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Topic starter
20/05/2025 10:34 am
Some months ago, in a small conference room within London’s impressive and monumental City Hall, the Mayor of London and some of his senior planning executives gathered to discuss some low-cost but potentially effective measures to make London a more visitor-friendly city.
A number of suggestions had been put forward, but the favourite proposal was for a number of “YOU ARE HERE” signs to be painted on streets and pavements at strategic locations throughout central London.
Although one or two attendees voiced a slight concern that the concept as originally described might contain a logical flaw, it received an overwhelming vote in favour, and various local councils were tasked with its implementation.
The signage is in bright luminous colours intended to be clearly visible in all conditions. Several hundred are already in place, helping tourists and other out-of-towners find their way right to the spot. (Identifying the precise location of the spot is not seen as a serious issue. The committee felt that an element of mystery and surprise was a vital part of the tourist experience).
Although originally aimed primarily at tourists, the signage scheme has also had an unexpected additional benefit in providing invaluable reassurance to local residents with short-term memory deficits.
If this pioneering tourist navigational concept lives up to its early promise, the plan is to licence it for use in a wide variety of suitable locations.
I hope you found that interest . . . hello? . . . Where the hell are you?
This topic was modified 11 months ago by Graeme Ogg
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
20/05/2025 10:38 am
This is sheer genius. I would like to recommend adding a rural application for people trekking through farmland on public path allowances though; changing the "you" to "ewe".
20/05/2025 11:20 am
This signage would be easier to understand if it was changed to "You we here."
Topic starter
20/05/2025 11:45 am
Now you're just taking the piss.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
20/05/2025 1:15 pm
Such a brilliant idea. So simple, yet so thoroughly effective. As soon as you're there, here you are.
If you have no clue what your location is while you tour the town, merely go to a 'You Are Here' and there you are. Outstanding.
Topic starter
20/05/2025 1:20 pm
@perrone1 Oh, absolutely. When we go up to central London now we use these all the time. We'd be lost without them.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
20/05/2025 1:34 pm
@graeme-ogg Oh I can certainly understand - BIG improvement. I wonder if individual, portable, "You Are Here" signs, might be beneficial as well?
Jack Dodds and John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
20/05/2025 1:54 pm
@perrone1 Now there's an idea. It has to be said we do get quite a number of seriously overweight American visitors, and individualised portable "You Are Here" signs would certainly save them a lot of painful trekking around, trying to hunt down the static signs.
I will forward your suggestion to the Mayor's Streets and Recreational Areas Planning Committee and will let you know the response in due course.
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
20/05/2025 2:02 pm
You may want to consider placing a small projecting device on each person that beams on the ground "You Are Here." Now everyone will know where they are all the time.
John Bono
North Jersey
20/05/2025 2:42 pm
@perrone1 Exactly Tony. It would seem that every time you encounter one of these you would find it outstanding.
John Kuvakas and Tony Perrone reacted
20/05/2025 2:48 pm
@graeme-ogg Check the number of units there Graeme; a sign might read "you're in 8 troughs, please use just one."
John Kuvakas and Tony Perrone reacted
20/05/2025 4:18 pm
I note that no cemeteries are included. Not appealing to tourists, I guess.
Topic starter
21/05/2025 6:33 am
Truth is dafter than fiction.
My spoof about London street signage was prompted by an actual "You are here" sign I spotted on a local pavement (sorry, sidewalk) a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was a joke, maybe put there by a local shop, but I went out this morning and tracked it down.
It is there by courtesy of Wandsworth Council, our neighbouring council district. Why, I have no idea. It is not in the vicinity of any local landmark apart from the supermarket across the street.
I could be wrong but I suspect you have to grab the QR code with your smartphone, then you open the app and it automatically connects you to Google Earth, where you select Street View and it will show you a picture of your local pavement (sidewalk) with the "You Are Here" logo. The impeccable circular logic of the whole thing fills me with awe and admiration. I never knew our local authorities could be so imaginative.
p.s. You DID realise all the London signage pics were faked, didn't you? Of course you did. Took me 4 or 5 hours a day for about a week to cobble them all together, so I wouldn't want you to think I just went out with my Polaroid and snapped them.
This post was modified 11 months ago by Graeme Ogg
Graeme.M. Ogg
London U.K.
21/05/2025 7:36 am
@graeme-ogg Well how about THAT! Yeah, the big deal here is the QR code. Scan it with your phone and you have all sorts of info. What will they think of next Some sort of flashing sign to tell pedestrians when its safe to cross streets?
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