BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 07:42 PM

Come to Wales you'll find they also hide traffic lights

Bill the Sound

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 09:07 PM

*lol* It must be a very fine one indeed LtS, to be worth a million quid!

You seem to be in a rather mucky-minded mood of late...

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 04:35 PM

I have driven several times down a little road in Hertfordshire which is worth a million pounds, if only I could actually remember to take a camera with me.

Click here.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: 8_Pints
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 01:08 PM

Don't they have a "Beware of road signs obstructed by trees" road sign?

Probably obstructed itself!

Bob vG

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 11:41 AM

I like the road signs to the little villages that appear every few miles. How can a village be in so many places at once?

You know, Poids Lourds in France, twinned with Loose Chippings in England.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 01:38 PM

Sorry, should have said 'the most noticeable thing OF THAT KIND' ie: Cold-War related.

The 3 'golfballs' werent SO big that they could actually be seen from HULL....*G*

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 01:22 PM

Thanks, Bunnahabhain

Since I posted that earlier, I've realised I'd had a browse round the official website recently, without realising that Kelvdon Hatch was where that roadsign referred to!

Yeah there are lots about, but thats the biggest it seems, being intended for Central Government.

I grew up 'in the shadow' of the Cold War, you might say, & the most noticeable thing vaguely up in my part of the world were the high-profile & somewhat 'iconic' radar domes of Fylingdales.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 12:34 PM

Yes, the signs are genuine. It's a tourist attarction now, and given it's in the middle of nowhere, by essex standards at least, you'd need all the help you can get to find it.

I grew up in that area, and have been round it. There are a few other not-so-secret-now bunkers about the place as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 11:43 AM

Hehehe...I like it Leeneia!

Actually, though its maybe one to check on the 'Snopes' site or something similar, the pic of the 'Chelmsford' Bunker ha been up on the 'net for a while now, & I think it WAS actually GENUINE at one time (likely its been removed now, I would guess).

Anyone who's travelled that road know?

......................................................................

Well, did a quick Yahoo search before posting the above(but cant be arsed to retype it) & found THIS:

Push the big BLUE button

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: leeneia
Date: 22 Aug 06 - 11:29 AM

Paul, your signs about the nuclear bunker were probably put up by someone who thinks like me.

There are two rental houses near me owned by a guy named Truogh. He is a real jerk. One day, a couple of his renters piled bags of trash on the curb and moved out. I called his office, and the lazy secretary said I couldn't even prove they owned that house.

(She probably didn't even know that anyone here can call the city and find out who owns a certain property.)

When I got motivated enough, I made signs saying "See the Truogh Trash! Three months old today!" and put them up on the main road. The trash was gone almost immediately.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 10:03 PM

Here are a couple that probably WOULD be better obscured:

PRESS HERE

and HERE

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 09:54 PM

Perhaps I should tell Skipy that the sign to the Shopping Centre at Grove (WHFF) is TOTALLY obscured by foliage when you're driving TOWARDS the festival site , though it IS visible comng the other way !

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 09:45 PM

...or THIS:

Another Blue Clicky Thing

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 09:43 PM

Better an obscured sign than THIS:

Blue Clicky Thing

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Mr Happy
Date: 21 Aug 06 - 09:33 PM

Shamefully, Cheshire County Council have allowed the sign for 'Little Leigh'- nr Northwich to become obscured by indigenous flora!

Little Leigh is the birthplace of the writer of the well known & popular ballad: The Farmer's Boy!

The original 'farmer's boy' of the song was the Reverend Thomas Smith, to whose memory there is a tablet in the Baptist Chapel at Little Leigh, near Northwich.

He is said to have come to the village 'weary and lame', looking for work. He called at Heath House Farm, was given a job, and in time married the farmer's daughter - just as the song relates.

Later he became a Baptist minister and he is buried in the graveyard of the Chapel.

*******

I pass through the villages of Little Leigh, & Barnton [almost same place] frequently, yet the namesign from either direction is hidden in the hedgerows.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: leeneia
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 12:19 PM

John in Kansas: the linked worked this time. Thanks for explaining that they turn it off sometimes. I loved the bridge with the 3'6" clearance.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Rapparee
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 09:04 AM

There are NO road signs. There have never been road signs.

A UN report, classified "Tippy-Tippy-Top Secret", which I have read and the gist of which I now share, reports that what we think are road signs are actually invaders from the Horse's Other End Nebula (NGC 56.2951413). When they hide in bushes they are, like the leopards that also inhabit the US, the UK, Canada and other places, simply hungry and ready to pounce upon their unsuspecting prey. (On other occassions they are answering the urgent "call of nature.") A good defense (or "defence" in those countries which are less spelling-enlightened than the US) against these creature is to bring a dog along -- the breed doesn't matter -- and let the dog sniff around the "sign." These creatures are very shy as well as very vicious and if the dog "marks" the "sign post" the critter will die of shame.

The report was classified so that the population would not panic, which populations are, according to several Government Studies, prone to do.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:52 AM

mistaking cystitis for cyclists!


can't be too careful who's seat you are using................

Beware the mistle Thrush too!

Quick - pass me the canestan flavoured yoghurt.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Paul Burke
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:46 AM

Road signs in France? Of course! Vous Avez La Priorite (beggar your neighbour). Toutes Directions (sod off). Priorite a Droite (beware of low- flying tractors). In fact, I've got a photo somewhere of a junction with signs pointing to "Toutes Directions" AND "Autres Directions" (in Brive la Gaillarde if you want to see it).

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: John O'L
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:41 AM

Why road signs hid in bushes? Obviously...

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 05:19 AM

leenia -

Both of the links I put up worked for me just now. The site does get a lot of traffic and occasionally just "turns off" a couple of pages. Apparently they pay for a limited number of hits per day, or some such.

The site has run a series of contests for "Road Signs You Don't Want To See," and they've been "popular."

The home page for current contests is at Worth1000 for anyone who'd care to browse; but the ones I linked are from older contests not listed there.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 04:28 AM

They have road signs in France?? Last time I was driving round La Belle France, there wasn't a sign to be seen... we went round Caen 3 times before we found a road that actually lead into it!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: julian morbihan
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 03:49 AM

What's the problem? Here in France the local council workforce keep the verges clear with tractor carried mechanical cutters, then use strimmers to clear around the signs and finally, once a year, come along with a power washer and CLEAN the signs (including the back!)

OK so they only put the signs up from one direction. If you are travelling a different way to that, you will only see the back of the sign you needed! But this is France....

Cordialement

Julian

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 06:01 PM

Sorry guys.. don't know what I was thinking of.. It must be the shock of having no child at home for 5 days.... I've started behaving like a grown up....

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Mingulay
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:58 PM

Where is Herga Kitty when you need her, this her bread and butter.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:53 PM

Bad news, John. The evil forces have destroyed your link.

MMario - thanks for your moral support. Of course you and I are right while LTS has wandered into a wasteland of specious rationalism. Sorry, Liz, but it's the truth.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 04:15 PM

Sometimes signs are not really needed, but just provide Friendly Advice.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 04:14 PM

The big question is "Why does Bush hide behind road signs?"

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 04:03 PM

Sometimes it's best NOT to see the sign?????

John

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 01:46 PM

Mind you.... could be worse. Someone in a village in Wales decided that a cycle path needed dual language instructions for cyclists to dismount from their machines to cross a busy junction (or something) and put a sign up to that effect.

Trouble is... someone had made a monumental booboo in the Welsh translation and the sign informed cyclists that their 'bladder disease has returned'... mistaking cystitis for cyclists!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: MMario
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 01:30 PM

I thnk leeniea has it. Seems the most logical to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 01:25 PM

Verges and hedges are trimmed by mashing machines (they don't so much cut as mangle and fling across the road) that have one single 'arm' that extends over the item to be cut. They can't cut through metal posts that road signs are on, so the arm is lifted up and put down behind the post. This leaves a big bit around the sign that hasn't been trimmed. Someone is supposed to come along behind with smaller trimming equipment (weed whacker, strimmer, hand shears whatever...) but of course, this doesn't always happen so the signs get obscured.

Mind you... the councils are not above putting a sign warning of a new roundabout a) less than 30ft from the roundabout it was warning of and b) behind a tree.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 12:35 PM

Some just seem to vanish round here. You can follow two or three and then come to a road junction and there is no sign, and yes, I have checked the bushes to see if they are hiding.

They can also be pretty devious in where they point. Midway between two roads is common.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: GUEST,Chief Chaos
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 12:30 PM

The only signs that I have experienced being hidden were stop signs and speed limit changes. I suspect that in these cases plants were deliberately allowed to overgrow so that the police could write tickets and provide income to the city coffers.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 12:17 PM

Beware! Mr. Happy...

There are dark entities in those villages, and they do not wish to be found. Remember the forest of enchanted briars which kept The Prince away from Sleeping Beauty? The shrubbery you are seeing around signposts consists of scions of that very forest.

Have you ever asked yourself why the shrubbery burgeons at the signposts and nowhere else? Well, have you?

Whatever you do, don't enter a castle which has no inhabitants, where food mysteriously appears on the banquet table, where there's a cupboard and a voice from nowhere that says "Don't open the cupboard."

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 11:54 AM

Good one, Ernest!

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Ernest
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 10:47 AM

This place is so predictable, isn`t it, Alba?
Best
Ernest

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Alba
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 10:15 AM

Got it one there Ernest..I just knew the Bushes would be involved from the get go:)

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Ernest
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:37 AM

These must be the same vicious trees that unexpectedly jump in front of a car when they smell that the driver is tired or had a few - mind you, officer, just a few - drinks....

This phenomenon has been described by Herbert Rosendorfer -who has a long experience as a judge in traffic cases - some years ago. Often it seems to happen in alleys.

Clearly it is all as great conspiraciy. And you know who stands behind these vicious trees? Yes: Bushes.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: sapper82
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:31 AM

From: gnomad - PM
"and the hedge grows thick and high around each succeeding sign."

Got to be a song to fit that last line somewhere!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: MMario
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:16 AM

Bill - I know the phenomenon occurs in the US - and I've seen it in Cananda too!

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:13 AM

yes!

well, going by my experiences in the tiny bit of this country that I have seen.

sandra (who hasn't travelled far from Sydney)

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 04:31 AM

May we assume this is Europe/UL? If so, why not include that in the post?

Are road signs not the same the world over?

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: gnomad
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 04:25 AM

I reckon JiK has a good theory going there for new growth.

I suspect, however, that MrH may be talking about the expansion of existing vegetation [probably a hedge or similar] disproportionately around roadsigns. I reckon this is due to the industrial revolution having almost extinguished the agricultural labourer.

When hedges were maintained by hand, knowlegeable men walked the hedgelines trimming, planting, and laying, keeping them stockproof, clearing ditches and maintaining sightlines.

The job is now done, if at all, by a man on a tractor fitted with a mechanical flail. This does a fast, not very effective, job of trimming the hedge to shape. It does nothing to keep the hedge stockproof [wire mesh can see to that] and fills the ditch with crap so that the roadway will be more likely to flood. One of the few things the operator knows is that he will catch an earfull from his bosses if he touches a roadsign, the flail will as happily chew that up as it will a hedge, or the nest of a threatened species bird, and roadsigns cost money. He therefore gives all roadsigns a wide berth, and the hedge grows thick and high around each succeeding sign.

I am happy to report that in dales country dry stone walls do not misbehave in this fashion.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 03:34 AM

Road signs, like power lines, cause uncontrolled growth of trees and bushes. In the case of power lines it has been postulated by many people that it's the electromagnetic field emanating from the lines that causes tall trees always to spring up immediately under the lines.

In the case of road signs, some would say its the vortices formed around the isolated post by the movement of traffic nearby.

Or some would say:

1. manmade object is erected in clear space.

2. bird lands on object to rest and enjoy the view.

3. bird shits.

4. seed in bird shit grows.

5. plant that grows inevitably impairs the intended function of any man made - or man placed - object.

I think I'll go with the last process.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: ragdall
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 10:27 PM

It's 'cuz the lorries turn those corners too widely to prune back the vegetation as they does along the other roads?

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 09:29 PM

Take your loppers with you when you drive, and when you encounter one of the camoflaged signs, do a good deed and trim the trees.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: GUEST,Eddie Waddell
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 09:28 PM

There are 2 reasons, basically.

1. Some road signs are kind of shy, so they hide out in the bushes.

2. Terrorist plants are conspiring to wreak havoc by confusing motorists.

Put these two factors together and it's cause for grave concern.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: bobad
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 08:32 PM

Have you seen any unmarked, black helicopters flying around the area?
Any mysterious inscriptions on the backs of these road signs?
I can't say anymore - they might be listening.

Subject: RE: BS: Why road signs hid in bushes??
From: Alba
Date: 15 Aug 06 - 08:14 PM

Well Mr Happy the World is still waging wars sadly... so who knows who might be seeking a backroad to Winchester in the UK or a dirt road to Seattle in the US or a Mountain pass into Turin, Italy via Grenoble, France!!
One cannot be too careful...*smile*