Road Sign Math

Here is the third submission from Jim Bernard Jr., an early RSM enthusiast. The math isn’t going to win any awards, but it qualifies as a winning sign and as of the submission date there doesn’t seem to be anything controversial about it (unlike a recent sign submitted by his father).

The sign offers directions to Excelsior Blvd which is also known as Highway 3 though not many people seem to call it that. Excelsior Blvd at one time was home to over 40 gas stations which caused local historian Jeanne Anderson to call it, “The Gas Station Capital of the Midwest.” Her claim that there were forty gas stations appears to be well documented, the assertion that it was at that time a Gas Station Capital is harder to verify. Given that, we at RSM accept it willingly and kindly direct you to a terrific historical photo of a Sid’s Gas Station.

Mr. Bernard draws a nice solution to this sign that is not immediately obvious.

This sign puts Mr. Bernard safely ahead of his arch-rival Aaron Oliver in the scoring. This sign is found on Highway 169 northbound in Minneapolis, Minnesota. See sign on map!

Ed.: It is worth noting that the creator of Road Sign Math has driven by this sign dozens, perhaps several dozens, of times and never taken note of the mathematics implied. Kudos to Mr. Bernard!