Big Blue Service Signs (with Logos) -- Endangered Species???

[kphoger]

I hope those signs aren't going away anytime soon. I use them when I'm driving past different places where I'm not familiar with the services at the exits. I don't have any interest in relying on a GPS, so it's kinda handy to have those signs in place. Like others have said, though, I hope the sign contractors don't raise the prices too high that the merchants don't want to be listed on the signs.

I also use them as a guide to know how good the bathrooms are going to be.  If there's an exit in the middle of nowhere with only one gas station logo, and no food or lodging or anything else, then I know to be wary of that gas station's bathroom (hello, Pattonsburg, Missouri).  On the other hand, if there's an exit in the middle of nowhere with three gas station logos, one of which says "24 hours/Diesel", and a handful of fast food chains, then I know competition is going to keep them vying for people's loyalty.

I remember a time when we were running low on gas in either northern Iowa or southern Minnesota on I-35, heading north.  I think we might have forgotten to fill up at our last stop.  We had a newborn in the car, and had been driving for more than 500 miles, so our patience was running a little thin at the time.  There was a blue service sign that just said FUEL, and nothing else on it (maybe FOOD too, I don't remember).  So we took that exit, turned east, drove a mile or so into town, then couldn't find anything except what looked like a gas station that hadn't been open in years.  So, great! we'd wasted even more gas!  Fortunately we were able to make it to the next town up the road without getting all the way to empty.

We had a similar experience on our honeymoon in Nayarit.  We were in a rental car, and I didn't have a good feel for how far you could go on a tank of gas.  It was starting to get down around a quarter tank, and the road we were on had very few services.  This was highway 15(D), somewhere between Chapalilla and Tequila.  There was a green sign for gas (a white pump on a green background, or whatever), so we got off the highway, then poked around town for a while, and only found an ancient Pemex that looked like it hadn't been open in a few years.  Fortunately, we were able to make it to Tequila before hitting empty.  Of course, with Google Maps as good as it is now (it was terrible for México in those days), I now see there's a new-looking Pemex on the west end of town (assuming it was Ixtlán del Río, which I think it was).

All that is to say, I would really appreciate signs saying "1.5 miles" or "a 2 km" or whatever–if not on the mainline BBSS, then at least at the end of the off-ramp, before I waste more gas.  And, yes, I like the logos, even though my wife has a smartphone.

[jeffandnicole]

I hope those signs aren't going away anytime soon. I use them when I'm driving past different places where I'm not familiar with the services at the exits. I don't have any interest in relying on a GPS, so it's kinda handy to have those signs in place. Like others have said, though, I hope the sign contractors don't raise the prices too high that the merchants don't want to be listed on the signs.

I also use them as a guide to know how good the bathrooms are going to be.  If there's an exit in the middle of nowhere with only one gas station logo, and no food or lodging or anything else, then I know to be wary of that gas station's bathroom (hello, Pattonsburg, Missouri).  On the other hand, if there's an exit in the middle of nowhere with three gas station logos, one of which says "24 hours/Diesel", and a handful of fast food chains, then I know competition is going to keep them vying for people's loyalty.

I remember a time when we were running low on gas in either northern Iowa or southern Minnesota on I-35, heading north.  I think we might have forgotten to fill up at our last stop.  We had a newborn in the car, and had been driving for more than 500 miles, so our patience was running a little thin at the time.  There was a blue service sign that just said FUEL, and nothing else on it (maybe FOOD too, I don't remember).  So we took that exit, turned east, drove a mile or so into town, then couldn't find anything except what looked like a gas station that hadn't been open in years.  So, great! we'd wasted even more gas!  Fortunately we were able to make it to the next town up the road without getting all the way to empty.

We had a similar experience on our honeymoon in Nayarit.  We were in a rental car, and I didn't have a good feel for how far you could go on a tank of gas.  It was starting to get down around a quarter tank, and the road we were on had very few services.  This was highway 15(D), somewhere between Chapalilla and Tequila.  There was a green sign for gas (a white pump on a green background, or whatever), so we got off the highway, then poked around town for a while, and only found an ancient Pemex that looked like it hadn't been open in a few years.  Fortunately, we were able to make it to Tequila before hitting empty.  Of course, with Google Maps as good as it is now (it was terrible for México in those days), I now see there's a new-looking Pemex on the west end of town (assuming it was Ixtlán del Río, which I think it was).

All that is to say, I would really appreciate signs saying "1.5 miles" or "a 2 km" or whatever—if not on the mainline BBSS, then at least at the end of the off-ramp, before I waste more gas.  And, yes, I like the logos, even though my wife has a smartphone.

Heck with gas stations and restaurants.  If all I need is a bathroom, I'm looking for signs that say 'Hilton' or 'Marriott'.

[agentsteel53]

if I need a bathroom, I'm looking for somewhere with low traffic! 

[kphoger]

if I need a bathroom, I'm looking for somewhere with low traffic! 

Well, shall I assume that might depend somewhat on what type of "break" you need to take?  Explod-A-Poop doesn't go over so well at an on-ramp berm....

[roadman]

The logo signs are fine, but I would like to see the text replaced with the symbol for food, fuel, lodging, or the pharmacies.

Use of symbols instead of text on general service signs is permitted by the MUTCD, and I'm aware of several states that use this option.  New Hampshire, which provides LOGO signs only on exit ramps, and not on the mainline, places the symbol plates for the interchange underneath the first advance BGS for the exit, instead of using a separate blue panel sign.

Clarification to the above - Earlier today (Friday 2/15), I was on the newly widened section of I-93 NB in New Hampshire between Exits 1 and 2, and noted a new separate BBS for Exit 2 that has the "generic" service LOGOS per the MUTCD D9-18 design, except that "EXIT 2" was incorporated into the panel instead of being on a separate tab.  It will be interesting to see if this becomes the standard design in New Hampshire.

[elsmere241]

Delaware uses these signs rather hit-and miss.  I wish there were more consistency there.  Right now the sign for Exit 4B on I-95 northbound has been moved to Exit 3B with "follow detour" because the 4B ramp is closed as part of the flyover ramp construction.

One story comes to mind with them, though: Several years ago I was going north on I-295 somewhere northeast of Richmond and I saw a blue sign for a McDonald's.  I wound up getting routed two or three miles to the southwest (with a turn or two along the way) to get to it.  I wonder why the sign was on that exit for traffic going north.

[roadman65]

Delaware uses these signs rather hit-and miss.  I wish there were more consistency there.  Right now the sign for Exit 4B on I-95 northbound has been moved to Exit 3B with "follow detour" because the 4B ramp is closed as part of the flyover ramp construction.

One story comes to mind with them, though: Several years ago I was going north on I-295 somewhere northeast of Richmond and I saw a blue sign for a McDonald's.  I wound up getting routed two or three miles to the southwest (with a turn or two along the way) to get to it.  I wonder why the sign was on that exit for traffic going north.

I have seen some places (or one for sure) that had two exits that had restaurants listed, and both of services were almost at the same location.

Then in NYS you once had the Newburgh Holiday Inn listed at Exit 6 (NY 17K) from both directions on I-84.  The thing is that if you are (or were) traveling WB on I-84, it would be easier to exit at NY 300 and go south to NY 17K and then west to the hotel.  This may be done for at times it is easier to direct someone in a straight line than many turns despite the route with the turns is shorter and faster.  Now it sounds like in your case it was not convenient as far as travel, but maybe it was.

Even in Wildwood, FL Russel Stover's Candies has an outlet located on FL 44 just west of US 301.  The billboards on the Florida Turnpike NB before the US 301 exit, tell motorists to continue to I-75 SR 44 exit and head east just to avoid adding the extra left turn off of US 301 in the directions.  The Russel Stover Store might be a few miles east of I-75 where its just around the corner from the FL TPK/ US 301 interchange.  Now this maybe private and not road agency doing, but I am sure the same idea may apply at some locations with the DOT's.

[Bud8Amp88]

The closest thing Nova Scotia has to BBSS's is what I'll call a BBFS (Big Blue Food Sign), which is used near interchanges that have several (usually 6) restaurants nearby. These are actually relatively new around here - I can only remember them being around for 10 years or so.

Example: NS-101, Exit 14

Otherwise, our service signs look like this.

[theline]

Otherwise, our service signs look like this.

I've deciphered most of them, but you've got to help me with the right-most one in the middle row (grocery?), as well as the first and third on the bottom row.

[NE2]

Bottom: storage, theater, winery?

[Mamba205]

While driving recently on the Interstate, and noticing that one of the Big Blue Service Signs (BBSS) was lacking a couple of familiar gas station logos on the sign for available gas stations at the next exit, the following musing came into my mind:

With the combination of most newer vehicles having build in GPS maps (including a somewhat accurate listing of services), portable GPS systems in older cars and/or smartphones with GPS or service-finding applications (gasbuddy.com,...), is the BBSS days in their senior years?  Is the BBSS craze over?  Are these contractors starting to see sales slide due to improved technology and more tech-savvy drivers?

Judging by the fact that I am starting to see more and more once-full BBSS having more and more vacancies, I start to wonder if businesses don't need/want to pay these BBSS contractors anymore to display their logo if they know more and more drivers are relying more on in-car or smart phone technology to find their businesses -- especially in areas where the contractor will place a directional/distance sign on the off-ramp, but not provide any other directional signs if & when needed.

Discuss.

I would miss them. Signs are decorations for highways. One thing I miss that IDOT removed from I-270 are the blue signs that said "CALL BOX" placed every half mile. They're becoming less common everywhere because of cell phones.

[Bud8Amp88]

Otherwise, our service signs look like this.

I've deciphered most of them, but you've got to help me with the right-most one in the middle row (grocery?), as well as the first and third on the bottom row.

Pretty sure this is what they are:

Top: Gas, Restaurant, Hotel/Motel, Campground
Middle: Picnic Area/Park, Phones, Visitor Information Centre, Farm/U-Pick Area
Bottom: Heritage Site, Theater, Winery

[vdeane]

The logo signs are fine, but I would like to see the text replaced with the symbol for food, fuel, lodging, or the pharmacies.

Use of symbols instead of text on general service signs is permitted by the MUTCD, and I'm aware of several states that use this option.  New Hampshire, which provides LOGO signs only on exit ramps, and not on the mainline, places the symbol plates for the interchange underneath the first advance BGS for the exit, instead of using a separate blue panel sign.

NYSTA uses the symbols for food and fuel on a single sign without logos before exits that have them.  They also have big blue signs for Attractions, Camping, and Lodging (the only place I've seen the first two have signs).

While driving recently on the Interstate, and noticing that one of the Big Blue Service Signs (BBSS) was lacking a couple of familiar gas station logos on the sign for available gas stations at the next exit, the following musing came into my mind:

With the combination of most newer vehicles having build in GPS maps (including a somewhat accurate listing of services), portable GPS systems in older cars and/or smartphones with GPS or service-finding applications (gasbuddy.com,...), is the BBSS days in their senior years?  Is the BBSS craze over?  Are these contractors starting to see sales slide due to improved technology and more tech-savvy drivers?

Judging by the fact that I am starting to see more and more once-full BBSS having more and more vacancies, I start to wonder if businesses don't need/want to pay these BBSS contractors anymore to display their logo if they know more and more drivers are relying more on in-car or smart phone technology to find their businesses -- especially in areas where the contractor will place a directional/distance sign on the off-ramp, but not provide any other directional signs if & when needed.

Discuss.

I would miss them. Signs are decorations for highways. One thing I miss that IDOT removed from I-270 are the blue signs that said "CALL BOX" placed every half mile. They're becoming less common everywhere because of cell phones.

I-87 on the Adirondack Northway still has them!

[Mamba205]

The logo signs are fine, but I would like to see the text replaced with the symbol for food, fuel, lodging, or the pharmacies.

Use of symbols instead of text on general service signs is permitted by the MUTCD, and I'm aware of several states that use this option.  New Hampshire, which provides LOGO signs only on exit ramps, and not on the mainline, places the symbol plates for the interchange underneath the first advance BGS for the exit, instead of using a separate blue panel sign.

NYSTA uses the symbols for food and fuel on a single sign without logos before exits that have them.  They also have big blue signs for Attractions, Camping, and Lodging (the only place I've seen the first two have signs).

While driving recently on the Interstate, and noticing that one of the Big Blue Service Signs (BBSS) was lacking a couple of familiar gas station logos on the sign for available gas stations at the next exit, the following musing came into my mind:

With the combination of most newer vehicles having build in GPS maps (including a somewhat accurate listing of services), portable GPS systems in older cars and/or smartphones with GPS or service-finding applications (gasbuddy.com,...), is the BBSS days in their senior years?  Is the BBSS craze over?  Are these contractors starting to see sales slide due to improved technology and more tech-savvy drivers?

Judging by the fact that I am starting to see more and more once-full BBSS having more and more vacancies, I start to wonder if businesses don't need/want to pay these BBSS contractors anymore to display their logo if they know more and more drivers are relying more on in-car or smart phone technology to find their businesses -- especially in areas where the contractor will place a directional/distance sign on the off-ramp, but not provide any other directional signs if & when needed.

Discuss.

I would miss them. Signs are decorations for highways. One thing I miss that IDOT removed from I-270 are the blue signs that said "CALL BOX" placed every half mile. They're becoming less common everywhere because of cell phones.

I-87 on the Adirondack Northway still has them!

Just imagine a disabled driver without a cell phone. If someone doesn't pull over to help them, the person will be stuck! With the call boxes, the disabled person could at least manage to travel 1/4 mile to the nearest call box and press the button to signal for help. I do understand, however, call boxes do cost quite a bit of money.

[agentsteel53]

If someone doesn't pull over to help them, the person will be stuck!

in all my experience of needing help and having no cell phone signal - it's taken me a total of maybe 10-15 minutes to flag someone down.  that's summed over six or seven such experiences.

not exactly a problem.

[Mamba205]

If someone doesn't pull over to help them, the person will be stuck!

in all my experience of needing help and having no cell phone signal - it's taken me a total of maybe 10-15 minutes to flag someone down.  that's summed over six or seven such experiences.

not exactly a problem.

Oh. Well, it could be a problem. It could be the middle of the night, with no one else on the road, and 20 degrees below zero. And whoever does drive by might be texting on their phone, ignorant to the stranded motorist.

[agentsteel53]

It could be the middle of the night, with no one else on the road, and 20 degrees below zero.

been there, done that.  no more than three minutes.

the kinds of roads that don't have regular traffic are also likely to be the kinds of roads that don't have regular callboxes.

such a pessimist in our midst! 

[Mamba205]

It could be the middle of the night, with no one else on the road, and 20 degrees below zero.

been there, done that.  no more than three minutes.

the kinds of roads that don't have regular traffic are also likely to be the kinds of roads that don't have regular callboxes.

such a pessimist in our midst! 

I try to be optimistic. They could at least keep the signs up, but make them nonfunctional.

[jeffandnicole]

If someone doesn't pull over to help them, the person will be stuck!

in all my experience of needing help and having no cell phone signal - it's taken me a total of maybe 10-15 minutes to flag someone down.  that's summed over six or seven such experiences.

not exactly a problem.

Oh. Well, it could be a problem. It could be the middle of the night, with no one else on the road, and 20 degrees below zero. And whoever does drive by might be texting on their phone, ignorant to the stranded motorist.

You mean, like the zillion miles of non-interstate 2 lane roadways without houses or businesses for miles on end that have never had call boxes to begin with?

[Mamba205]

If someone doesn't pull over to help them, the person will be stuck!

in all my experience of needing help and having no cell phone signal - it's taken me a total of maybe 10-15 minutes to flag someone down.  that's summed over six or seven such experiences.

not exactly a problem.

Oh. Well, it could be a problem. It could be the middle of the night, with no one else on the road, and 20 degrees below zero. And whoever does drive by might be texting on their phone, ignorant to the stranded motorist.

You mean, like the zillion miles of non-interstate 2 lane roadways without houses or businesses for miles on end that have never had call boxes to begin with?

I'm just saying, it could happen.

[vdeane]

Just imagine a disabled driver without a cell phone. If someone doesn't pull over to help them, the person will be stuck! With the call boxes, the disabled person could at least manage to travel 1/4 mile to the nearest call box and press the button to signal for help. I do understand, however, call boxes do cost quite a bit of money.

On the Northway, it doesn't matter if you have a cell phone on you.  Might as well bring a fancy paperweight for all the good it will do in Essex County.

[Laura]

Ha, was just talking to Mike about this yesterday. BBSSs have always annoyed me because I find them grossly inaccurate and no better than billboards. At least billboards will tell me to take exit A and make a left at the traffic light. I welcome apps that actually tell me what is at each exit and give me maps/directions for where they are! I have an iPhone 4 and use iExit and RoadAhead. Then again, I also like how the apps put all of the businesses on a level playing field, so if I wanted to find a Starbucks or a local diner, for instance, rather than McDonald's, I can easily do so.

That said, I think that BBSSs can be useful and that they shouldn't go away. Single travellers and travelers without smart phones or in cell phone dead zones shouldn't be penalized. In a pinch, most of the time they are accurate enough. I just wish they had them on all limited access highways, including beltways. I always hate how they assume since you are near a city that you won't need one. Those are the times when I need them the most! I live in Baltimore and can say which exits are fast food meccas and which are primarily industrial and which are mostly residential, but as a traveller, I wouldn't know the difference.

[jeffandnicole]

Just noticed (reminded of) this today.  Approaching Exit 17 on 295 South, there's the standard BBGS http://goo.gl/maps/wub0n - a Motel 6 and a Shoprite are the Hotel/Food offerings.  There's obvious room for more restaurants - probably included a BK at one point that's off the interchange but they must not have renewed their agreement.

Then about 500 feet past that sign, before the exit, one of these has survived: http://goo.gl/maps/sfbG6 - An old-school generic BGS.  However, the only gas station in the vicinity of the interchange is no longer there, and I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find a payphone somewhere!

[ce929wax]

Indiana and Michigan still use the generic BBS at most exits as well as LOGO signs.

[Billy F 1988]

Montana continues using the BBS service signs with the logos at some of the major control points along I-90, 15 and 94.