May is National Bicycle Month | More on the concept of adding services icons to bicycle route wayfinding signage

I have been so busy with other projects with hard and crunch deadlines, so I haven't had the time to write more about May's two big events, National Bicycle Month and National Historic Preservation Month.  I should have some time next week to catch up and finish some partially written entries on the two topics.   

This wayfinding sign for the Pioneer Historic Byway and visitor services in Soda Springs, Idaho, list public restrooms as a "destination."

On Friday, in "Man peeing in hiding because there are no restrooms," I mentioned how a half mile up from where this guy stopped to pee, is a new public restroom at the Glendale Regional Park.  

But why would he know that?  There is no wayfinding signage on the bike lane or sidewalk abutting the park that points people to the restroom.

I also pointed out that the Jordan River Parkway signs at the 1700 South entrances, don't list nearby restrooms.  

It's understandable for the new park, because Jordan River Commission hasn't updated signage for awhile and the Park just opened its first phase.  

But across the street is "the old" Glendale Park and it has restrooms too, and the Parkway signage didn't acknowledge that restroom either, and it's been there for many years.

I suggested that how the Iowa State Department of Transportation's Bicycle Map uses a standard set of icons related to services for bicyclists could also be ported/adapted/adopted for bicycle route signage as well.

Something like this.  Hey, I'm not a graphic designer.  It could also somehow include the distance and direction to reach these services, just like the signs on the highway do.

Below, on the left is a pedestrian scaled wayfinding sign from Europe, where the sign just doesn't point to single out disabled people for additional accommodations, but adds and acknowledges pregnant women, young children and seniors as people who could benefit from the ramp as well.  

On the right is an example of the off the highway signage that provides more detailed direction information to the services as listed on the highway sign.

There are many opportunities here for better and more innovative wayfinding signage treatments for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Even the award winning Route Verte network of long distance bicycling routes across Quebec could do a better job, listing not just bike routes, but services too.  Especially because VeloQuebec has organized a lodging certification program, "Bienvenue Cyclistes" to better serve cyclists on long distance trips.