Just as you do not see 1000 meters used, but 1 kilometer on their road signs it would be more appropriate.
I don't think many people in North America the use 'hecto-' prefix.
I know in Europe, things are measured in "centiliters" very commonly (mainly beverages, especially alcoholic) and it took me a bit of time to get used to that because in Canada and Mexico it's liters and milliliters only as far as I've seen.
^^ More for the preference of SI units, which are the 10^3 instead of using a different name for every 10^1, meaning for metric lengths, it is millimeters, meters and kilometers.
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2013, 10:16:29 PM
These two signs are in Chesterfield County, VA in the Brandermill area on opposite sides of the same crosswalk. I've seen them before but finally had a chance to photograph them today.
(https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/27900_10200960241229503_847968510_n.jpg)
They're for checking braking distances of a Honda Prelude.
New 'Right Lane End' signs on Rt. 45 in Woodbury, NJ are signed at something like 215 feet ahead.
I remember one sign in PA that noted a Weight Limit for a bridge at something like 1,348 feet ahead. I have a pic of it somewhere...probably on a computer I haven't used in years.
Quote from: BamaZeus on April 23, 2013, 10:51:34 AM
I've seen some shopping center parking lot signs that say "Speed limit 8 mph", etc. and wondered how they arrived at that exact number.
I think that's done on purpose to make people think about the speed. I suspect there's some armchair psychology which says that people are more likely to notice a non -0 or -5 speed (because they're used all the time).
Quote from: Takumi on April 22, 2013, 10:16:29 PM
These two signs are in Chesterfield County, VA in the Brandermill area on opposite sides of the same crosswalk. I've seen them before but finally had a chance to photograph them today.
(https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/27900_10200960241229503_847968510_n.jpg)
I'm interested to see some other signs with unusual distances on them.
I've seen similar signs (with oddball distances different from the ones posted above) in Springfield Twp. (Delaware County), PA at the Springfield Road/Norwinden Drive intersection.
Quote from: myosh_tino on April 23, 2013, 02:29:11 AM
Can't be any worse than these two curve advisory signs on Quito Road in the San Jose area...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit21.jpg&hash=2da17481f14b8b39d28d0fce1524090cb3a6c2fa)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit22.jpg&hash=b4491738e8771931f7ae57870954516f3624a767)
At the GE plant in Lynn, MA; there were (circa 1980s)
SPEED LIMIT 19 signs In standard MUTCD form.
In East Goshen Twp. (Chester County), PA at the Hershey Mills development, the posted speed limit along the entire roadway system is 27 mph.
Minnesota commonly uses 1/5 mi. for advance warning signs. Do other states use oddball fractions like that?
Alanland expresses all distances as multiples of 17/31 of a parsec. except for those that are not distant.
Quote from: elsmere241 on April 23, 2013, 11:26:58 AM
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2013, 11:03:58 AM
Hmmm.... I was avoiding posting oddly specific other measurements. But, while we're on the topic, I like Texas' signing WEIGHT LIMIT / GROSS 58420 LBS.
Which comes out fairly close to 26500 kg.
Is 26500 kg supposed to mean something to me? 'Cause it doesn't.
I suppose it's one degree less oddly specific than 58420 lbs, but still seems pretty random.
This used to exist in Virginia Beach (the sign is gone now as Nimmo Parkway is being completed, and this won't be a dead end much longer). It seems random, but interestingly, 983 feet is almost exactly 300 meters.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5251%2F5426717698_ddbe13a2c8_z.jpg&hash=eed427c1db71a8c37ef6db27b7522e479208c04e) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/coredesatchikai/5426717698/)
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on April 23, 2013, 06:17:21 PM
983 feet is almost exactly 300 meters.
But it's closer to 984 than 983. And also closer to the "half-round number" of 985 than 983.
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2013, 06:18:47 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on April 23, 2013, 06:17:21 PM
983 feet is almost exactly 300 meters.
But it's closer to 984 than 983. And also closer to the "half-round number" of 985 than 983.
300 meters is 984 feet and a little more than 3 inches, so yeah.
using an approximation of .305 feet/meter yields 983.6 feet. round down.
might very well be what happened.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 23, 2013, 03:38:58 PM
New 'Right Lane End' signs on Rt. 45 in Woodbury, NJ are signed at something like 215 feet ahead.
I remember one sign in PA that noted a Weight Limit for a bridge at something like 1,348 feet ahead. I have a pic of it somewhere...probably on a computer I haven't used in years.
Many, many of those, also for Stop Aheads in PA. I probably have photos somewhere, but no idea where to start looking.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 23, 2013, 06:45:09 PM
using an approximation of .305 feet/meter yields 983.6 feet. round down.
might very well be what happened.
When AASHTO metricized in 1996, the conversion factor to be used was 1' = 0.3048m, so engineers still use that factor. and makes 300m = 984.252 feet.
Quote from: Big John on April 23, 2013, 08:40:54 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 23, 2013, 06:45:09 PM
using an approximation of .305 feet/meter yields 983.6 feet. round down.
might very well be what happened.
When AASHTO metricized in 1996, the conversion factor to be used was 1' = 0.3048m, so engineers still use that factor. and makes 300m = 984.252 feet.
sure, but someone may have just casually remembered "305"
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 23, 2013, 06:45:09 PM
using an approximation of .305 feet/meter yields 983.6 feet. round down.
might very well be what happened.
So......they measured the street in metric, it came to precisely 300 meters even, they converted it to feet using an approximated factor, rounded down to the nearest foot, and had a sign custom-made.
THIS IS NOT ALANLAND!
Quote from: formulanone on April 23, 2013, 02:36:37 PM
They're for checking braking distances of a Honda Prelude.
So the 298 feet is with the stock brakes from xx mph, while the 186 feet is with the aftermarket brakes on mine from the same speed. Got it.
The speed limit on the University of Mississippi campus is 18 mph in honor of Archie Manning.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_WitNpiJRnWU%2FSncJBuhdRsI%2FAAAAAAAADwo%2FwErDSGtyWi8%2Fs400%2FIMG_9337.JPG&hash=925d4421ff304a3e9993317b5e584ec595c41811)
Do all the speed limit signs come with models?
(Is anyone else thinking of Denmark right now?)
Quote from: Road Hog on April 24, 2013, 02:19:21 AM
Is it me or does she
appear pregnant in that photo?
Quote from: PHLBOS on April 24, 2013, 11:23:54 AM
Is it me or does she appear pregnant in that photo?
sometimes people are pregnant.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 24, 2013, 11:41:06 AM
Quote from: PHLBOS on April 24, 2013, 11:23:54 AM
Is it me or does she appear pregnant in that photo?
sometimes people are pregnant.
No kidding, but having an attractive & seemingly young, pregnant woman posing as a model in a photo on a university campus doesn't quite send the right message for parents of prospective students applying for admission.
is that some kind of official photo? I thought it was just borrowed from J. Arthur Random's facebook page.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 24, 2013, 12:02:33 PMI thought it was just borrowed from J. Arthur Random's facebook page.
Random('s) Facebook page... interesting. :hmmm:
Looks like Tetazoo work to me.
Quote from: NE2 on April 24, 2013, 01:28:59 PM
Looks like Tetazoo work to me.
is that where you lived? I was on 5W, which - as far as I remember - did not have a nickname.
I didn't want to start a new thread, and this is a stretch to be on topic here, but here I go anyway...
I drove I-81 S in VA for the first time in years earlier this year. In the northern part of the state, (I cannot remember where,) there was a sign listing the 3 exits available for the next town. It could have been Lexington, Harrisonburg, Staunton, or some other, but in that part of the state. The sign read "Town Name," exits xxx,xxx,xxx with no spaces. It made it look like the exit number was 100 million plus.
I wish I had the presence of mind to stop and take a pic. Does anyone know which town this is, and/or the mile marker of this sign?
I was at Random.
PS: the photo is actually from here: http://www.olemissmom.com/2009/08/back-to-beginning.html
Quote from: myosh_tino on April 23, 2013, 02:29:11 AM
Can't be any worse than these two curve advisory signs on Quito Road in the San Jose area...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit21.jpg&hash=2da17481f14b8b39d28d0fce1524090cb3a6c2fa)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit22.jpg&hash=b4491738e8771931f7ae57870954516f3624a767)
I could swear that at least one of those used to be different...17 or 18 or 19? I remember it being under 20.
Did they re-engineer the curve for a higher design speed? :)
Quote from: NE2 on April 24, 2013, 01:49:38 PM
PS: the photo is actually from here: http://www.olemissmom.com/2009/08/back-to-beginning.html
Thank you for clearing up the mystery. So the lady in the photo was
not a student when the picture was taken. Her son Rhodes was born 36 days after the picture was taken.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2013, 05:18:09 PM
Quote from: NE2 on April 24, 2013, 01:49:38 PM
PS: the photo is actually from here: http://www.olemissmom.com/2009/08/back-to-beginning.html
Thank you for clearing up the mystery. So the lady in the photo was not a student when the picture was taken. Her son Rhodes was born 36 days after the picture was taken.
RHODES! </second Randomite on this thread>
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2013, 05:18:09 PM
Quote from: NE2 on April 24, 2013, 01:49:38 PM
PS: the photo is actually from here: http://www.olemissmom.com/2009/08/back-to-beginning.html
Thank you for clearing up the mystery. So the lady in the photo was not a student when the picture was taken. Her son Rhodes was born 36 days after the picture was taken.
A rather apt name given the topic of this forum.
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2013, 05:18:09 PM
Thank you for clearing up the mystery.
You can fish too!
http://www.google.com/insidesearch/features/images/searchbyimage.html
Quote from: DTComposer on April 24, 2013, 03:50:14 PM
Quote from: myosh_tino on April 23, 2013, 02:29:11 AM
Can't be any worse than these two curve advisory signs on Quito Road in the San Jose area...
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit21.jpg&hash=2da17481f14b8b39d28d0fce1524090cb3a6c2fa)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.markyville.com%2Faaroads%2FadvLimit22.jpg&hash=b4491738e8771931f7ae57870954516f3624a767)
I could swear that at least one of those used to be different...17 or 18 or 19? I remember it being under 20.
Did they re-engineer the curve for a higher design speed? :)
I thought so too. The two GSV images in my post were on taken as you drive south on Quito Road. If you drive north on Quito Road, you'll encounter a 22 MPH advisory sign and a 19 MPH advisory sign (Google Street View image (https://www.google.com/maps?ll=37.25558,-121.993105&spn=0.002468,0.003862&t=m&z=18&layer=c&cbll=37.255496,-121.993061&panoid=Z5b0NJv2O58aPV0rNw8Tpw&cbp=12,7.4,,2,5.69)). The 19 MPH sign is for the same curve as the 21 MPH advisory sign but going in the opposite direction.
The northbound lane is the inner lane on the curve so I guess that's why the advisory limit is 2 MPH less.
Quote from: NE2 on April 24, 2013, 09:13:42 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 24, 2013, 05:18:09 PM
Thank you for clearing up the mystery.
You can fish too!
http://www.google.com/insidesearch/features/images/searchbyimage.html
Right, but it still would have taken quite a bit of poking around in the blog to verify the dates. ;-)
There is a sign on IL 83 announcing the exit for Ogden Ave in 1/3 mile. Probably not the only one, but can't be all that common.
Quote from: cabiness42 on April 25, 2013, 12:21:31 PM
There is a sign on IL 83 announcing the exit for Ogden Ave in 1/3 mile. Probably not the only one, but can't be all that common.
I've never seen "1/3 MILE" however, the advance guide sign for northbound San Antonio Road from southbound US 101 features a "1/8 MILE" designation.
I have seen a 1/3 somewhere in California but I definitely do not remember where.
I remember it being used in New England a few times in the 90s. I-84 in Connecticut maybe??
We got 2/3s on MD 295: http://goo.gl/maps/9ZUyH
I've seen 1/3 MILE and 1/8 MILE used on MA BGS'. The original 70s-era BGS for the advance-notice for the MA 114 East (originally marked as South) exit off US 1 South in Danvers had a 1/8 MILE reference. The current BGS now reads EXIT 800 FEET.
Along I-95 North in the same general area (Exits 47A-B), both the original and current advance-notice BGS for MA 114 West (Exit 47B) list 1/3 MILE references.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on April 25, 2013, 02:37:13 PM
I have seen a 1/3 somewhere in California but I definitely do not remember where.
I remember it being used in New England a few times in the 90s. I-84 in Connecticut maybe??
There were several 1/3 mile advance signs in Massachusetts for awhile, usually for the second exit at cloverleafs.
Madison (WI) Beltline, 1/8 mile sign for the 2nd of closely-spaced interchanges: http://goo.gl/maps/H0df4
Fractions I've seen on guide signs: 1/2, 1/3, 2/3, 1/4, 3/4, 1/5, 2/5, 1/6, 1/8, 3/8, 1/10 and several other /10 (thanks, I-676)
if you count 1910s guide signs, or a California signing practice from the 50s, you'll get every 5th and 10th in short order.
I've never seen less than 1/10th. 1/16th or 1/20th could ostensibly exist, but 1910s California practice was "1/10" even if you were right on top of it... where others would have used a 0, as Steve has documented in New Jersey.
Quote from: kj3400 on April 25, 2013, 02:55:08 PM
We got 2/3s on MD 295: http://goo.gl/maps/9ZUyH
Also one on the US 19/41 Griffin, GA bypass, southbound before the GA 362 exit if memory serves.
I also recall a 1/5 somewhere on northbound I-81 in Virginia.
Quote from: Eth on April 25, 2013, 07:53:54 PM
Quote from: kj3400 on April 25, 2013, 02:55:08 PM
We got 2/3s on MD 295: http://goo.gl/maps/9ZUyH
Also one on the US 19/41 Griffin, GA bypass, southbound before the GA 362 exit if memory serves.
I also recall a 1/5 somewhere on northbound I-81 in Virginia.
2/3 here in Bellingham as well. http://goo.gl/maps/hqbIv
2/3 on I-95 near Daytona Beach:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.formulanone.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2011%2F04%2FUS92bgs-TwoThirdsMile-Int95nExit261.jpg&hash=6491a370b3f7af46f6071af2d3a4356e9cd47e37)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5248%2F5357590999_153ec7685d.jpg&hash=8594b4a3c36784a9080bc4257818400cd4a253cd)
Along I-95 North in Chester, PA; there's a 1/8 MILE advance BGS for Exit 6 (PA 320/352).
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2013, 06:00:38 PM
Minnesota commonly uses 1/5 mi. for advance warning signs. Do other states use oddball fractions like that?
Michigan has a few "Ramp 1/8 mile" type of signs, but 1/8 is far less weird than 1/5.
Quote from: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:52:34 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2013, 06:00:38 PM
Minnesota commonly uses 1/5 mi. for advance warning signs. Do other states use oddball fractions like that?
Michigan has a few "Ramp 1/8 mile" type of signs, but 1/8 is far less weird than 1/5.
Interesting that we think that, isn't it (and I agree with you)? After all, mileposts and reflectors often appear in frequencies of 1/10 or 1/5, not to mention that 1/5 in decimal form is simpler than 1/8 (0.2 compared to 0.125). Maybe it's because we're so used to seeing 1/2 and 1/4 that we like to be able to divide 1/4 in half.
In reality, the only way I have of visualizing 1/8 mile is to think of it as a city block (I walked a lot when I lived in the Chicago area, where blocks are generally 1/8 mile long). I have no point of reference as to how far 1/5 mile is, except maybe fractional mileposts.
I'm not sure there is a "good" measurement for distances of less than 1/4 mile. It's hard to visualize 700 feet or 300 yards, for example. Perhaps distances of less than 1/4 mile should just fudge it and say 1/4 mile?
I have trouble with feet. fractions of miles can be translated to fractions of minutes because ~60mph is such a typical speed on roads where those distances are used.
so if I see a sign which says "3/4 mile", I know I've got about 45 seconds.
"2000 feet"? ehh well that's, I suppose, 2/5 of a mile, but it takes me some time to calculate it. as for distances under 1/4 mile, which tend to be written as 500 or 1000 feet, then you're talking about estimating how far to that tree, which is not a skill which I have. I'd rather have "1/10th" mile, because I know that is 6 seconds, than 500 feet.
I don't think it matters what you put for a distance of less than ¼ mile: by the time you figure it out in your head, you're there!
Quote from: kphoger on May 07, 2013, 06:04:44 PMPerhaps distances of less than 1/4 mile should just fudge it and say 1/4 mile?
I disagree. I think that distances should always be
greater than what is posted.
exit 23 here in San Diego off I-8 is tricky because it has only one advance sign with a distance: 1 mile. the exit is around a fairly sharp right curve with a bluff just inside of it - it really sneaks up on you... and it's 0.85 miles from the sign.
guess which exit I had only about a 50/50 chance of nailing before I actually calculated the distance and memorized it for future reference.
Somewhat off-topic but related are the littering fine signs in Connecticut, which are some oddly non-round number like $219. Sometimes I get so confused when I see them that the trash bag I was about to stop throwing falls right out of my hand.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on May 07, 2013, 09:26:21 PM
Somewhat off-topic but related are the littering fine signs in Connecticut, which are some oddly non-round number like $219. Sometimes I get so confused when I see them that the trash bag I was about to stop throwing falls right out of my hand.
I think fines tend to get inflation-adjusted once every several years. so it probably started out something sensible like $100 back in the day.
Quote from: kphoger on May 07, 2013, 06:04:44 PM
.... Perhaps distances of less than 1/4 mile should just fudge it and say 1/4 mile?
I recall a sign on I-66 in Virginia (it was removed last year) that originally listed 1/4 mile to the exit for southbound I-495 but was later changed to say 1/10 of a mile. The sign was attached to the Virginia Lane overpass and can be seen on Street View: http://goo.gl/maps/scbLG (The original sign was posted in 1982 and was altered by affixing "1/10" over "1/4" and this sign may have been a replacement for that.) Off the top of my head, I'm not sure what the current sign says. A new gantry was erected just to the east of that overpass as part of the 495 Express Lanes project and the sign was relocated to the new gantry at that time. Either way, the old sign seems like it could have just said "NEXT RIGHT" and have been equally effective. That's the only exit from westbound I-66 at I-495 since it's a partial interchange.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 07, 2013, 06:17:48 PMexit 23 here in San Diego off I-8 is tricky because it has only one advance sign with a distance: 1 mile. the exit is around a fairly sharp right curve with a bluff just inside of it - it really sneaks up on you... and it's 0.85 miles from the sign.
guess which exit I had only about a 50/50 chance of nailing before I actually calculated the distance and memorized it for future reference.
In a similar vein, on westbound I-20 in Georgia just past the Exit 68 offramp there's a 2-mile advance sign (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-20+W&daddr=I-20+W&hl=en&ll=33.711582,-84.21609&spn=0.006631,0.012274&sll=33.71322,-84.231899&sspn=0.006631,0.012274&geocode=FQFmAgIdA_X6-g%3BFelvAgIdIqj6-g&t=h&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.711582,-84.21609&panoid=oPtqtwGswX96AUK0exAicQ&cbp=12,295.1,,0,-1.18) for Exits 67B-A (I-285, a pretty damn important set of exits). The distance from there to the Exit 67B gore point? 1.1 miles. That's on my daily commute, so I'm used to it being wrong, but I can only imagine how much panic this ends up causing out-of-towners.
21 MPH signs are very common in San Diego County when on tribal land driving the entrance road to a casino.
Quote from: kphoger on May 07, 2013, 06:04:44 PM
Quote from: getemngo on May 07, 2013, 05:52:34 PM
Quote from: kphoger on April 23, 2013, 06:00:38 PM
Minnesota commonly uses 1/5 mi. for advance warning signs. Do other states use oddball fractions like that?
Michigan has a few "Ramp 1/8 mile" type of signs, but 1/8 is far less weird than 1/5.
Interesting that we think that, isn't it (and I agree with you)? After all, mileposts and reflectors often appear in frequencies of 1/10 or 1/5, not to mention that 1/5 in decimal form is simpler than 1/8 (0.2 compared to 0.125). Maybe it's because we're so used to seeing 1/2 and 1/4 that we like to be able to divide 1/4 in half.
In reality, the only way I have of visualizing 1/8 mile is to think of it as a city block (I walked a lot when I lived in the Chicago area, where blocks are generally 1/8 mile long). I have no point of reference as to how far 1/5 mile is, except maybe fractional mileposts.
I'm not sure there is a "good" measurement for distances of less than 1/4 mile. It's hard to visualize 700 feet or 300 yards, for example. Perhaps distances of less than 1/4 mile should just fudge it and say 1/4 mile?
You pretty much nailed why. In many areas, blocks are 1/8th of a mile in length as this splits a mile up very nicely with survey chains. One chain is 66 feet, and one furlong is 660 feet or 10 chains. There are 100 links to a chain and 4 rods (16-1/2 feet or 25 links) to a chain. This is also why many streets have rights-of-way of 66 feet and alleys are typically 16-1/2 feet wide. It's one chain and one rod respectively. One block, an 8th of a mile is exactly one furlong long in survey terms. Hence, a mile is 8 furlongs, 80 chains, 320 rods, or 8,000 links long. All of these fit very nicely into our survey system (PLSS) for cities (like Chicago) and townships. As an aside, one acre is one furlong by one chain (hence why 160 fit into a quarter section, and 640 fit into a section, and why an acre is not a square unit of measurement).
Fractions like 1/5th or 1/6th, or decimals of a mile (0.10, 0.20) do not make sense in our survey system due to this. It's also one of my personal arguments against the adoption of the SI for roads and surveying. We've used a very logical system, and converting it to metric would screw it up.
Quote from: Eth on May 08, 2013, 09:00:49 PM
In a similar vein, on westbound I-20 in Georgia just past the Exit 68 offramp there's a 2-mile advance sign (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-20+W&daddr=I-20+W&hl=en&ll=33.711582,-84.21609&spn=0.006631,0.012274&sll=33.71322,-84.231899&sspn=0.006631,0.012274&geocode=FQFmAgIdA_X6-g%3BFelvAgIdIqj6-g&t=h&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.711582,-84.21609&panoid=oPtqtwGswX96AUK0exAicQ&cbp=12,295.1,,0,-1.18) for Exits 67B-A (I-285, a pretty damn important set of exits). The distance from there to the Exit 67B gore point? 1.1 miles. That's on my daily commute, so I'm used to it being wrong, but I can only imagine how much panic this ends up causing out-of-towners.
I wonder if someone accidentally switched the work orders for the 2-mile and 1-mile advance signs?
for the opposite problem, I-215 southbound in San Bernardino approaching the 215-60-91 junction has a next-three-exits sign which says 1/4 mile. that is the first notification that you get. it's actually 1 1/4 mile; they typoed it. as 215 exits itself, I've seen a lot of people panicking and changing lanes. someone needs to go up there with an adhesive vinyl "1", and soon.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 09, 2013, 01:43:22 PM
Quote from: Eth on May 08, 2013, 09:00:49 PM
In a similar vein, on westbound I-20 in Georgia just past the Exit 68 offramp there's a 2-mile advance sign (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-20+W&daddr=I-20+W&hl=en&ll=33.711582,-84.21609&spn=0.006631,0.012274&sll=33.71322,-84.231899&sspn=0.006631,0.012274&geocode=FQFmAgIdA_X6-g%3BFelvAgIdIqj6-g&t=h&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.711582,-84.21609&panoid=oPtqtwGswX96AUK0exAicQ&cbp=12,295.1,,0,-1.18) for Exits 67B-A (I-285, a pretty damn important set of exits). The distance from there to the Exit 67B gore point? 1.1 miles. That's on my daily commute, so I'm used to it being wrong, but I can only imagine how much panic this ends up causing out-of-towners.
I wonder if someone accidentally switched the work orders for the 2-mile and 1-mile advance signs?
Another possibility - how long is the distance between the interchange ramps? For cloverleaf interchanges, MassDPW practice in the 1960s and 1970s was to measure the distance from the advance signs to the intersection of highway baselines (usually somewhere within the center of the cloverleaf). Only the last advance sign for the first exit was measured to the gore point of the exit ramp.
:sombrero:
I-19
2 KM
1 KM
500 Meters
:sombrero:
Quote from: roadman on May 09, 2013, 04:43:31 PM
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 09, 2013, 01:43:22 PM
Quote from: Eth on May 08, 2013, 09:00:49 PM
In a similar vein, on westbound I-20 in Georgia just past the Exit 68 offramp there's a 2-mile advance sign (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=I-20+W&daddr=I-20+W&hl=en&ll=33.711582,-84.21609&spn=0.006631,0.012274&sll=33.71322,-84.231899&sspn=0.006631,0.012274&geocode=FQFmAgIdA_X6-g%3BFelvAgIdIqj6-g&t=h&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=17&z=17&layer=c&cbll=33.711582,-84.21609&panoid=oPtqtwGswX96AUK0exAicQ&cbp=12,295.1,,0,-1.18) for Exits 67B-A (I-285, a pretty damn important set of exits). The distance from there to the Exit 67B gore point? 1.1 miles. That's on my daily commute, so I'm used to it being wrong, but I can only imagine how much panic this ends up causing out-of-towners.
I wonder if someone accidentally switched the work orders for the 2-mile and 1-mile advance signs?
Another possibility - how long is the distance between the interchange ramps? For cloverleaf interchanges, MassDPW practice in the 1960s and 1970s was to measure the distance from the advance signs to the intersection of highway baselines (usually somewhere within the center of the cloverleaf). Only the last advance sign for the first exit was measured to the gore point of the exit ramp.
It's 1.4 miles from the sign to the I-285 overpass, and 1.6 miles to the Exit 67A ramp. No matter how you look at it, they goofed.
There used to be a lot of 800 M signs in Canada, vestiges of signs that formerly read "1/2 mile" .
US-400 in Cherokee, Kansas:
Approaching the four-way stop at K-7, there are two "stop ahead" signs (W3-1) westbound, and there are two eastbound as well. They now sport plaques reading 1300 FEET and 550 FEET, appropriately. Both directions use exactly the same figures (I assume they're also at exactly the same distances from the intersection). The only thing I can figure is that they correspond roughly to a quarter-mile and a tenth-mile.
Sadly the Street View image is really low quality, but there's a clearance sign on Reynolda Road in Winston-Salem that says "5/10 mile." Don't they mean "1/2 mile" :eyebrow:
On MA Route 8 North about half a mile south of the center of North Adams, MA, is an orange diamond sign that says "Road narrows 11 feet." i'm sure they mean the lane width narrows to 11-foot lanes, or a pair of zeroes fell off, but either way it's pretty funny.
Oddly specific? Even though 2115 feet is almost precisely 0.4 miles, would anyone be harmed if the sign said 1/2 mile?
https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!q=hale+center&data=!1m7!1m3!1d3!2d-101.843955!3d34.058229!2m1!2f90!4f75!2m4!1e1!2m2!1sSEdn9RTsoU14G8Yqn5iwNQ!2e0!4m10!1m9!4m8!1m3!1d117943!2d-104.9498004!3d39.915687!3m2!1i1730!2i925!4f13.1&fid=5
Quote from: agentsteel53 on May 07, 2013, 06:17:48 PM
Quote from: kphoger on May 07, 2013, 06:04:44 PMPerhaps distances of less than 1/4 mile should just fudge it and say 1/4 mile?
I disagree. I think that distances should always be greater than what is posted.
exit 23 here in San Diego off I-8 is tricky because it has only one advance sign with a distance: 1 mile. the exit is around a fairly sharp right curve with a bluff just inside of it - it really sneaks up on you... and it's 0.85 miles from the sign.
I-295 North in NJ has a 1 1/2 Mile ahead sign for Exit 20. The actual distance is under a mile.
I-295 South in NJ has a 1 Mile ahead sign for Exit 34 (NJ 70). The actual distance is about 3/4 mile.
Approaching Exit 10 (Center Square Rd) in both directions on I-295, there's a SGS for a horse park that states 1 Mile ahead, even though the signs were placed well after the 1 Mile ahead BGS for the exit (which are actually a mile from the exit).
There's several others along the highway that are a bit questionable, but I give it the benefit of the doubt if the distance falls within the decel lane limits (I forget the actual standard where the distance should be measured from/to). The examples above are more extreme though.
The Fairfax County Parkway (VA-286) has a half-mile advance sign for Ox Road (VA-123) that always felt longer than half a mile. The other day I measured it as nine-tenths of a mile.
Having the sign further away is better than having it too close, but having it off by that much is a bit distracting.
I haven't gotten a picture yet, but on OH 16 near I-270 there's a temporary sign that says "ROAD WORK NEXT 4.07 MILES"
Decimal miles always kind of annoy me, but in this case it seems especially silly because you could round down with pretty much no consequence. How many drivers actually have an idea of how long 7/100 of a mile is anyway?
EDIT: Fixed typo
7/100, not 7/1000. (It's about 350 feet.)
Quote from: NE2 on August 11, 2013, 09:08:13 AM
7/100, not 7/1000. (It's about 350 feet.)
Typo on my part. I haven't been to bed yet. :P
Quote from: Central Avenue on August 11, 2013, 09:06:18 AM
I haven't gotten a picture yet, but on OH 16 near I-270 there's a temporary sign that says "ROAD WORK NEXT 4.07 MILES"
Just round up to the nearest mile, and let me feel like I've won the lottery by resuming the speed limit a tad earlier.
For years, Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia, has had a strange string of signs on each side starting with an "S" and going up to a "6." The signs are spaced a distance your odometer won't verify because they're not at tenths of a mile or half-mile or 1 km intervals. I always wondered what they were and assumed maybe they had some sort of bike race purpose or something. Here's a video from last week (click thumbnail to play):
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi31.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fc378%2F1995hoo%2FDashcam%2520videos%2Fth_NumbersonEisenhower_zps102c1d9c.jpg&hash=efb6259efde8f0c55e496f063aeef88e274973a1) (http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c378/1995hoo/Dashcam%20videos/NumbersonEisenhower_zps102c1d9c.mp4)
It turns out they serve a more mundane purpose: They're located every sixth of a mile and they're there for the City of Alexandria's hack inspector to verify that taxi meters are calibrated properly. The hack inspector rides in each cab and watches the meter to verify that it turns over as the cab passes each sign (the per-mile fare is 36¢). For a long time Eisenhower Avenue didn't get much traffic and was a good place for doing this sort of thing. It's a much busier road than it used to be, but the city doesn't really have a better place available.
$0.36 per mile, or per 1/6th? Gas alone costs about half of that for the average car...
Quote from: djsinco on August 15, 2013, 03:09:59 AM
$0.36 per mile, or per 1/6th? Gas alone costs about half of that for the average car...
There's a base initial fare, I think $3.00, and then the per-mile rate is added atop that. You're right, I made a typo: 36¢ per one-sixth of a mile, not 36¢ per mile. That's $2.16 per mile.
PennDOT will sometimes post "Bridge 2112 Feet Ahead" instead of the tenth of a mile equivalent, 0.4 miles. They do this not just with 2112, but with other multiples of 528 feet / 0.1 miles.
Another PennDOT oddity is the segment numbers on non-interstates represent twentieths (1/20) of a mile and reset at county lines. Interstates are tenths and do not reset at county lines. (Looks like US 15 north of Williamsport reflects I-99's future mileage through Lycoming County? It starts somewhere in the 1260 or 1280 range.) I never could figure out why they use twentieths of a mile.
These segment numbers are the ones you see on the bottom of the little white signs, such as:
SR 74
1110
This one's in York County, and it means you're starting the segment that corresponds to mile 55.5 within the county.
Quote from: sbeaver44 on September 24, 2013, 09:09:53 PM
PennDOT will sometimes post "Bridge 2112 Feet Ahead" instead of the tenth of a mile equivalent, 0.4 miles. They do this not just with 2112, but with other multiples of 528 feet / 0.1 miles.
....
You're supposed to rush to that bridge when you see that sign. :bigass:
Quote from: 1995hoo on September 25, 2013, 07:55:46 AM
Quote from: sbeaver44 on September 24, 2013, 09:09:53 PM
PennDOT will sometimes post "Bridge 2112 Feet Ahead" instead of the tenth of a mile equivalent, 0.4 miles. They do this not just with 2112, but with other multiples of 528 feet / 0.1 miles.
....
You're supposed to rush to that bridge when you see that sign. :bigass:
With the Red Star proudly high in hand.
School Zone/Crossing distance signs in Springfield (Delaware County), PA near the intersection of Springfield Road & Norwinden Drive.
115 feet (along Springfield Road)
http://goo.gl/maps/F0TaJ (http://goo.gl/maps/F0TaJ)
45 feet (from opposite direction)
http://goo.gl/maps/2j6uP (http://goo.gl/maps/2j6uP)
180 feet (along Norwinden Drive)
http://goo.gl/maps/XpCI7 (http://goo.gl/maps/XpCI7)
77 feet (opposite direction)
http://goo.gl/maps/7q2za (http://goo.gl/maps/7q2za)
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 25, 2013, 04:26:53 PM
School Zone/Crossing distance signs in Springfield (Delaware County), PA near the intersection of Springfield Road & Norwinden Drive.
115 feet (along Springfield Road)
http://goo.gl/maps/F0TaJ (http://goo.gl/maps/F0TaJ)
45 feet (from opposite direction)
http://goo.gl/maps/2j6uP (http://goo.gl/maps/2j6uP)
180 feet (along Norwinden Drive)
http://goo.gl/maps/XpCI7 (http://goo.gl/maps/XpCI7)
77 feet (opposite direction)
http://goo.gl/maps/7q2za (http://goo.gl/maps/7q2za)
What's with the permanent "DIP" sign on that last one? Did a contractor screw up the grading during a repaving project? I've only seen the orange temporary construction ones. I have seen many screw ups in grading like that at driveways and intersections, but I've never seen them admit they screwed up by simply putting a permanent warning sign like that.
Quote from: mass_citizen on September 25, 2013, 09:52:49 PMWhat's with the permanent "DIP" sign on that last one?
Guess on my part, the
DIP sign is referring to the encountering of the crown of the crossing primary road (Springfield Road) in relation to Norwinden.
Whether this oddity was a paving contractor-related or overall design-related, I do not know.
Quote from: Pete from Boston on June 24, 2013, 06:15:28 AM
On MA Route 8 North about half a mile south of the center of North Adams, MA, is an orange diamond sign that says "Road narrows 11 feet." i'm sure they mean the lane width narrows to 11-foot lanes, or a pair of zeroes fell off, but either way it's pretty funny.
I believe this is the one your referring to:
http://goo.gl/maps/qqoCi
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.staticflickr.com%2F5515%2F9956494945_2e129543b6_z.jpg&hash=b5d5ae0b5b67dd7f61dc29bda2568e0e5e136bfa) Here is one oddity, 2000 feet being used over 1/2 mile.
Quote from: mass_citizen on September 25, 2013, 09:52:49 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on September 25, 2013, 04:26:53 PM
School Zone/Crossing distance signs in Springfield (Delaware County), PA near the intersection of Springfield Road & Norwinden Drive.
115 feet (along Springfield Road)
http://goo.gl/maps/F0TaJ (http://goo.gl/maps/F0TaJ)
45 feet (from opposite direction)
http://goo.gl/maps/2j6uP (http://goo.gl/maps/2j6uP)
180 feet (along Norwinden Drive)
http://goo.gl/maps/XpCI7 (http://goo.gl/maps/XpCI7)
77 feet (opposite direction)
http://goo.gl/maps/7q2za (http://goo.gl/maps/7q2za)
What's with the permanent "DIP" sign on that last one? Did a contractor screw up the grading during a repaving project? I've only seen the orange temporary construction ones. I have seen many screw ups in grading like that at driveways and intersections, but I've never seen them admit they screwed up by simply putting a permanent warning sign like that.
Those are actually not so uncommon in California. Sometimes a road gets a dip and you can't come up with money to dig it completely up and put in 2-3 feet of new subgrade. As long as it's traversable, you live with it.
Bump for this one - 0.72 miles to road (I guess they couldn't post the sign 150 feet before this):
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8282/28900134150_616ba0d5f1_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/L2NK21)
I don't think I've ever seen Florida use decimals to represent distances before - nor anywhere else - unless it was converted from metric.
I-29 north of Missouri Valley/Highway 30 exit a few miles has an exit sign for Modale showing a distance of 1 1/4 miles.
There is a county gravel road overpass either at the 1 mile location or presenting a visual barrier to a sign placed at the 1 mile location.
Considering the smart levels involved in doing things highway related I guess I'm surprised the 1 1/4 mile signage was thought of before they relocated the interfering overpass.
There might be a photo of the sign on this site somewhere, seems like this topic has arisen before.
The I-295/I-76/NJ 42 interchange has a bunch of interesting exit distances.
The first advance sign approaching 295 on 42 North is 1 1/4 miles:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8475086,-75.09524,3a,75y,5.38h,95.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snKE8YRNOgv9DFmyuMmkiXg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
This despite there being a 1 mile sign too, and there being an exit before that one not mentioned on this gantry. Oddly, the latter exit has a single 1/4 mile advance sign:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8579602,-75.0987896,3a,75y,5.38h,95.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sal3CYtjXi34lv16-VkuruQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
I-295 South approaching NJ 42 has 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 mile signs. Here's the last one:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8710918,-75.1021484,3a,75y,171.73h,103.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCrPlLkGDxCqmc8SDEfT0Gg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
I-76 has a 1/8 mile sign for I-295 South as well (in addition to a 1/2 mile sign):
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8729574,-75.1022003,3a,75y,177.21h,79.09t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snB0u3-_xxeKml7qdy55ECw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1
I-295 North has a 500 feet advance sign for the first I-76 exit (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8643798,-75.108139,3a,75y,53.48h,98.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sI_8_Zv2w5vi9pfcUTF4SQQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1) in addition to the normal 1 mile and 1/2 mile signs, and a 1000 feet one for the second I-76 exit (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8687164,-75.1007335,3a,75y,311.88h,83.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sS_KPUnDH7jcWoDUU9pp5qw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e1)
I may have missed some
Quote from: formulanone on August 24, 2016, 10:21:30 AM
I don't think I've ever seen Florida use decimals to represent distances before - nor anywhere else - unless it was converted from metric.
The only decimals that I have seen for Florida are a few Narrow Bridge in .5 miles signs.
I-275 NB to Dale Mary Hwy in Tampa. 2/10 Mile.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Finterstate275florida.com%2Fimages%2FI275Tampa%2FExit41%2FNB%2F02.jpg&hash=94d9beafe15b4ada206b1d1ae0683e0d57514ac3)
This sign is now gone after the recent renovation and expansion of I-275.
This sign in Perth gives you the distances down to the nearest 100m. Also some interesting use of '&' to group exits together:
(https://i.imgur.com/cQ4oxV3.png)
https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.9292879,115.8337854,3a,43.2y,100.82h,89.41t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sTJsnfD7jiGFG0ZTk_tLREw!2e0!5s20140501T000000!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-31.9292879,115.8337854,3a,43.2y,100.82h,89.41t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sTJsnfD7jiGFG0ZTk_tLREw!2e0!5s20140501T000000!7i13312!8i6656)
For some reason, there are several advance height clearance warning signs on US 95 in northwest Las Vegas that are placed at oddly-specific distances.
Examples, via StreetView:
US 95 SB approaching Exit 81 Summerlin Pkwy & Rainbow Blvd (SR 595) - 15'-7" height clearance warning 6,390 feet ahead (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1844446,-115.2446987,3a,75y,169.93h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saRCE5dyjpQpqC6IKStj4xg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
US 95 NB approaching Exit 90A Rancho Dr (SR 599/US 95 Business) - 15'-3" height clearance warning 2,860 feet ahead (https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2462232,-115.2465521,3a,32.3y,18.96h,88.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1srfY0gsHmAvysWmkWy1sBtw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
These are not distances that anybody would easily parse for a driving distance, especially on a freeway. What's even more interesting is that they end up being an awkward number when converted to miles (1.21022727272... or 0.5416666... miles, respectively).
Here is one with 2/3 of a mile to a specific exit in Daytona Beach, FL on I-95.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/32152618792/in/dateposted-public/
https://goo.gl/maps/5DTgV7H2aPM2
Roland, OK 1/2 mile to I-40
1.3 km to Hwy 12 on the 407 WB in Whitby, ON
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fxynu4Gg.jpg&hash=aa862e5ec058ed9ebe8c125ac02a8e344a302301)
And 1.2 km to QC 245 on A-10 EB in Eastman, QC
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.3025163,-72.3341797,3a,30y,137h,95.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdtG1oopJ6C0bj3hlTivaRg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.3025163,-72.3341797,3a,30y,137h,95.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdtG1oopJ6C0bj3hlTivaRg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Grabbed from a link in another topic
(https://i.imgur.com/rCHVvVm.png)