Highways in Canada

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by vid

It's less expensive, and better to have a standard for the continent. If we had unique signage, we would have to learn American signs in addition to our own.

It might be less expensive due to economies of scale for buying and making signs, but I don't see how using a different typeface would make it more confusing and difficult to learn.

This is no more confusing than this.

This is the case in Europe - different typefaces in many countries, but the symbols are the same or very similar.

Canada (or even each of the provinces) could use different typefaces for guide signs (the big ones for exits, cities, etc.), but a stop sign would still look the same, a Do Not Enter sign would still be consistent, etc.

[SHOFEAR]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It might be less expensive due to economies of scale for buying and making signs, but I don't see how using a different typeface would make it more confusing and difficult to learn.

This is no more confusing than this.

This is the case in Europe - different typefaces in many countries, but the symbols are the same or very similar.

Canada (or even each of the provinces) could use different typefaces for guide signs (the big ones for exits, cities, etc.), but a stop sign would still look the same, a Do Not Enter sign would still be consistent, etc.

The US probably had a multi billion dollar program to investigate different styles to determined which worked the best...no point for us to reinvent the wheel.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Acajack

This is no more confusing than this.

No, but one is a hell of a lot easier to read. Your example is blatantly obvious, but sometimes it's subtle, and it takes research to find out why.

If someone's done said research, and can prove one is easier to read than another for the majority of people, I say go for it.

Failing that, consider this vote #2 for Comic Sans.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by freeweed

No, but one is a hell of a lot easier to read. Your example is blatantly obvious, but sometimes it's subtle, and it takes research to find out why.

If someone's done said research, and can prove one is easier to read than another for the majority of people, I say go for it.

Failing that, consider this vote #2 for Comic Sans.

OK, maybe not the best example. I am sure that we wouldn't use something like that if we ever were to distance ourselves from the U.S. with our road sign fonts.

There is a myriad of fonts used in Europe, and all of them are reasonably clear and readable.

Norway:
http://miphol.com/muse/2008/03/30/Trafikkalfabet_by_KarlPetterSandb%C3%A6k.jpg

UK:
http://www.signwizard.co.uk/image/cache/data/RoadSign_thumb-120x120.png

"Different" doesn't necessarily mean "less readable".

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by Acajack

"Different" doesn't necessarily mean "less readable".

Granted, but "different" doesn't necessarily mean "better" either.

Europe suffers from a lot of "Not Invented Here" syndrome. Just because it works doesn't mean it can't be improved.

[cormiermax]

Id say the European signs are much more attractive than there North American counterparts, our signs look like we've been stuck in the 1970's.

[vid]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It might be less expensive due to economies of scale for buying and making signs, but I don't see how using a different typeface would make it more confusing and difficult to learn.

I was referring to his comment that we should also use unique signs and line painting standards compared to the US.

Originally Posted by Acajack

OK, maybe not the best example. I am sure that we wouldn't use something like that if we ever were to distance ourselves from the U.S. with our road sign fonts.

There is a myriad of fonts used in Europe, and all of them are reasonably clear and readable.

But Clearview is clearer and more readable from further distances than any of those fonts. The reason Clearview was designed is so that drivers don't have to devote as much brain power to trying to figure out if that is an o or an e on the sign they're currently hurtling towards at 65mph.

In that aspect, it is a safety issue. We should use the font that is easiest to read while driving a car, regardless of how aesthetically pleasing or culturally unique it may be.

What Europe does do better than us it better diagrams explaining complex junctions, and distance/direction signs.

[eternallyme]

One thing about Quebec is that their exit numbering signs are totally different than anywhere else in North America, being in a yellow trapezoid rather than a separate tab above the sign.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

One thing about Quebec is that their exit numbering signs are totally different than anywhere else in North America, being in a yellow trapezoid rather than a separate tab above the sign.

It is *vaguely* similar to what you sometimes see in Europe, with the impression of movement off the highway, either because of the shaping going off towards the right or with arrows going off to the right.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co..._sign.jpg/80px-Quebec_exit_gore_sign.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Quebec_exit_number.jpg


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1_5_6.svg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5042109865_e09cd95f38_o.jpg

[sonysnob]

^ I think you must be right about Quebec's signage attempting to reflect that of Europe's (or more specifically France's).

In the early days of Autoroute signage, their exit signs looked like this:

(Photo by me).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by sonysnob

^ I think you must be right about Quebec's signage attempting to reflect that of Europe's (or more specifically France's).

.

Quebec's Autoroute shields are also interesting, and seem to be a mix of the U.S. Interstate shields and the European motorway signs:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichieranneau-A15-QC.jpg

http://www.interstate15.info/interstate15.info/images/I15-shield.png

http://media.photobucket.com/image/european%20motorway%20sign/trini12008/UK_motorway_symbol.gif

[eemy]

I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall the exit number trapezoid pointing to the left on Autoroute 20 (or was it 40?) when the exits were on the left, so there's probably something to that idea.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

I may be mistaken, but I seem to recall the exit number trapezoid pointing to the left on Autoroute 20 (or was it 40?) when the exits were on the left, so there's probably something to that idea.

Your memory serves you well. The trapezoid points to the left when the exit is to the left. Probably the best and most visible example is the exit from A-40 coming from the west (Ottawa) in Montreal when you want to take Autoroute Décarie (A-15 S) to go towards downtown Montreal.

There are a few others as well.

[Airboy]

Mount Robson on the Yellowhead


Yellowhead west of Valemount



Highway 99 east of Pemberton

[sonysnob]

^ Ontario needs a mountain...

[vid]

It has one:





In 1,402,029,335 BC, this was the roof of the world.

[le calmar]

^ It's not the biggest mountain, but it's shape makes it very interesting. Change the desert for the forest and it almost look like Ayers rock.


beautifulplacestovisit.com

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by vid

It has one:





In 1,402,029,335 BC, this was the roof of the world.

A Canadian Butte! Or is it a gabbric intrusion? Mount McKay.


Is this the famous mountain near Thunder Bay? Isn't there a ski hill nearby? I recall driving across Canada in the 1990s that there were some significant Laurentian-height hills in that region.

[eemy]

I think technically it would be considered a mesa, and according to wikipedia it is a sill of mafic rock, so it could very well be a gabbric intrusion.

[freeweed]

Originally Posted by vid

It has one:





In 1,402,029,335 BC, this was the roof of the world.

Aw how cute, you have a big hill.

Actually, Wikipedia claims this thing has a 300m rise. Even out here that's enough to be considered a "mountain" depending on the prominence.