If you go on vacation to see the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
you will be rewarded with a view of extraordinary construction. It is quite
impressive and you can either ride across the bridge with a bike, or walk.
At each end of the bridge you have the chance to cross under the bridge so you
can see the other side without hitting the car traffic and midlane barriers.
Here you will meet a sign which is quite special because most likely, you will be
more confused than feeling instructed.
Its intention clearly is to tell you what you are allowed to do and what not.
Also to issue warnings for your safety.
I stood there for a moment and started processing the visuals. Not after long, I
did what everyone else did. Just walked wherever I could.
Nevertheless did I find it interesting enough to make it a case for the examples
presented in my blog.
The markings set are just the very obvious points to address. There would have
been even more subtle points but too much for this chapter.
Findings
Some general impressions
▸ Redundant Rules (e.g. No Pedestrians 3 times)
▸ Odd Rules (e.g. No Pestrians allowed but Bike Walkers)
▸ Unclear time expressions (3:30 AM/PM?)
▸ Unclear whether other transportation prohibited on underground walkway as well
▸ Yellow sign confuses with its information design, both, times and for which way the
information applies
▸ Doubtful indirect definition of “Night Times”
▸ No distinction in signage for pushing or riding bike
▸ Unclear whether pedestrians are always prohibited on upper bridge way
(signs leave open the option to cross the bridge upper deck at night)
Concrete Finding Examples
1 Riding or pushing bike, or both ?
2 Does that violate against the “no pedestrian” sign ? Pushing a bike is also
walking…
3 Another box and another “no pedestrians” sign. Unclear where it applies to.
4 Another “no pedestrian” sign
5 Above this number a time, 3:30, AM or PM ?
6 Are these times identical in meaning with points 8 and 9 ?
7 Another “no pedestrian” sign
8 Again, unclear if 3:30 AM or PM
9 Times valid for walkway or the driveway across the bridge? There is a bold
line between those times. Does it have a meaning ?
10 Third time with some kind of a time schedule; Holidays missing
Solutions
All 3 suggestions are way easier to follow and understand than the original one.
I rearranged a lot of information and modified the layout to function more like a decision table. The three variations have a different starting focus. Depending on what the authorities primary goal is, one of those solutions should convey and inform the way it is desired.
