ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

Looks great! Minor nit: it says “never stop or park on the tracks”. Correct advice, but not strong enough outside of intersections: general traffic has no business occupying the tracks for so much as a millisecond at most locations, e.g. in front of the businesses on King St.

   

?

[KevinT]

Looks great! Minor nit: it says “never stop or park on the tracks”. Correct advice, but not strong enough outside of intersections: general traffic has no business occupying the tracks for so much as a millisecond at most locations, e.g. in front of the businesses on King St.

?

Never stop or park implies that you can at least drive on the tracks, which of course you should also never do (unless crossing them at an intersection during the proper phase).

[danbrotherston]

I think ijmorlan means this doesn't say "don't drive on the tracks"

Drivers are using them as right turn lanes.

[Pheidippides]

It kind of does though. It says to "drive in your lane."

Shouldn't the word Ion be backwards if it is being seen in the rear-view mirror?

[trainspotter139]

Shouldn't the word Ion be backwards if it is being seen in the rear-view mirror?

Yes. Yes it should.

[ijmorlan]

I think ijmorlan means this doesn't say "don't drive on the tracks"

Drivers are using them as right turn lanes.

Exactly. I have a similar complaint about the bicycle lanes, which are signed as “No Parking” when they should be “No Stopping”; except even that isn’t really right, because cars have no business in the bicycle lanes, ever, even for a millisecond (except at intersections where by definition various rights-of-way conflict).

In both cases, it would probably be better if there were a barrier curb separating the LRT or bicycle lanes so that it would be clear to drivers that those lanes are not part of the general traffic road at all but rather adjacent to it, just like sidewalks.

[Canard]

Oh my god.

[jeffster]

Oh my god.

What now?

[Canard]

I shared a cute poster by the project team and now it’s being absolutely decimated.

There are already tons of “Do not drive on the tracks” signs all over.

[ijmorlan]

I shared a cute poster by the project team and now it’s being absolutely decimated.

Don’t worry, it’s a good poster. I did call my concern a “nit”. My concern isn’t even specifically about the poster but around the messaging in general, including the actual signs. There really isn’t a sign in existence that conveys the level of exclusion — the only thing that is comparable is the extent to which vehicles are supposed to stay off the sidewalk, which is handled not by a specific sign but by curbing and people just understanding what a sidewalk is (except when they don’t, but that’s another story).

Returning to the poster, you shared it, and now there is a discussion. This is good!

[Viewfromthe42]

I would also nit and suggest that the dashboard of the car end a bit sooner, so it doesn't lend the appearance that the car could be squeezing onto the track, while also agreeing that more explicit language around when you can be on a track (only to cross) be used, if the permissive attitudes around bike lanes and the UpTown segregated lanes are any example to avoid.

[trainspotter139]

I shared a cute poster by the project team and now it’s being absolutely decimated.

Don’t worry, it’s a good poster. I did call my concern a “nit”. My concern isn’t even specifically about the poster but around the messaging in general, including the actual signs. There really isn’t a sign in existence that conveys the level of exclusion — the only thing that is comparable is the extent to which vehicles are supposed to stay off the sidewalk, which is handled not by a specific sign but by curbing and people just understanding what a sidewalk is (except when they don’t, but that’s another story).

Returning to the poster, you shared it, and now there is a discussion. This is good!

the diamond signs for the LRT lanes are pretty clear.

[danbrotherston]

Don’t worry, it’s a good poster. I did call my concern a “nit”. My concern isn’t even specifically about the poster but around the messaging in general, including the actual signs. There really isn’t a sign in existence that conveys the level of exclusion — the only thing that is comparable is the extent to which vehicles are supposed to stay off the sidewalk, which is handled not by a specific sign but by curbing and people just understanding what a sidewalk is (except when they don’t, but that’s another story).

Returning to the poster, you shared it, and now there is a discussion. This is good!

the diamond signs for the LRT lanes are pretty clear.

They're also clear for bike lanes.

I suspect the problem is less people's understanding of the laws, but people's choice to follow them.

[Markster]

Yeah, the poster (and the text they chose) is fine.

It needs to get across a quick, simple, easily digestible message. Spending too many words on clarification and nuance would muddy it.

[KevinL]

New ad:



Love it!  Hope it's the first of many.

Okay, I'll toss in some positives: Great, simple graphic design that only brings across the basics of what you need to know; and yet it gives a lot of local specifics - a station in our unique design; the signals that are now visible and being activated. Superb work.