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Street Signs

Old 04-11-15, 09:18 PM
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Street Signs

Since it is spring in the northern hemisphere, and you all are getting out and about on your bicycles again ... here's a topic for a bit of fun ...

Show us your street signs ... and especially your cycling-specific street signs.

It doesn't just have to be signs either. For example, if you've got cycling-specific traffic lights ... show us them as well.


[HR][/HR]
Here's one which has been popping up all over the place in Tasmania. We saw quite a few of these on our ride yesterday, and there's even one on the nearby road out of our suburb.

I took this one on a route we do now and then near one of many beaches. It is about the flattest route we can do for miles around ...





What have you got in your area?
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Old 04-12-15, 04:58 AM
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These signs were fairly plentiful in Victoria ... although not so much in our immediate area. I took this one outside Shepparton on one of the weekends we spent there ...


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Old 04-12-15, 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka
These signs were fairly plentiful in Victoria ... although not so much in our immediate area. I took this one outside Shepparton on one of the weekends we spent there ...


I'm a verbal person, so sometimes these icon signs confuse me. What does this one mean?
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Old 04-12-15, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Roody
I'm a verbal person, so sometimes these icon signs confuse me. What does this one mean?
Think about it.

A hint ... if the sign had a deer on it, could you work that one out?



Meanwhile ... while you're trying to figure it out ... have you got any signs that you've seen in your travels to post here?
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Old 04-12-15, 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka


Meanwhile ... while you're trying to figure it out ... have you got any signs that you've seen in your travels to post here?
I've seen lots of signs in my travels and when I figure out if any of them have something to do with living car free I'll be sure to post it.
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Old 04-12-15, 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
I've seen lots of signs in my travels and when I figure out if any of them have something to do with living car free I'll be sure to post it.
Good ... looking forward to it.
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Old 04-12-15, 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka
Think about it.

A hint ... if the sign had a deer on it, could you work that one out?



Meanwhile ... while you're trying to figure it out ... have you got any signs that you've seen in your travels to post here?
Sorry. For those of us with a verbal cognitive style, pictographs can be confusing. They are handy for places that get a lot of international visitors. Like, I guess, Tasmania.
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Old 04-12-15, 08:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Sorry. For those of us with a verbal cognitive style, pictographs can be confusing. They are handy for places that get a lot of international visitors. Like, I guess, Tasmania.
Do your deer crossing signs say "Deer Crossing" ... or do they show a picture of a deer in mid-leap?


And the sign that confuses you is located is middle of Victoria, I don't recall seeing one like it here in Tasmania. It's not particularly for tourists. It's right out there among the signs with pictures of kangaroos, wombats and koalas.
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Old 04-12-15, 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka
Do your deer crossing signs say "Deer Crossing" ... or do they show a picture of a deer in mid-leap?


And the sign that confuses you is located is middle of Victoria, I don't recall seeing one like it here in Tasmania. It's not particularly for tourists. It's right out there among the signs with pictures of kangaroos, wombats and koalas.
So from the verbal context, I'm guessing that the sign means bicyclists and other wild critters are afoot.

You probably didn't mean to, but you made me feel a little stupid because I couldn't figure out what the sign means. At first I thought it meant bikes must go in single file, then I thought it meant you should draft because it was a windy area.

[HR][/HR]

I've never actually seen a sign like this one below, But I think it's pretty cool. Even I can understand it! (I think)


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Old 04-12-15, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Roody
So from the verbal context, I'm guessing that the sign means bicyclists and other wild critters are afoot.
Yes. Simply that. A warning to motorists to watch for cyclists.

Cycling is quite popular in that part of the world so there are often cyclists on the road. And in other parts of Victoria as well. I've seen that sign in several places.

Tasmania's warning sign is in the first photo I posted. It is more detailed because there is a new law here regarding passing cyclists.
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Old 04-13-15, 02:45 AM
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Maybe I should have posted this one first

This sign is located just outside Warnambool, Victoria.





Warnambool is one of several popular cycling areas in Victoria. We caught a bit of a race there one time we visited (click photos for more photos) ...


This monument is located right in the middle of town ...

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Old 04-13-15, 03:11 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka
These signs were fairly plentiful in Victoria ... although not so much in our immediate area. I took this one outside Shepparton on one of the weekends we spent there ...


Not just in Victoria, I've seen those same signs in Southern NSW and in the ACT.

It always struck me how elliptical the wheels are in those diagrams. Must be a bumpy ride.

As for road signs… here's a nice contradictory set…

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27....f2Msf_dxNw!2e0
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Old 04-13-15, 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Redhatter
Not just in Victoria, I've seen those same signs in Southern NSW and in the ACT.

It always struck me how elliptical the wheels are in those diagrams. Must be a bumpy ride.

As for road signs… here's a nice contradictory set…

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27....f2Msf_dxNw!2e0
We hit one or two intersections like that while trying to follow the Rhine Route through Germany ... we're standing there with our map and surrounded by signs wondering where on earth we're supposed to go!!
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Old 04-13-15, 05:46 PM
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This is one that I like, and seems appropriate for both the 20 mile hill climb it is on (I have troubles towing the line when I'm climbing that far), plus the 20 mile bombing downhill the other direction.


There are also numerous signs to keep right of the center line... apparently some people cut corners.
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Old 04-15-15, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
This is one that I like, and seems appropriate for both the 20 mile hill climb it is on (I have troubles towing the line when I'm climbing that far), plus the 20 mile bombing downhill the other direction.


There are also numerous signs to keep right of the center line... apparently some people cut corners.
I like that one! I can think of several roads I'd like to see it on.
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Old 04-16-15, 12:37 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
This is one that I like, and seems appropriate for both the 20 mile hill climb it is on (I have troubles towing the line when I'm climbing that far), plus the 20 mile bombing downhill the other direction.


There are also numerous signs to keep right of the center line... apparently some people cut corners.
Do we have a local traffic engineer who is actually putting those up? I thought all our locals were still in love with the outdated and always misunderstood "Share the Road" signs that were replaced by this one in the last MUTCD. Where's this one at?
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Old 04-16-15, 01:43 AM
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Originally Posted by B. Carfree
Do we have a local traffic engineer who is actually putting those up? I thought all our locals were still in love with the outdated and always misunderstood "Share the Road" signs that were replaced by this one in the last MUTCD. Where's this one at?
That is the McKenzie Pass, HWY 242, Oregon. I think that one was at a pretty low elevation, but there were a couple of them.
That photo was from June 2014.

For those not familiar with it, it is a 4,000 foot, 20 mile hill climb on a narrow, winding 2-lane road, little to no shoulders, and switchbacks. Peak is at 5325 ft. The road is mostly closed to traffic in the winter... so a bicycle paradise.



I consider the "Bikes may use full lane" sign as a special case that just makes sense on this road. I wouldn't put the signs up everywhere. So far I've avoided it during heavy traffic times.
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Old 04-16-15, 07:27 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
That is the McKenzie Pass, HWY 242, Oregon. I think that one was at a pretty low elevation, but there were a couple of them.
That photo was from June 2014.

For those not familiar with it, it is a 4,000 foot, 20 mile hill climb on a narrow, winding 2-lane road, little to no shoulders, and switchbacks. Peak is at 5325 ft. The road is mostly closed to traffic in the winter... so a bicycle paradise.



I consider the "Bikes may use full lane" sign as a special case that just makes sense on this road. I wouldn't put the signs up everywhere. So far I've avoided it during heavy traffic times.
I think the BMUFL signs are a step in the right direction, but still too wishy-washy. They read more like a suggestion than statement of law. I also prefer signs that actually inform motorists what to do when they encounter a bicycle in their traffic lane, since some drivers seem to have no clue. Here's a sign that I like a lot better than the BMUFL:

[hr][/hr]

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Old 04-16-15, 01:53 PM
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Here are the two signs that I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
Unfortunately they don't exist (yet).

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Old 04-16-15, 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
I think the BMUFL signs are a step in the right direction, but still too wishy-washy. They read more like a suggestion than statement of law. I also prefer signs that actually inform motorists what to do when they encounter a bicycle in their traffic lane, since some drivers seem to have no clue. Here's a sign that I like a lot better than the BMUFL:
I wouldn't put the "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs up on all roads. I think the McKenzie pass was a unique place where it has no shoulders, and at least once opened to cars, both moderate bike and vehicle traffic, and I found it tough to stay in my normal place 6" from the edge of the road as fatigue was setting in.

On heavily used bike routes, I still like the "Share the Road" or "Bicycles on the Roadway" signs.

The 3', 4', or 5' signs are also a nice way to indicate both the presence of bikes, and appropriate passing techniques.
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Old 04-16-15, 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
I wouldn't put the "Bicycles May Use Full Lane" signs up on all roads. I think the McKenzie pass was a unique place where it has no shoulders, and at least once opened to cars, both moderate bike and vehicle traffic, and I found it tough to stay in my normal place 6" from the edge of the road as fatigue was setting in.

On heavily used bike routes, I still like the "Share the Road" or "Bicycles on the Roadway" signs.

The 3', 4', or 5' signs are also a nice way to indicate both the presence of bikes, and appropriate passing techniques.
I don't mean to quibble--they're all good signs. I think a big problem in many locations is that BOTH drivers and cyclists are unaware that bikes are permitted (and encouraged) to use the entire lane in some circumstances. All of these signs go a long way toward addressing that problem.
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Old 04-16-15, 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
I don't mean to quibble--they're all good signs. I think a big problem in many locations is that BOTH drivers and cyclists are unaware that bikes are permitted (and encouraged) to use the entire lane in some circumstances. All of these signs go a long way toward addressing that problem.
And, of course, there is the debate over keeping right vs taking the lane. Different situations promote different actions.
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Old 04-16-15, 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK

I consider the "Bikes may use full lane" sign as a special case that just makes sense on this road. I wouldn't put the signs up everywhere. So far I've avoided it during heavy traffic times.
Since even the infamous Tom Larsen, horrid anti-bike traffic engineer in Eugene, acknowledges that since state law (and nearly every state is the same in this regard) states that bikes may use the full lane in all but a very select set of circumstances, I'm mystified by your opposition to this sign as a general reminder to motorists. Perhaps the biggest safety threat on the road is motorists' ignorance of the law. In the case of illegally unsafe passing, many motorists "punish pass" because they are convinced that the cyclists they are passing are breaking the law. Full Lane signs help break through that ignorance and create harmony on the roads.
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Old 04-16-15, 05:01 PM
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Perhaps I'll have to dig up a bike riding manual.

Some states have the law:

"Bikes (should/must) ride as far right as (practical/practicable)" which I believe is the appropriate place to ride in many, if not most situations. However, I consider the road conditions as well as the safety of the rider and the overall traffic flow.

Back to the death of Spock, and whether the "Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few".
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Old 04-16-15, 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Machka
These signs were fairly plentiful in Victoria ... although not so much in our immediate area. I took this one outside Shepparton on one of the weekends we spent there ...


Since this appears to be a one way road, why did they have to break it in two?

I would have preferred they place a buffered bike lane instead of signs or better yet, no lines at all! I guess that might be asking too much. Here's what happens riding on that road.

1. Lane splitting will be very close -- Drivers will lane split the slower moving cyclist real close as they try to obey the law and stay in their lane. While the sign is useful, it's up to the driver to cross into the next lane if they care to give extra room.

2. Speeds will be higher due to the dotted line --- If there was no dotted line, the driver would not be able to guage his speed other then looking at the dash board. That dotted line on the empty road will make the driver feel he is going slower than normal. As a result, he will more than likely drive faster than normal.
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