The Worst of Road Signs

[StogieGuy7]

The 417, (and 416, for that matter), have a lot of odd signage.  It is only along those highways where the county road shield would be placed below the roads proper name, as it is in your photo.  Further, there are numerous ground mounted advanced signs that lack the distance to the exit.  Such as this:

Yes, you see this quite a bit when you are in areas of Ontario where English and French are both commonly in use as far as street names are concerned.  I never had a problem with that because they're trying to do the bilingual thing in a venue that permits only a limited space.

However, the lack of a marked distance to the exit and the diminutive size of the cities/communities below the street name do make this a candidate for the "worst" list.  It's too busy and sloppy - visually speaking.  The Ministry can do better.

[agentsteel53]

with regard to Roger Stevens, I'm gonna weigh in and say that the "Prom."/"Dr." is ugly.  I can understand bilingualism, which is why I'd name half the roads Drive and half Promenade.  same with Avenue as a prefix/suffix; split the list in half and be done with it.

[thenetwork]

When I see that "Prom." Roger Stevens Dr., I think the "Prom." is some sort of Military class in the Canadian Armed Services (Or the Mounties).

[Jim]

This discussion reminds me of "Pont Champlain Bridge" signs in Montreal.  Despite my high school French, I admit I first read it as a bridge named "Pont Champlain".

[cpzilliacus]

When I see that "Prom." Roger Stevens Dr., I think the "Prom." is some sort of Military class in the Canadian Armed Services (Or the Mounties).

You might be interested to know that there is a "Prom." right here in the United States of America.  In the national capital, I might add, and not especially far from the Capitol dome.  It's called L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., and runs between Independence Avenue and L'Enfant Plaza.

[Central Avenue]

with regard to Roger Stevens, I'm gonna weigh in and say that the "Prom."/"Dr." is ugly.  I can understand bilingualism, which is why I'd name half the roads Drive and half Promenade.  same with Avenue as a prefix/suffix; split the list in half and be done with it.

Cue petty arguing over which streets should get the French prefix and which should get the English suffix.

(You know it would happen.)

[vtk]

Southern California seems to get along just fine with its Foo Avenues and Avenida Bars.

Then again, I didn't stay long enough to notice if the locals were bickering about it.

[myosh_tino]

Southern California seems to get along just fine with its Foo Avenues and Avenida Bars.

Then again, I didn't stay long enough to notice if the locals were bickering about it.

No bickering because those are the actual street names.  For example, Avenida Encinas is the street's official name.  That street is NOT also known as Encinas Avenue.  Likewise, Tamarack Avenue is NOT known as Avenida Tamarack!

[Scott5114]

Simplest solution: Pull a Wichita and drop the generics altogether.

[kurumi]

Stumbled across this grotesque CT 100 sign in Doug Kerr's photo collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/6540858469/in/set-72157622905699017/

(If you haven't visited Doug's Flickr account, go check it out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougtone/. 482,000 photos and counting.)

[Alps]

Simplest solution: Pull a Wichita and drop the generics altogether.

Ottawa used to work that way. "Rue" and "St" were added in the blank space on either side of the street name recently.

[vtk]

Southern California seems to get along just fine with its Foo Avenues and Avenida Bars.

Then again, I didn't stay long enough to notice if the locals were bickering about it.

No bickering because those are the actual street names.  For example, Avenida Encinas is the street's official name.  That street is NOT also known as Encinas Avenue.  Likewise, Tamarack Avenue is NOT known as Avenida Tamarack!

And that's exactly what I'm proposing for Canada.  Every street gets either an English suffix or a French prefix, not both.  Not a matter of signage but of actual street names.

[AsphaltPlanet]

This elephantiasis fonts are common in northwestern Ontario:

[hbelkins]

Can it get any worse than this?



Thread over. I win. 

[Takumi]

What's the other blade say? Viatology Lane?

[Central Avenue]

End-of-year fugly arrow special!

[Takumi]

I actually like that first one.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Can it get any worse than this?



Thread over. I win. 

There needs to be an anti-viatology roadmeet there.

[hbelkins]

Top blade says Clay County Highway. This is on TN 52 at Moss, not too far from the Kentucky state line.

http://goo.gl/maps/b30P6

[kinupanda]

Can it get any worse than this?



Thread over. I win. 

A picture doesn't do this sign justice. It almost begs for a long low-quality video with a monotone voiceover that's obscured by lots of background noise.

[Alps]

Can it get any worse than this?



Thread over. I win. 

A picture doesn't do this sign justice. It almost begs for a long low-quality video with a monotone voiceover that's obscured by lots of background noise.

I question your use of the word "almost." I do not think it means what you think it means.
In other news, who is making said video this weekend?

[hbelkins]

There needs to be an anti-viatology roadmeet there.

I think there is a little dairy bar-type eating establishment nearby.

[Brian556]

Denton, TX

[Brandon]

^^ Even better than just the severely undersized "DO NOT ENTER" sign is the two vehicles facing the wrong way on the alley.

[Alex]

I-95 south in N.C. - not sure what the font is used on the exit tab, but it certainly is not standard!



Oozed our way out of the Concord Mall parking lot to U.S. 202 in Delaware while viewing this sign. Not sure if I hate it, but its certainly not a conventional shape.