Signs That Say So Much
Some signage is especially useful, thought-provoking, creative, fun or simply odd
by Melissa Stanton, AARP Livable Communities
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Sensitive or Stereotyping?
It's good to acknowledge that people in this harborside development in Miami Beach often cross the road. But why label the population and purpose of the crosswalk as being for the "elderly"? A crosswalk is useful for all pedestrians.
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Photo provided by AARP Vermont
Way to Go!
Wayfinding signage (like that displayed in Newport, Vermont) helps residents and visitors find their way. These types of signs are informative and a placemaking must.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Where to Go
One of the most common questions asked by any visitor is "Where's the bathoom?" or "Where's the nearest bathroom?" Signage in downtown Loveland, Colorado, provides several answers.
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Photo by Ken Reinhardt
Really Gotta Go
Tourists visiting the ruins of Pompei know exactly where to go regardless of what language they speak.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Keep a Distance
Who knew there's a law about the minimum distance a driver needs to keep when passing a bicyclist? This sign was posted in the window of a Maryland bicycle shop.
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Photo by Terry Elder
Seriously, Keep a Distance
Don't even put a toe in the water. The illustration on this sign help makes the message clear to non-readers and non-English speakers, too.
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Photo by Brett VA
Seriously, Heed the Warning
This eye-catching image clearly shows bicyclists in Portland, Oregon, what can happen if their wheels enter the roadway's streetcar tracks.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Deep Thoughts
Among the quotations displayed from a hallway ceiling in a University of Maine arts center is this throught-provoking statement. Learn more about the connection between art and livability.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Do What?!
Lift their skirts!? An unexpected instruction on a sign adjacent to a Miami hotel escalator requires careful reading.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Who Needs to Stop?
Who's supposed to stop the pedestrians? Are the pedestrians supposed to stop? Do the drivers stop? This sign in a supermarket garage is well-intentioned but confusing.
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Photo by Solon Snider/Start School Later
Time to Wake Up, Again
A variation of this signage is placed on the back window of school buses in many districts, especially those where schools start so early in the morning, and require such long bus rides, that sleep-deprived students regularly conk out.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
On a Roll
The new symbol for handicap parking and access depicts an active wheelchair user who's on the move — unlike the seated figure that appears in the traditional iconography (inset).
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
A Bathroom Stall for All
The signage outside this single-user restroom at the Frick Environmental Center in Pittsburgh indicates that the facility is usable by all — regardless of age, gender or physical ability.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Fowl Friendly
The fountain at the National Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., provides a way for web-footed visitors to enjoy the water.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Write it Down!
Public chalkboards and listening posts allow and encourage visitors (of all ages) to share their thoughts. The Union Market in Washington, D.C., features several of these chalkboards, each with a unique question or prompt.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
What's Your Answer?
A history trivia game entertains visitors to the Conflict Kitchen, a dining kiosk in Pittsburgh's Schenley Park Plaza, as they wait to order or receive their food.
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Photo by Melissa Stanton
Very Good to Know
The international arrivals area at Baltimore-Washington International Airport provides very important information to travelers headed for customs.
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Slideshow published December 2016
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