INFORMATION VERSUS AESTHETICS: THE GUT ISSUE IN BILLBOARD CONTROL

This paper which sets forth that the policy for control of roadside advertising should not be administered primarily as a problem of balancing aesthetic needs versus jobs but as a problem of accomadating aesthetic and information needs, makes a detailed examination of the legislative background, suggests means of refining the problem and redefining the issues, and presents the pros and cons of the aesthetics-vs-information debate. The classes of signs which form exceptions to the 1958 Act prohibiting advertising along the Interstate System are discussed. Changes are described which were intended to increase the proportion of public responsibility in the mix of motorist information services and reduce scope of the private sector's license. Observations are presented which may be applied to designing better travel information systems. Reference in also made to engineering principles which should be considered in organizing information facilities. The issues of private commercial signing and public facilities are examined with special reference to intermediate destination directional information and local directional information. Factors are listed which comprise the frame of reference for considering whether further legislation is needed. A detailed list of references is provided.

• Record URL:
  • https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trcircular/164/164-003.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00978515
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at a panel discussion on 'Implementation of Environmental Goals' held as part of the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board, Washington, D.C., 23 January 1974. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Netherton, R D
• Publication Date: 1975-3

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 46-81
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Circular
  • Issue Number: 164
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0097-8515

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advertising; Aesthetics; Design; Direction signs; Driver information systems; Environmental impacts; Laws; Motorist aid systems; Private enterprise; Roadside advertising; Traffic signs
• Identifier Terms: Interstate Highway System
• Old TRIS Terms: Directional sign
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Law;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00096056
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 2 1975 12:00AM