The Worst of Road Signs

[iBallasticwolf2]

"Previous" refers to the one posted two weeks ago with "kilpatricK", not the correct one before that.

At least the previous sign wasn't the "Killpatrick" Turnpike. There would be too many interpretations on which Patrick it was referring to that should be killed (none, it would just be a typo).

However, maybe we should call the previous sign Patrick.

The Patrick Turnpike?

The Patrick Star Turnpike? 

[noelbotevera]

"Previous" refers to the one posted two weeks ago with "kilpatricK", not the correct one before that.

At least the previous sign wasn't the "Killpatrick" Turnpike. There would be too many interpretations on which Patrick it was referring to that should be killed (none, it would just be a typo).

However, maybe we should call the previous sign Patrick.

The Patrick Turnpike?

The Patrick Star Turnpike? 

But what if people try to call OTA? Will they ask where is the Chum Bucket is and how will executives collect their hats like weenies?

Now that I think about it, patch it with this:




Patch the words with that image and the turnpike shield, and everyone is happy!

[iBallasticwolf2]

"Previous" refers to the one posted two weeks ago with "kilpatricK", not the correct one before that.

At least the previous sign wasn't the "Killpatrick" Turnpike. There would be too many interpretations on which Patrick it was referring to that should be killed (none, it would just be a typo).

However, maybe we should call the previous sign Patrick.

The Patrick Turnpike?

The Patrick Star Turnpike? 

But what if people try to call OTA? Will they ask where is the Chum Bucket is and how will executives collect their hats like weenies?

Now that I think about it, patch it with this:




Patch the words with that image and the turnpike shield, and everyone is happy!

Here comes the Spongebob bridge.

[odditude]

yadda yadda Spongebob

it's the "Kill Patrick" Turnpike. i leave the appropriate image as an exercise to OP, but i'm expecting it to be slightly grayer, with droopier limbs and possibly a blood trickle from the mouth.

[thenetwork]

yadda yadda Spongebob

it's the "Kill Patrick" Turnpike. i leave the appropriate image as an exercise to OP, but i'm expecting it to be slightly grayer, with droopier limbs and possibly a blood trickle from the mouth.

[SignGeek101]

Courtesy of "smalleypox" on Reddit:



Page here: http://www.reddit.com/r/typography/comments/1sa8np/my_town_has_an_ugly_mix_of_highway_gothic_and/

Not as bad as "CraIG county" but still terrible. I don't even know how someone does that. The first letter of each word is much larger, and in a completely different font than the main text (Arial).

[Rothman]

There were actually BGSes that had a very similar problem on I-87 at Exits 6/7 (when the exit only lane was added from Exit 5).  NYSDOT replaced the signs shortly after they were installed because of the font issue.

Makes me wonder if it's a common software glitch -- some sort of font incompatibility issue where the software shows the proper font but gets printed out in some default atrocity.

[machias]

There were actually BGSes that had a very similar problem on I-87 at Exits 6/7 (when the exit only lane was added from Exit 5).  NYSDOT replaced the signs shortly after they were installed because of the font issue.

Makes me wonder if it's a common software glitch -- some sort of font incompatibility issue where the software shows the proper font but gets printed out in some default atrocity.

I think whomever is reading the plans for the sign is misinterpreting the letter sizing as a font size.  Plans often state the size of the upper and lowercase letters, for example "Lindale" could show as 20" E(m) with the lowercase letters marked as 15" (because the height of the i,n,a,e would be 15-inches) and this in turn gets translated to "L" in 20" E(m) and the rest of the word in 15" E(m).

Basically the user is treating the sign design software as Microsoft Publisher instead of the CAD program it's suppose to be.

[KEK Inc.]

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.39168,-121.489995,3a,43.3y,121.94h,85.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snwHJgiLbWHLQ1dKtQR6pyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[SignGeek101]

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.39168,-121.489995,3a,43.3y,121.94h,85.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snwHJgiLbWHLQ1dKtQR6pyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

Is it the Helvetica use or the top sign not being centred? I don't like Helvetica, but it's not that bad to me.

[KEK Inc.]

For starters the shield isn't right.


iPhone

[ekt8750]

It still says Porkway 

Oh nice my ex-girlfriend has a class of road named after her. 


Anywho here are a couple more DRPA specials.

This one sticks out like a sore thumb since NJDOT let them mount it on their gantry:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.803081,-75.344965,3a,19.8y,264.62h,94.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s9yGp56GoznNp33CXORNRsQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

More Helvetica signs at the foot of the Walt and some wonky shields to go with it:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.901384,-75.112095,3a,26.4y,128.9h,94.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNX_fH7sP9Vw4Cpskw_qEHQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Does that 130 shield have Series A numerals?

[odditude]

More Helvetica signs at the foot of the Walt and some wonky shields to go with it:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.901384,-75.112095,3a,26.4y,128.9h,94.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNX_fH7sP9Vw4Cpskw_qEHQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Does that 130 shield have Series A numerals?

this is on 130 SB near the base of the Commodore Barry Bridge, not the Walt Whitman. the numerals on the 130 shield are Series C like on the center 322 shield, just with greater spacing between. the 322 shield on the right is Series D.

[PHLBOS]

Does that 130 shield have Series A numerals?

No, just Series B needlessly scrunched together.

[Kacie Jane]

this is on 130 SB near the base of the Commodore Barry Bridge, not the Walt Whitman. the numerals on the 130 shield are Series C like on the center 322 shield, just with greater spacing between. the 322 shield on the right is Series D.

You quoted the wrong link.  Ekt's first link is by the Commodore Barry and from left to right has 130 in C oddly spaced, 322 in C, and 322 in D.  Their second link is correctly identified as being by the Walt Whitman, and PHLBOS is correct that the 130 is Series B, not A.  I don't think it's needlessly "scrunched" though, the digits have proper spacing.  Rather the problem is that there's no reason to use Series B and three-digit blank, especially if one of the digits is a 1.

[PHLBOS]

I don't think it's needlessly "scrunched" though, the digits have proper spacing.

Those 130 digits do appear to be spaced closer together than either of those Series B 295 digits. 

Rather the problem is that there's no reason to use Series B and three-digit blank, especially if one of the digits is a 1.

There's no reason to use Series B numerals on 3-digit route shields period.

[odditude]

this is on 130 SB near the base of the Commodore Barry Bridge, not the Walt Whitman. the numerals on the 130 shield are Series C like on the center 322 shield, just with greater spacing between. the 322 shield on the right is Series D.

You quoted the wrong link.  Ekt's first link is by the Commodore Barry and from left to right has 130 in C oddly spaced, 322 in C, and 322 in D.  Their second link is correctly identified as being by the Walt Whitman, and PHLBOS is correct that the 130 is Series B, not A.  I don't think it's needlessly "scrunched" though, the digits have proper spacing.  Rather the problem is that there's no reason to use Series B and three-digit blank, especially if one of the digits is a 1.

indeed i did. apparently i fail at reading comprehension today; this isn't the first thread i misread the post.

[Kacie Jane]

I don't think it's needlessly "scrunched" though, the digits have proper spacing.

Those 130 digits do appear to be spaced closer together than either of those Series B 295 digits.

Not to my eyes, but I could be wrong. Though I'll admit that the 1 looks a tad bit closer to the 3 than the 0 is.

[doorknob60]

This is Jefferson County's (I assume) attempt at a US-97 shield. Found in Crooked River Ranch, OR. There are at least 3 of these.

[Brandon]

^^ Not necessarily "worst", but distinctly "erroneous".  "Worst" should be reserved for CraIG COUntY type stuff, IMHO.

[formulanone]

This is Jefferson County's (I assume) attempt at a US-97 shield. Found in Crooked River Ranch, OR. There are at least 3 of these.

Wow, double-dog-downgraded. I don't think I've ever seen the US -> CR goof before (not counting old alignments).

[D-Dey65]

^^ Not necessarily "worst", but distinctly "erroneous".

Kind of like this new sign along Florida State Road 50 in Weeki Wachee, Florida just east of US 19.

Notice something odd about the spelling of Clermont? You know I'm going to shoot FDOT an e-mail about this.


UPDATE: It appears Yahoo won't let me send pictures from my computer anymore!


UPDATE 2: Looks like I looked in the wrong place to attach images.

[machias]

Installed around 2000, another great example of why the boxed street names are no longer allowed in New York State on guide panels.  A box inside a box for no reason at all.

[SignGeek101]

Installed around 2000, another great example of why the boxed street names are no longer allowed in New York State on guide panels.  A box inside a box for no reason at all.

Can't see the image. I don't know if I'm the only one.

Anyways, the only place that places boxes around stuff (as a standard) nowadays I can think of is BC with distances on freeways.

https://goo.gl/maps/eTEoV

[machias]

Installed around 2000, another great example of why the boxed street names are no longer allowed in New York State on guide panels.  A box inside a box for no reason at all.

Can't see the image. I don't know if I'm the only one.

Anyways, the only place that places boxes around stuff (as a standard) nowadays I can think of is BC with distances on freeways.

https://goo.gl/maps/eTEoV

Fixed