-Sign placement: We suggested putting them at decision points, i.e., at intersections. A stranger to town won't understand "you are here" in the meaningful sense of, 'how do I get back downtown?' The signs are placed so far away from street signs that there is no possible way of getting one's self situated by these signs (unless you are already from Madison and know the street network).
-Prominent directional signage for navigating on the fly: Our suggestion was to put prominent arrows to prominent destinations (downtown in one direction, Verona in the other, for example). This is not outlandish in the least, as cities in big biking countries do this sort of thing routinely. Furthermore, cyclists deserve to be treated as any other vehicle users. In this case, that means not requiring them to stop and get involved in a lengthy cartographic study of how to get from point A to point B. We give the motorists prominent on-the-fly signage to parking ramps and the interstate. This was our chance to cyclists the same navigational convenience.
-Use of both sides of the sign: We suggested putting further bicycling info on one side of the sign, including information about local bike advocacy groups and groups maintaining the trail landscaping. Trek got a nice billing though.
-Orientation of the sign: Our suggestion was to orient the map perpendicularly to the trail so a cyclist rolling along at 15 mph could recognize the sign for what it is. A cyclist rolling along at 15 mph won't see these signs sitting parallel to the path, that is, if they are paying attention to what they should be paying attention to--the path ahead. The orientation chosen is appropriate for walking trails, not mixed-use trails.)
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I had no intention of going to this meeting last fall since our input is so routinely ignored and, believe it or not, I value my personal time. I was talked into going because I was assured that my input was desired and would be taken seriously. I went and it wasn't.
Why even bother asking for someone's personal time and advice if the intention is to go with the pre-conceived?
-Mike
At 7:47 AM -0500 5/14/04, Gruber, Bonnie J. wrote:
It's too bad they put the "You are here" arrow so far from the actual location near West Shore Drive in Brittingham Park!
Bonnie Gruber
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Marjorie Ward, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:51 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Bikies] cool signage
The friendly signage is brought to you by the following: Trek Corporation, Boelter Designs, architect Bob Corbett, the City of Madison, Village of Shorewood Hills, Dane County Parks/DNR/Capital City Trail, MATC, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Affiliated Construction Services Inc, Madison Environmental Group, and an army of volunteers from the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.
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