The Worst of Road Signs

[plain]

Come on VDOT, this is just all out lazy



SM-S820L

Was going to give them the benefit of the doubt since the ramp configuration is new with the second exit lane available.  But...GMSV shows a similar EXIT ONLY tab for the original single lane configuration back to at least 2007...

Correct. This was the first time I drove this stretch since the reconstruction and it was instant facepalm when I saw it. Should've replaced it with the appropriate signage.

[jakeroot]

Hmmm....well, the "EXIT ONLY" message is only a warning. This placement is obviously not kosher. Probably not allowed either. But for some reason, I don't hate it.

[WillWeaverRVA]

Come on VDOT, this is just all out lazy



SM-S820L

Was going to give them the benefit of the doubt since the ramp configuration is new with the second exit lane available.  But...GMSV shows a similar EXIT ONLY tab for the original single lane configuration back to at least 2007...

Correct. This was the first time I drove this stretch since the reconstruction and it was instant facepalm when I saw it. Should've replaced it with the appropriate signage.

Is this on US 360?

[plain]

Come on VDOT, this is just all out lazy



SM-S820L

Was going to give them the benefit of the doubt since the ramp configuration is new with the second exit lane available.  But...GMSV shows a similar EXIT ONLY tab for the original single lane configuration back to at least 2007...

Correct. This was the first time I drove this stretch since the reconstruction and it was instant facepalm when I saw it. Should've replaced it with the appropriate signage.

Is this on US 360?

Yes, EB at I-295.

[thspfc]

Honestly, I don't think the exit only sign looks that bad. Weird, different, but authentic.

[Eth]

Someone really let this out of the sign shop:

[hotdogPi]

Someone really let this out of the sign shop:

It looks fine. There's a capitalization error, but it isn't glaringly obvious.

[DaBigE]

Someone really let this out of the sign shop:

It looks fine. There's a capitalization error, but it isn't glaringly obvious.

That, and there should be more of a space between E. and Ponce

[jakeroot]

That isn't worst-of in any respect. Sorry.

[Android]

That isn't worst-of in any respect. Sorry.

I tend to agree.   Yes, about another 4-5 inches of sign would have allowed for Proper Spacing and Capitalization, but really, it's more an aberration than Worst.   

[mrsman]

That isn't worst-of in any respect. Sorry.

I tend to agree.   Yes, about another 4-5 inches of sign would have allowed for Proper Spacing and Capitalization, but really, it's more an aberration than Worst.

We need to remind people about the criteria for this thread:

Post the worst, most ineptly put together pieces of crap in your state. Not just "oh, it's in Clearview", "wrong type of shield", or "it's a bubble shield" or anything like that. We're talking pure, unadulterated suck here. Stuff that makes you wonder what they were thinking. Stuff that should only result from a night of binge drinking at the sign shop. Like this!

There is very little wrong with the Ponce de Leon sign.  most wouldn't notice.

[1995hoo]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

[Scott5114]

Not to mention the horizontally-stretched Series B, like it's an ODOT Special.

[mrsman]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

It is ugly, but it does serve a useful purpose.  But in this day and age, one would think that you could get the same knowledge by posting a website that can be checked by smartphone.  And this would and should also apply for "school days" and any other condition more complicated than a simple day of the week.  Post a website where one can check the schedule, so parking is available for others on other days.

[hotdogPi]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

It is ugly, but it does serve a useful purpose.  But in this day and age, one would think that you could get the same knowledge by posting a website that can be checked by smartphone.  And this would and should also apply for "school days" and any other condition more complicated than a simple day of the week.  Post a website where one can check the schedule, so parking is available for others on other days.

If you post a website, what happens to those who don't have a smartphone or have it at 0% battery?

[1995hoo]

^^^^

A very good point in Southeast DC. The neighborhoods across South Capitol Street from there are poor neighborhoods. I suspect they'll eventually be squeezed out and redeveloped due to skyrocketing property values, especially with the new soccer stadium just west of the ballpark, but that'll take a while.

[roadfro]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

It is ugly, but it does serve a useful purpose.  But in this day and age, one would think that you could get the same knowledge by posting a website that can be checked by smartphone.  And this would and should also apply for "school days" and any other condition more complicated than a simple day of the week.  Post a website where one can check the schedule, so parking is available for others on other days.

If you post a website, what happens to those who don't have a smartphone or have it at 0% battery?

Also worth mentioning that, except for Carpool Info signs, the MUTCD does not permit web addresses on any signs meant to be viewed by drivers. (There is an exception allowed for "occupants of parked vehicles, or drivers of vehicles on low-speed roadways where engineering judgment indicates that an area is available for drivers to stop out of the traffic flow to read the message", but I don't know that this would qualify.)

In any event, I think the dates would need to be present on the sign for the no parking provision to be enforceable.

[mrsman]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

It is ugly, but it does serve a useful purpose.  But in this day and age, one would think that you could get the same knowledge by posting a website that can be checked by smartphone.  And this would and should also apply for "school days" and any other condition more complicated than a simple day of the week.  Post a website where one can check the schedule, so parking is available for others on other days.

If you post a website, what happens to those who don't have a smartphone or have it at 0% battery?

Also worth mentioning that, except for Carpool Info signs, the MUTCD does not permit web addresses on any signs meant to be viewed by drivers. (There is an exception allowed for "occupants of parked vehicles, or drivers of vehicles on low-speed roadways where engineering judgment indicates that an area is available for drivers to stop out of the traffic flow to read the message", but I don't know that this would qualify.)

In any event, I think the dates would need to be present on the sign for the no parking provision to be enforceable.

Would that even be true of parking regulation signs, which really would only be read by slow traffic? 

Stadium area parking is one thing with a fairly limited reach.  But there are many places with school zone parking restrictions.  In my mind it is always questionable as to what days it applies.  Would it include days with student programming without instruction?  Would it include summer school or after school programs?  If you are parked near a private school, would the restriction be enforced on days when the private school is open, but most local public schools are closed (or vice versa)?

Obviously, the safest approach may be to just not park there on any weekday (yet there may even be some places like religious schools with classes on the weekend).l  But when you are dealing with a crowded neighborhood, sometimes the only place one can park is by the school.  And if the school doesn't need the spaces, because school is closed, the spaces should be open to others.  And it would be nice to be pointed to a specific link with the schedule.

[thenetwork]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

Good luck with re-scheduled games within the month...

[jay8g]

Seattle has tons of these sort of "stickered" no parking signs, around the  Husky Stadium and SODO (also with taxi zones) areas. As you can see in that second link, the SODO ones are often left with no dates on them, which seems like it should mean no parking at any time but is actually supposed to mean that no restrictions are in effect. Not the prettiest way of doing things, but I guess it works...

[mrsman]

I was just backing up my phone and found this picture I had taken on September 2 near Nationals Park. I took it intending to post it here and I then forgot about it. I guess this is an effective way to advise people when game days are because it's probably unreasonable to expect everyone who might want to park on the street to be aware of such things, but this is really ugly.

It is ugly, but it does serve a useful purpose.  But in this day and age, one would think that you could get the same knowledge by posting a website that can be checked by smartphone.  And this would and should also apply for "school days" and any other condition more complicated than a simple day of the week.  Post a website where one can check the schedule, so parking is available for others on other days.

If you post a website, what happens to those who don't have a smartphone or have it at 0% battery?

Also worth mentioning that, except for Carpool Info signs, the MUTCD does not permit web addresses on any signs meant to be viewed by drivers. (There is an exception allowed for "occupants of parked vehicles, or drivers of vehicles on low-speed roadways where engineering judgment indicates that an area is available for drivers to stop out of the traffic flow to read the message", but I don't know that this would qualify.)

In any event, I think the dates would need to be present on the sign for the no parking provision to be enforceable.

Would that even be true of parking regulation signs, which really would only be read by slow traffic? 

Stadium area parking is one thing with a fairly limited reach.  But there are many places with school zone parking restrictions.  In my mind it is always questionable as to what days it applies.  Would it include days with student programming without instruction?  Would it include summer school or after school programs?  If you are parked near a private school, would the restriction be enforced on days when the private school is open, but most local public schools are closed (or vice versa)?

Obviously, the safest approach may be to just not park there on any weekday (yet there may even be some places like religious schools with classes on the weekend).l  But when you are dealing with a crowded neighborhood, sometimes the only place one can park is by the school.  And if the school doesn't need the spaces, because school is closed, the spaces should be open to others.  And it would be nice to be pointed to a specific link with the schedule.

I wanted to add the famous Culver City parking sign that was actually in front of a public school.

https://www.lamag.com/driver/see-culver-citys-15-foot-tall-parking-sign/

They have since modified the restrictions a bit to be simpler, but you can see the pains that they took to account for restrictions to allow for many different parking uses. 

Starting from the bottom, you have a parking restriction on weekends to reserve parking for residents and not encourage movie theater patrons from parking here.  Then, on non-school days (outside of the weekend restriction) a 1 hour limit for those who may want to pop into a nearby coffee shop, but otherwise reserved for residents.

On school days, the 1 hour limit on non-residents is only applicable from 4 to 6 PM.  During the day on school days, even residents can't park there, as it is reserved for various school uses.  The school day schedule is quite complicated apparently with different times on Wednesday vs. the other 4 days of the week.  Different school uses to allow for quick parent drop off, student valet services, and employee parking in the middle.  And at the very top a blanket restriction on Tuesdays for 2 hours for street cleaning.

Now this is a busy area with a lot of different uses.  Primary use is of course for the school.  But when school is out of session, they want to also allow for more residential parking and to allow for extra daytime parking for shopping at the businesses, but not to encourage movie theater parking.  If you were coming to do a quick errand at one of the businesses and you see a free open spot over here, should you take it?  (There are meters and a somewhat expensive garage closer to the businesses, but why not take a free spot a block away if you can.)  If you are not from the area, you may have no idea what the school schedule is, but if there were an easy way to figure it out (by checking on your smartphone), then do it.

Football parking is far easier to do what was posted above like in Seattle.  Near an NFL stadium, unless the team makes it to the playoffs, there are only 8 home games a year.  (And apparently, the Huskies only played 7 home games by its sign.)  Those are far easier to simply list the individual dates when the restriction applies.  I could also see something like this for monthly street sweeping restrictions, just list 12 dates when you can't park.

[kphoger]

But in this day and age, one would think that you could get the same knowledge by posting a website that can be checked by smartphone.  And this would and should also apply for "school days" and any other condition more complicated than a simple day of the week.  Post a website where one can check the schedule, so parking is available for others on other days.

So...  You advocate requiring people to use their cell phone while driving, for something other than a phone call?  You can't possibly be advocating that they park first, because they don't even know yet if it's legal to park there.

[Scott5114]

It's 2019–why not have a small LED VMS that displays the P-with-a-no-sign or P-in-green-circle along with "Until 9 pm" or something like that?

[jakeroot]

It's 2019–why not have a small LED VMS that displays the P-with-a-no-sign or P-in-green-circle along with "Until 9 pm" or something like that?

Hell, you could just do a countdown timer. When the timer hits zero, no-parking restrictions are in-effect, with an accompanying timer to let people know when restrictions are lifted.

I'm sure signs like this have been considered, but have not been installed as they may not be legally enforceable.

[Bruce]

Re-aligned lanes (for shoulder construction of light rail) means we're stuck with this thing for a few years.