[Archivist]

Dear Mr. Lis,

We must write and thank you again for your suggestion for road numbers in addition to street names in urban areas. Ontario can only benefit from engaged citizens such as yourself who hold such strong beliefs. Please accept our reassurance that all ideas received by the Ministry of Transportation receive equal consideration, and that we greatly value your input.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a confirmation at the time that a proposal has been adopted or not by the province. Please rest assured, however, that your welcome and thoughtful suggestion has received the full consideration that it deserves.

Your humble servant,

Ministry of Transportation

 

[egotrippin]

I'd argue that numbering streets could make the city less tourist friendly, or at least less brandable. Look at New York, Calgary and Edmonton, three cities where most of the streets are numbered. What are the most well known streets in those cities? Wall St, Broadway, Stephen Ave, Jasper Ave - not numbered streets.

5th Avenue.

 

[adma]

42nd Street...

 

[ShonTron]

34th Street
125th Street
And First and 1st - the nexus of the universe (at least in NYC, there's only one).

 

[colinski]

I have just moved back to Canada from living many years in Australia. I used to think, while in Australia, "I wish I had the Canadian wayfinding system," as their signs are often too close to the turn off, non-directional, inter-city (and non-capital municipalities are small and often unheard of), and just plain out of place.

Instead of: 401 WEST (London), you get M1 GEELONG. Now, if you don't know where Geelong is, you have no idea what direction you are travelling. The next 'city' is what is displayed rather than the direction. (Here the QEW is an exception, but it makes sense as it is (i) not a long highway, and (ii) is oddly shaped and multi-directional. Here QEW Hamilton, QEW Niagara and QEW Toronto work. But maybe not for a tourist...)

Mind you, saying that, they do follow the UK or European system. When at a T-junction, it is very clear as which direction to take.

Numbers are new in Australia; they have introduced a system like the UK where motorways are identified with an "M" (e.g., M1); secondary roads are "A" and tertiary roads are "B"; there is even a fourth classification, "C". But NO ONE uses the numbers. They still refer to the M1 as the "Princes Highway", etc. Roads too, are British in design and twist and wind and change names several times. I remember asking in a small town outside of Melbourne for the (say) A123... they hadn't the foggiest as to what I was referring.

Upon my return, however, and driving, I've noticed that in Toronto the signs are not so good. On Ontario's highways they are in general OK, but in the city the really need to be more pronounced.

Re: the first image on this post about UK signs. Yes, very clear as to direction. The problem I have is (especially as a non-resident) they are far too complicated to view while driving.

We need somewhere in between.

Colin