Sustrans signs showing time instead of distance

[wirral_cyclist]

With cycle post timings the time will be worst case scenario won't it? so a newbie on a BSO can do it easily (assumes no alien invasion/whatever obv.) so getting to the destination quicker than suggested is a bonus and encouraging, clearly it's often much quicker on a direct road too, but again no downside for those ped alling though some ped ants might be offended.

I like the walking paths in Switzerland that are calibrated in time, and that the walk up differs to down is definitely a Swiss thing [1]

[1] If the train is late it isn't a Swiss train, or you aren't wearing a Swiss watch [2]
[2] Any skiers going to Zermatt will know the 8 minutes between the inter city and cog railway is set by timing an 80 year old with 6 bags and a pair of skis between platforms.

[mjr]

And despite the thread title no one has persuaded me that the signs were erected by/for Sustrans. The vast majority of cycle route signs are the responsibiity of local authoriities.

Are they? Did they tell you that?
Directional signs with miles on a refective white background are local authority. [...]

There were definitely local authority white-on-blue signs with times not distances on NCN 33 in Weston-super-Mare.

Although some signs like brown tourist ones are often funded by business, they're almost always still erected and maintained by local authorities.

I think the signs in the opening post are more likely council not Sustrans.

[Psamathe]

... Follow that sign for that amount of time and you should get to that destination..

Or maybe follow that sign for that amount of time and you'll only be 70% of the way there. Or maybe when you've still got 15 mins to go you'll suddenly arrive.

Ian

[Ron]

Are they? Did they tell you that?

The thread title suggests the signs referred to are Sustrans signs.
Whilst not an ardent supporter of Sustrans, I like to defend them against criticism by cyclists in regard to what may be seen as poor quality cycle infrastructure installed by local authorities etc..

[cycle tramp]

... Follow that sign for that amount of time and you should get to that destination..

Or maybe follow that sign for that amount of time and you'll only be 70% of the way there. Or maybe when you've still got 15 mins to go you'll suddenly arrive.

Ian

But equally the same could be said of mileage signs... for example, the last time I went to Draycott (which was 7 or 8 years ago, there was a signpost pointing towards the direction of Priddy with something like 4 miles written on it) however Draycott is at the bottom of the Mendips, Priddy is at the top. The lane from Draycott to Priddy has two arrows on it to indicate a steep road. It took me just over an hour to complete the distance between the two settlement..

Simply saying I cycle at an average of 9 mph therfore it should take me 30 minutes to ride from Draycott to Priddy, isn't an effective way of measuring the time the journey would take, unless other aspects are factored in.

[Bmblbzzz]

The other point of note is that if it's on a shared use path (ie not a road) then the speed differentials are lower still; you're not going to have hardcore roadies tearing it up in 6 minutes for example. The type of path and the usage it attracts will mean a much less variable range of speeds - the highest you're likely to see is about 15mph (top end of e-bike assistance, about as fast as most riders will do on a shared path anyway) so the "quoted time" becomes a bit more accurate to most people.

You haven't ridden the Bristol-Bath Railway Path! It, like many shared use paths, has Strava sections and even before they were introduced it attracted roadies in training, 'chain gangs' etc.

[Pebble]

Utterly stupid idea giving possible times - why can't they show miles like a normal signpost.

[cycle tramp]

Utterly stupid idea giving possible times - why can't they show miles like a normal signpost.

..er if you've read the previous posts then it's been explained.. however don't let me stop you from adding miles to the signposts with a sharpie pen in your neatest handwriting if you feel that strongly... or indeed financing your own signage in miles or kilometres or even kilojoules...

..I can see it now.... 4500 kilojoules from Burnham on sea to Bridgwater.. electric vehicle owners would love that..

[rjb]

Utterly stupid idea giving possible times - why can't they show miles like a normal signpost.

..er if you've read the previous posts then it's been explained.. however don't let me stop you from adding miles to the signposts with a sharpie pen in your neatest handwriting if you feel that strongly... or indeed financing your own signage in miles or kilometres or even kilojoules...

..I can see it now.... 4500 kilojoules from Burnham on sea to Bridgwater.. electric vehicle owners would love that..

Are you stalking me. Did you see me travelling between BoS and B/W in both directions yesterday. It was a cracking day. How many Kjoules in a tea and cake.

[jb]

At least they say where there heading for. The last time I used them they just had a route number which was neither use nor ornament unless you had purchased the special Sustrans map.

[mjr]

At least they say where there heading for. The last time I used them they just had a route number which was neither use nor ornament unless you had purchased the special Sustrans map.

Or you remembered a previous sign, or looked at a decent GPS.

But A/B road "route confirmation" signs are like that too. The ones with all the place names on used to be much rarer than they are.

Ironically, the sticker signs on posts which are actually Sustrans signs (unlike the big plastic ones from the council in most posts here) do tend to list names and mileages since about 10 years ago. The lists tend to be to small to read without stopping, sadly, because the law restricts the size, but it is there if wanted.

[dmrcycle]

It should be in Wh (Watt-hours)

Actually on a path that probably has a max speed due to width, how windy it is and the type of traffic (families etc) it makes perfect sense. If its the type of route you cant do 20mph on then putting a time in is a good solution. Having just cycled in the US they have lots of separate cycle routes and they do the same. In the busy paths they put a 10 mph speed limit also.

[Cugel]

It should be in Wh (Watt-hours)

Actually on a path that probably has a max speed due to width, how windy it is and the type of traffic (families etc) it makes perfect sense. If its the type of route you cant do 20mph on then putting a time in is a good solution. Having just cycled in the US they have lots of separate cycle routes and they do the same. In the busy paths they put a 10 mph speed limit also.

To remove a source of endless and pointless conjecture about how to indicate all sorts of info created from various bizarre perspectives, I propose that all of those signs are removed so that cyclists must learn map reading skills along with the wider skills of orienteering about a landscape. Those OS maps are quite useful at displaying distances, heights, gradients, landmarks and over 100 other features that make cycling from A to B a breeze.

Also, seeing as how they require some education, thinking and deciding powers, they improve your wetware functions. (I know this gives some a headache but this may be due to newspap ossification of the thinker, for which there's an obvious solution).

Cugel, anyway fond of mysteries to be demystified.

[Bmblbzzz]

It should be in Wh (Watt-hours)

Where?
When?
Why?
Who with?

Basic data for any journey.

[jb]

At least they say where there heading for. The last time I used them they just had a route number which was neither use nor ornament unless you had purchased the special Sustrans map.

Or you remembered a previous sign, or looked at a decent GPS.

But A/B road "route confirmation" signs are like that too. The ones with all the place names on used to be much rarer than they are.

Ironically, the sticker signs on posts which are actually Sustrans signs (unlike the big plastic ones from the council in most posts here) do tend to list names and mileages since about 10 years ago. The lists tend to be to small to read without stopping, sadly, because the law restricts the size, but it is there if wanted.

When I did the end to end way before GPS was common we were perfectly capable of map reading and could find are ways about without any signage. However we'd occasionally happen upon one of those cycle routes with a Sustran cast iron edifice on it or a blue sign with a number on it. But without a destination indication anywhere to be seen and with the Sustran routes having a habit of wandering off all over the place the best we could do was take a compass bearing then jump ship if it veered off course.
Eventually we decided they were best ignored altogether.

Old railway lines were good as one could pretty well guarantee the direction from a map.

I don't have a problem with time indication as its all relative and can give a good indication once you're in tune with their idea of where ten minutes will get you - mountain guide books are usually marked up in time units as well.