The Worst of Road Signs

[bulkyorled]

I'm assuming the ugly is the Exit Only tab? It doesnt look right somehow...

[kphoger]

Yes, the arrow is funny-looking, but I think the sign looks decent enough overall.   

[KEK Inc.]

They used the down-arrow instead of a standard arrow. 

[myosh_tino]

They used the down-arrow instead of a standard arrow. 

...and it might be one of the first instances where Caltrans used a black-on-yellow slanted up arrow on an EXIT ONLY panel.  Too bad they used a down-arrow instead of a regular arrow.

[Central Avenue]

Stretching the definition of "sign" a little bit, but...



I've never been fond of this sort of dot-matrix style pedestrian signal. It looks like an unfinished connect-the-dots puzzle or something...I much prefer the signals with solid indications.

[vtk]

Yeah, the gaps between the fingers, or between the arms and torso, are kind of hard to make out when there's just as much a gap between LEDs in the "solid" area.

Also, it looks like each half could display either icon, so why two separate sections?

[Scott5114]

I think it's so you can notice the "jump" from one to another when it changes...the same reason the dual-color green-yellow arrows have been banned.

Maybe it's cheaper to fabricate just one hand/guy combo and put two in each signal somehow?

[thenetwork]

I think it's so you can notice the "jump" from one to another when it changes...the same reason the dual-color green-yellow arrows have been banned.

Maybe it's cheaper to fabricate just one hand/guy combo and put two in each signal somehow?

I recall hearing some comedian saying that the hand/guy combos are "...some of the most controversial traffic devices in the country"  he said that "Do people in the minority neighborhoods and around Indian reservations really like seeing those signals on their street corners???...No wonder why the crosswalk signs tend to 'not functioning properly' the most in those areas..."

[Central Avenue]

Also, it looks like each half could display either icon, so why two separate sections?

I noticed that too.

I might try to go and get a sharper picture of it, but the fact that the unlit walk icon is more visible and distinct than the hand icon on that half makes me wonder if perhaps each side is made to accommodate both icons, but only has the LEDs installed to display one.

[Scott5114]

I think it's so you can notice the "jump" from one to another when it changes...the same reason the dual-color green-yellow arrows have been banned.

Maybe it's cheaper to fabricate just one hand/guy combo and put two in each signal somehow?

I recall hearing some comedian saying that the hand/guy combos are "...some of the most controversial traffic devices in the country"  he said that "Do people in the minority neighborhoods and around Indian reservations really like seeing those signals on their street corners???...No wonder why the crosswalk signs tend to 'not functioning properly' the most in those areas..."

I have to admit, I don't understand the joke here.

[Brandon]

I think it's so you can notice the "jump" from one to another when it changes...the same reason the dual-color green-yellow arrows have been banned.

Maybe it's cheaper to fabricate just one hand/guy combo and put two in each signal somehow?

I recall hearing some comedian saying that the hand/guy combos are "...some of the most controversial traffic devices in the country"  he said that "Do people in the minority neighborhoods and around Indian reservations really like seeing those signals on their street corners???...No wonder why the crosswalk signs tend to 'not functioning properly' the most in those areas..."

I have to admit, I don't understand the joke here.

The figure walking is usually "white", and the hand is "red".

[Scott5114]

Ah. For some reason I always perceive the walk indication as a very washed out green, so...

[Duke87]

Hmm. I've always seen the hand as orange.

[Kacie Jane]

Ah. For some reason I always perceive the walk indication as a very washed out green, so...

Regardless of how orange or white they actually look, I've always assumed they were supposed to be red and green... you know, to match the vehicular signals.

[yakra]

I interpret the ones around here as pale blue.

[Sanctimoniously]

Not really a sign, but clearly NJDOT had to pull something out of their. . .somewhere.



(From coverage of Hurricane Irene last year. . .why do I always miss the eventful hurricane seasons?)

[Alps]

Not really a sign, but clearly NJDOT had to pull something out of their. . .somewhere.



(From coverage of Hurricane Irene last year. . .why do I always miss the eventful hurricane seasons?)

I'll bet you cash money that wasn't NJDOT.

[Sanctimoniously]

You may be right. I just thought it was a little amusing and somewhat worthy of inclusion.

[Central Avenue]

I love how they felt the need to specify "due to flooding", as if it weren't obvious.

[Takumi]

That and the singular word "roadclose"

[Alps]

You may be right. I just thought it was a little amusing and somewhat worthy of inclusion.

Certainly, but this is what happens when local police have to scramble for something they're not typically equipped for. Then again, they could have remembered the "D".

[signalman]

I'm going to assume that they ran out of Ds.  Either that, or it was a preparation sign...Roadclose (to flooding)  That's the best that I can come up with

[kphoger]

No, no, the road used to be far away, and rather permanent.  Now, due to flooding, a section of the roadway has come free and is dangerously close to the highway.  Proceed with caution, as it might float even closer at any moment.

Don't ask me how it's floating.

[Duke87]

Don't ask me how it's floating.

Why, it's a pontoon bridge, of course.

[CentralCAroadgeek]

I don't like how the two signs to the right have the whole name cramped into one line. With lots of empty green space, why would you do this? I hope someone can whip up what they would draw the signs on this gantry, this is just horrific. It is a pretty nice gantry though.