# OK explain why this is not an insane road sign **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 30, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683 "2021-09-30T20:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/22 "2021-10-04T09:03:42Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I don’t think that’s right. It wasn’t right. That’s why I wiped my post. 😛 I was desperately trying to find a pattern to it all but… Good catch. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/23 "2021-10-04T09:05:07Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > It’s not right. That’s why I wiped my post. I was desperately trying to find a pattern to it all but… The pattern is what I wrote: You pay to get OUT of the East Bay to anywhere else. The GG Bridge is the only exception, having neither end in the East Bay. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/24 "2021-10-04T09:06:08Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > The pattern is what I wrote: You pay to get OUT of the East Bay to anywhere else. The GG Bridge is the only exception, having neither end in the East Bay. Yeah. I just wanted to shoehorn the GG in there somehow. I missed. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/25 "2021-12-06T22:16:29Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I remember Sunpass, was that for anything but near Orlando? I know Florida had 3 or more systems at one time. Crazy stuff. Pretty sure it worked near Orlando, though don’t quote me on that. I got one when we visited the in-laws (Palm Beach County), and used it along much of the Florida Turnpike. When I flew down there a couple years back, as they wanted to evacuate from an oncoming hurricane and the whole family was terrified at the thought of FIL driving that far, I remembered my EZ Pass but not my SunPass (whoopsie). Luckily, at that point, the turnpike still had cash lanes. No clue if they do any more. More and more places are going to cashless tolling systems, which means if you don’t have EZPass (or whatever) you are out of luck and have to pay the toll by mail surcharge. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/26 "2021-12-07T14:48:06Z")
What if someone else is driving your car? ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/27 "2021-12-07T16:22:09Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Speaking of insanely shitty signage, I just happened to drive up I-280 into San Francisco earlier today, intending to find my way onto the eastbound Bay Bridge into Oakland and points beyond. This entails driving through multiple interchanges, I-280 onto U.S. 101 and thence to I-80, with plenty of other places you can go as well. There are multiple signs all along the way indicating which lanes to get in to go where, and they are all confusing to say the least and AFAICT some are just downright wrong. I ended up doing multiple lane changes, in bumper-to-bumper traffic, trying to be in the lane I thought those signs were indicating. I ended up in the correct lane finally, but what a PITA. Oh, man, this brings back nightmares from trying to get through San Franscisco to the Richmond Bridge, and I ended up at the Carquinez Bridge. It _was_ when there was still all the EQ rebuilding was going on, but, man… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/28 "2021-12-07T23:45:43Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Speaking of insanely shitty signage, I just happened to drive up I-280 into San Francisco earlier today, intending to find my way onto the eastbound Bay Bridge into Oakland and points beyond. This entails driving through multiple interchanges, I-280 onto U.S. 101 and thence to I-80, with plenty of other places you can go as well. There are multiple signs all along the way indicating which lanes to get in to go where, and they are all confusing to say the least and AFAICT some are just downright wrong. Was this the sign that hurt you? [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzoqCBXU0AEElWm?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzoqCBXU0AEElWm?format=jpg&name=large) Or this? [![](https://live.staticflickr.com/2122/2074277798_b66617542a_n.jpg) ](https://live.staticflickr.com/2122/2074277798_b66617542a_n.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/29 "2021-12-08T04:23:22Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Was this the sign that hurt you? No, it was multiple signs on northbound I-280 and I think also on 101 as I was trying to make my way to the Bay Bridge. They all indicated which lanes I should be in for the GG Bridge, Bay Bridge, downtown, and other destinations, and they’re thoroughly intractably incomprehensible. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/30 "2021-12-08T16:37:59Z")
You may not get a bill for months, the Maryland EzPass has been screwy for over a year now from what I hear. I’ve heard of people not hearing something for months and then getting a massive bill. The phone systems have been bad too. I have two EzPasses. One for my car from VA because they have an HOV 3+/EzPass lane. The motorcycle can use them for free but you need a special transponder from Virginia to get the HOV use. I need one for the motorcycle so I use one from Delaware as Maryland used to charge a monthly fee to have the transponder if you didn’t use it enough. A couple of months ago I was in VA on the bike, I don’t have a transponder in it unless I know I’m going through a toll booth as they charge you if you are in the HOV without one. Well they kicked everyone off the road and on to a non-HOV toll road. I don’t know if they ever charged me or not. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/31 "2021-12-11T14:22:40Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > BTW, I figured out how to remember which way the tolls go in the Bay Area. There are eight toll bridges, all of which have tolls in one direction and free the other direction. > > This is the mnemonic I devised to remember which way is free, for seven of those bridges: They all have one end in the East Bay area and the other end elsewhere. Just think: NOBODY wants to be in the East Bay, nor to pay money to get there, so those are the free directions. Everybody already in the East Bay will pay money to get out of there, so those are the toll directions. (The exception is the Golden Gate Bridge, which has neither end in the East Bay.) Think about all of the things one might do for fun &/or entertainment, when one goes to an: - **A** musement park - you pay to enter & are free to leave whenever you want - **B** all game - you pay to enter & are free to leave whenever you want - **C** oncert - you pay to enter & are free to leave whenever you want - **D** - (_I could keep going thru the alphabet but you get the idea_) How come NJ lets you in for free but you need to pay to leave??? Whether going to NY, PA or DE, one must pay to get out of NJ. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/32 "2021-12-11T14:33:51Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Whether going to NY, PA or DE, one must pay to get out of NJ. Fun factoid but not accurate. There are crossings into NY & PA that are free. It is mostly true though. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/33 "2021-12-11T14:57:14Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Fun factoid but not accurate. There are crossings into NY & PA that are free. > > It is mostly true though. Some of the DRJBTC bridges are free but those are only the both weight & size restricted ones that are so narrow many people pull in their mirror(s) before crossing. _Any bridge or tunnel that has a toll you do pay leaving NJ_, including both north & south on I-95 & I-295 & both east & west on I-78 & I-80. Better? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/34 "2021-12-11T15:02:44Z")
Yes. Looks accurate to me. In general, keep in mind, plenty of places on the northern border don’t need bridges and have no tolls. Also by the time you’re up to the New Hope area, many bridges don’t have tolls. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/35 "2021-12-11T15:25:36Z")
I know about those [bridges](https://www.drjtbc.org/bridge-info/), I believe all of them are two lane, either 15 or 25 mph & most of them are either 3 or 4 ton limits & aren’t wide enough to take even an empty box truck. I take Lambertville & Stockton bridges somewhat regularly (well, used to - can you get to Stockton again on PA-263k have they fixed the Hurricane Ida damage yet?) & am on my way to Washington’s Crossing right now for the crossing practice day. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/36 "2021-12-12T12:31:35Z")
Okay, while perusing pictures of freeway signs, I found this one: [![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rT4ZGaxGmjk/TeFevj62uZI/AAAAAAAADsE/UbnnU35poO8/s1600/LosAngelesRugCleaning+Road+Better+10.jpg) ](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rT4ZGaxGmjk/TeFevj62uZI/AAAAAAAADsE/UbnnU35poO8/s1600/LosAngelesRugCleaning+Road+Better+10.jpg) Imma just gonna guess here that it’s not for realz. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/37 "2021-12-12T16:26:10Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Imma just gonna guess here that it’s not for realz. You mean because you can’t get onto highway 163 from I-10? https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sQCna0H142T1a4A5s4-DqOw%212m2%211d32.8117857%212d-117.1558659%213f110.15%214f8.119%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/38 "2021-12-13T05:22:20Z")
> [@abcdefghij](#): > > You mean because you can’t get onto highway 163 from I-10? Well yeah, inasmuch as Route 163 is in San Diego and the real I-10 goes through Los Angles and nowhere near San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/39 "2022-01-01T03:10:36Z")
All over route 16 in New Hampshire there are signs before toll plazas that say “EZ Pass, signed lanes only.” There’s at least 2 signs with that language ahead of every toll plaza I’ve gone through so far. And at every toll plaza EZ Pass is accepted at every lane. The only possible choices are “EZ Pass only” and “EZ Pass or cash.” Zero lanes exclude EZ Pass 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/40 "2022-01-01T20:03:25Z")
Two possibilities come to mind: 1. The signs are old and haven’t been taken down yet 2. If the “EZ Pass Only” and “EZ Pass or cash” signs are electronic, it is possible that the EZ pass reader could go down on a lane and its sign would change to “Cash only” ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683/41 "2022-01-01T20:05:39Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > If the “EZ Pass Only” and “EZ Pass or cash” signs are electronic, it is possible that the EZ pass reader could go down on a lane and its sign would change to “Cash only” They’re all regular signs, not electronic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-explain-why-this-is-not-an-insane-road-sign/951683.md?page=3)