Signs

As a rule I’m a fairly big fan of signs. They promote order, save accidents on the roads and prevent embarrassing moments at toilet stops. However some make absolutely no sense whatsoever.

Take this example (in fact, I’m surprised that no-one has taken it):



The road to the left is One Way, but in the direction you’d be going. There’s no obvious danger, beyond the usual on roads anywhere. I mean, you might fall off, hit a parked car, bump over a particularly nasty pothole and sprain your thumb or try to peer through a window and veer wildly off-course, but they’re the risks we expect on a cycle anywhere. Why are we being asked to dismount? That word always strikes me as strangely old fashioned and grand for getting off a bike as well, it implies mounting blocks and effort, rather than the smooth jump I’m used to. Perhaps it’s more the case on a Dutch-bike style cycle, or tall-bike but most bikes feel like an extension of my body when I’m riding so getting off them is as simple as “dismounting” a step or kerb.

So do you blindly obey all orders you receive, or use some discretion? Should all cyclists come down from their worthy steeds at this point – or would it be fair to keep riding? If you can do that here, then why obey any sign? I’m not in favour of the sort of anarchy that an end to signs might lead to – I even get upset when girls overflow into the gents in a busy nightclub – so I am stating my case for the sensible placing of signposts. I’ll even go further. If this sign should be obeyed perhaps there should also be an explanation as to why someone has placed it there. As such I should like signs such as:

“Stop! (there’s another road crossing this one and we don’t want an accident, now do we)”
“No Through Traffic (it gets a bit narrow and windy, you see, and we’ve also put a concrete bollard in the way – you’ll only have to do a 3-point turn)”
“Reduce Speed Now! (or you’ll be going too fast for the obstruction ahead)”
“Ice! (frozen water. It’s slippery. It’s here because the road got wet and then it got very cold)”
And in this case
“Cyclists Dismount (umm for no good reason – we just wanted to see if you would, and, if you don’t, we can moan about how you never obey the Highway Code anyway)”

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