# Did I see this roadsign (re: motorcycles on bridges) or am I on crack? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368 "2012-10-20T22:59:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curiosity_Kills_Her)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/21 "2012-10-22T05:29:57Z")
I seem to have a vague recollection of something like what you’re describing. Unfortunately, it’s been a long time so so the memory is not sharp. I don’t recall ever coming across one when I had my motorcycle, but I don’t believe I ever took it over a bridge. Any similar sign I would have seen would have been in Michigan, if location matters. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/22 "2012-10-22T12:07:15Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > What sort of bike are you wanting to get? I like my big heavy Harley, I think its much easier to ride than a squirlley sport bike, but everyone is different. Something sport/touring, like a Triumph Sprint, sounds like what I’d be looking for. That seems like it might be too big for a first bike, though. All the advice seems to be to work up to something that size. Toward that end, I’m not sure what to start with. > [@Curiosity\_Kills\_Her](#): > > I seem to have a vague recollection of something like what you’re describing. Unfortunately, it’s been a long time so so the memory is not sharp. I don’t recall ever coming across one when I had my motorcycle, but I don’t believe I ever took it over a bridge. > > Any similar sign I would have seen would have been in Michigan, if location matters. I would have either seen it out in the northwest, near Seattle, or here in Boston. In either place, I can only think of a few bridges where a sign like that might be placed. Someone upthread said these bridges are usually short, but I’m not sure if that’s necessarily true. I think I’ve seen suspension bridges with grated metal road decks. Always figured that was to let the air flow through so it doesn’t oscillate when the wind blows, which can be bad. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > I suppose I just hadn’t heard it then. But it still made sense to me when my teacher would yell that at us when we did something our own way (the wrong way) instead of the ‘right way’. Especially when the right way is a bit counter intuitive…“You can do it your way, but my way works better”. > This usually came up when we had to do the 135 degree turn. It’s hard to get used to turning your head into the turn instead of looking forward. There’s a thread about professors who know their subjects cold, but never learn how to really teach what they know. I had a similar experience in this class. I’m sure they’re great riders, and that the techniques they’re looking for are sound. But just saying “turn your head” wasn’t really helping me. Tell me where my visual focus should be; middle of the turn, end of the turn, as far as possible along my direction of travel. If I’m trying to process the right visual information, my head will turn to get it. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/23 "2012-10-22T13:54:45Z")
One thing I really try to avoid thinking about when I’m going over a metal bridge- falling. Sliding along that bridge would be just like sliding over a huge cheesegrater. I always wear all my gear, and I’m not sure that would help at all. I don’t understand riders who go out in shorts and short sleeve shirts. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/24 "2012-10-22T17:00:50Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > One thing I really try to avoid thinking about when I’m going over a metal bridge- falling. Sliding along that bridge would be just like sliding over a huge cheesegrater. I always wear all my gear, and I’m not sure that would help at all. I don’t understand riders who go out in shorts and short sleeve shirts. I am so misunderstood… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/25 "2012-10-22T21:07:49Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > I am so misunderstood… 😃 Yeah, it’s all breezy & comfy 'til you lose some skin. 😃 I get geared up on [one of these](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v677/ural/misc/bikes.jpg). The other, not so much. It’s not that I drop the red one, but I can’t drop the black one! ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/26 "2012-10-24T04:37:00Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I wonder if NHTSA has an e-mail address for questions like this. NHTSA does have an e-mail address. I sent them my question and got a reply today. I suspect it’s just a canned response with a link to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), a nigh-comprehensive document that could keep even the most jaded road sign enthusiast entertained for days. I haven’t finished researching the issue yet, but I suspect it may not be much help. As I recall, the signs were black text on white, and would thus predate the black-pictograms-on-yellow era of traffic signage. The reply came from Michael Jordan at [dot.gov](http://dot.gov). It’s so nice that he’s found a way to keep himself occupied since leaving basketball. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/27 "2012-10-24T14:46:59Z")
There’s a bridge in Philadelphia, PA, USA that has a particularly long stretch of metal grating as both sides of the bride draw open. For years there was a sign that showed a motorcycle rider graphic and some message about weaving or such. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/28 "2012-10-24T14:49:38Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > both sides of the bride draw open. What a wonderful wedding night image! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/29 "2012-10-24T17:00:37Z")
I’m sure I’ve seen such a sign on the old Jamestown bridge, which was a long, undivided steel grate bridge and was scary as hell to drive over even in a car if there was any wind whatsoever. Unfortunately they blew it up a few years ago, so there’s no way to check. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368/30 "2012-10-24T17:50:14Z")
I didn’t find a sign like the one you describe, but [here’s a page](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/dl655/mcycle_htm/abilities.htm) claiming that you’re _not_ supposed to swerve on a grated surface. Scroll about three-quarters down the page. [Here’s the accompanying image.](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/imageserver/dmv/images/pubs/mcycle09/GrateCrossingWrong.gif) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-i-see-this-roadsign-re-motorcycles-on-bridges-or-am-i-on-crack/638368.md?page=1)