Friday Five: Rollercoasters, pavement, and videotape

August 3, 2012 — Paoli Hospital erected bright orange vehicle limit signs in its garage after a 45,000-pound fire engine truck was penetrated the concrete surface last July. Engineers determined that the truck was 10 times the recommended weight of what the garage could handle. The new entrance sign will warn drivers that the official weight limit is 4 tons – sending a stern message to overweight vehicles to either slim down or park elsewhere.

Thrill-seekers got a surprise when the ride they were on malfunctioned (courtesy of News10).

Riders on the Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in California lived through what is one of the most terrifying rollercoaster experiences – being suspended 150 feet in the air due to mechanical failure. Riders were safely evacuated thanks to a giant crane the amusement park keeps for such occasions.  The Occupational Health and Safety Administration will investigate the incident and oversee subsequent safety tests.

The lack of signs at a red light camera intersection has left drivers angry and city revenue a bit lighter (courtesy of NewsWorks).

Philadelphia’s Parking Authority is scrambling after a major sign mishap at a very busy intersection: authorities forget to post a warning sign informing drivers that the intersection was monitored by a red light camera. Unsuspecting drivers were shocked to discover that their illegal actions were actually being monitored.  Violators were slapped with $100 fines, which the city will now return — amounting to nearly $1 million in lost revenue.

Cyclists in Maryland are granted a greater share of the road with new bike lane signs (courtesy of GreaterGreaterWashington).

Maryland’s State Highway Administration gave local cyclists a boost with new bike lane signs, which allow cyclists more control on narrow roads. The new sign throws away the “share the road” concept and instead grants cyclists full use of the center lane, in addition to preexisting allowances for cyclists in the right lane. The new signs represent another victory for bicycle safety among other recent initiatives to safeguard bikers.

Businesses face off in a parking sign war while home businesses  are “de-signed”  by angry neighbors (Via MyParkingSign).

Businesses in Gin Gin, NY, fight for customers by erecting reserved parking signs. To some, the new signs encroach on public spaces, and threaten neighboring businesses. To others, these spaces are already being taken up by employees of those very same neighboring businesses, thereby preventing potential customers from parking. On another front, home-based businesses in New Smyrna Beach came under attack by city officials, who asked businesses to refrain from posting commercial signs in residential neighborhoods.

– N. Gilliat