Much energy is spent behind the scenes on public signs, what they should say and where should they go. These folks spend so much times worrying about these issues that they call it signage, instead of signs, and they use the word "wayfinding" to describe signs that give directions, when directional is the word they're looking for.
In that spirit, the City of Prince George is unveiling some new "wayfinding signage," otherwise known as directional signs, downtown this morning.
The problem with signs, however, is that unless we're looking for a sign, we don't see them. Some signs are not only useless but wasteful, such as the federal and provincial government signs patting themselves on the back for spending millions of dollars to maintain and/or improve highways. Other signs are confusing, such as the signs informing drivers of the Cameron Street Bridge roundabout. A series of arrows forming a circle suggests recycling, not a roundabout.
These unnecessary signs distract drivers and everyone else from the essential signs. Stop signs are important, for both drivers and pedestrians. So are school zone signs.
Then there are important but not essential signs. Take speed limit signs. Drivers pay attention but rarely heed them. People either drive the same speed as the traffic around them, drive as fast as they feel is appropriate based on road conditions, drive as fast as the situation (late for work, need to go to the bathroom, etc.) demands or drive at a certain pace above the speed limit that won't get the attention of police officers.
Directional and distance signs can be important but are not essential. It's important when dealing with annoying children and not much gas left in the tank to know how far away the next community is but that's about it. It's important if you're a visitor where the turnoff is to Highway 16 or 97 but that same sign is ignored for residents who already know that way and all the shortcuts.
Directional signs for specific buildings are even more problematic (and useless). The worst offender in Prince George is that big "M" sign along First Avenue, just before Queensway, heading east, with two arrows below it, one pointing forward and the other pointing right.
Well, which is it?
That depends.
If you're heading to the Railway and Forestry Museum, keep going straight and don't miss the left turn at River Road or M will stand for McBride, your next stop about two hours later.
If you're heading to the Exploration Place Museum, hang a right on Queensway and don't miss the left turn at 20th Avenue.
For residents who know where the museums are, these signs are irrelevant. For tourists, a big M on a sign is unlikely to give them a sudden craving for a museum experience, meaning that if they are already looking for a museum, they have the directions, either from a map or their GPS. They're looking for the street name at that point, not a big sign with an M on it.
Along First Avenue heading, just outside of the Citizen's offices on Brunswick, is a blue sign with a large G on it, the word "gallery" in smaller letters below it and an arrow pointing left. Whether that sign is encouraging visitors to turn onto Victoria Street to visit Two Rivers Gallery, which isn't on Victoria Street, or RK Furniture Gallery, which is, the blue sign doesn't say. If it does mean Two Rivers, wouldn't drivers coming into Prince George from the east be better served turning left off First Avenue onto Quebec Street, two blocks earlier?
Even the important H signs on First Avenue are a waste of time. Residents know their way to the hospital and non-residents in need of finding the local hospital have either called 9-1-1, stopped at the Tourism Info Centre for directions or have the map or GPS with them.
Finally, the "City Center" sign with the left arrow on First Avenue is wrong, firstly because in Canada, it's spelled "centre" and secondly because no visitor drives into an unknown city looking for the "city centre." They're looking for the museum or the art gallery or the hospital or, most likely, a warm bed and a good place to eat. Furthermore, much of that visiting traffic coming to Prince George from the east in their motorhomes each summer consider the parking lot at either Treasure Cove or Wal-Mart as the city centre.
All those examples are just First Avenue alone. The reality is Prince George, like most communities, is littered with street signs of little or no value.
Adding more signs just makes it worse.
