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Wayfinders
A wayfinder gives a user an instruction directing them how to continue on the road the user is already on, in situations where it may be unclear, and there would otherwise be no instruction. A wayfinder is warranted in the following cases:
- The continuation path for a controlled-access ramp, highway or freeway for an exit on the typical exit side, has at least two fewer travel lanes after the exit, than before it;
- The continuation path for an uncontrolled ramp or highway, or for an exit on the atypical side, has at least one fewer travel lanes after the exit than before it;
- The continuation path consists of a single lane; or
- Some or all of the associated signage may be interpreted as suggesting a split -- for example;
- lacking typical exit language, or
- with arrows pointing left and right but no clear "straight-ahead" choice, or
- is otherwise unclear or inconsistent so that drivers may be confused as to which way is the continuation or whether there is a continuation at all.
A travel lane is a lane which is long enough that a naïve driver might consider it a long-distance lane. For our purposes we will clarify this as any lane which;
- before nearing the exit, is neither striped nor signed as a departing lane over a significant length (approximately ¾ a mile, or its full length), and
- has not just started within a mile before the exit.
The original text of the wayfinder criteria to be replaced
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Need sample images for "lane drops" and "non-obvious continuations"; also, example of BGS with lane arrows |
In these cases, we need to use a wayfinder configuration. Each wayfinder configuration will have one "IN" segment and two "OUT" segments.
Keep these basic principles in mind:
- The OUT segments must be the same type (either Freeway or Ramp, as explained below).
- Each OUT segment must have a name different than the IN segment.
- OUT segments should be named with the information displayed on the roadway signs.
- However, if this would leave an OUT segment with the same name as the IN segment, the OUT segment should be left with no-name.
Previously in these situations segment naming was modified in one of the following ways in order of preference:
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- Do not use "to" at the beginning of the name of the segment if it is for a continuation of the same road, e.g. a freeway split where one side is the continuation of the same freeway (the user is already on the road, not going "to" it).
- Each "stub" segment should be Segment length/Minimum long. This is long enough so it will not cause routing problems, but it is short enough to suppress display of the names (on Freeway stubs) and keep freeways looking contiguous (on Ramp stubs).
- The OUT segments should have a turn angle of 10°-20° off of the midline on opposite sides of each other, consistent with the geometry for freeway splits. This will allow for easy identification in WME, but still look seamless in the client app.
To configure the wayfinder,
- If the numbered/signed exit is on the right, the OUT segments should be Ramp type. This will give an "exit right" instruction for the exit and a "stay to the left" instruction for the continuation.
- For a basic exit, use a named Ramp stub for the continuation, and a standard Ramp for the exit.
- For a freeway split, use a Ramp stub on both sides.
- If the numbered/signed exit is on the left, the OUT segments should be Freeway type. This will give "stay to the" instructions on both sides (if Ramp segments were used, Waze would give a confusing "exit right" instruction for the continuation).
- For a basic exit, use a named Freeway stub for the continuation, and an unnamed Freeway stub followed by a named Ramp for the exit.
- For a freeway split, use named Freeway stubs on both sides.