For strange and complicated writing reasons, I’ve been doing Google image searches on “confusing parking signs”. The results have been OK, but not spectacular. I haven’t yet found something that makes me sit up and make strange noises.
And, frankly, if I don’t find something confusing, it has to be pretty straightforward. I’m easily confused. It’s my curse.
Have you ever seen one of those light poles with half a dozen parking signs attached to it, each announcing a different admonition? Where figuring out what is allowed, and when, is harder than parallel parking?
(Yes. I’m terrible at parallel parking. I admit it. I was quite good at it during the two weeks prior to my drivers test.)
Drive in a major city for long enough and you learn to ignore any and all signs. I park wherever I damn well please and just assume that it’s peachy.
In San Francisco, the general rule is 4am-6pm you’ll get a ticket regardless of where you park, unless it’s in crazy expensive garage. From 6pm-4am it’s a free for all and chaos ensues – it’s simply a matter of deciding that something is a parking space and going for it while ignoring all laws of physics, civility, and sanity.
There is an episode of Top Gear where James May talks to a lady who designs confusing road signs. I can’t remember if there were parking specific ones.
We did see one in Beijing that was confusing enough for us to take a picture of and ask the hotel staff about. They didn’t know. I’ve decided it means no exploding cars. If I run across the image, I’ll send it to you.