Very interesting topic about GA highways. (Macon, Warner Robins: hotels, theatre, quality of life)

[Columbuskidd92]

Do Georgia Highways HAVE to Be So Ugly? - YouTube

I would love some good input about this topic.

[cittic10]

Billboards always have vocal opponents from the folks that don't like to be forced to read things.
It's the same people trying to ban signs in commercial districts of cities and towns.

Personally I like the blindfold idea.

OR better yet, how about we put a toll booth at the border so all the people passing through on their way to Orlando can help pay for job development here in GA so people don't have to work at roadside businesses catering to tourists. I mean, if our tax dollars are going to maintain roadways for millions of tourists to go to florida, we should be able to at least try to make a living off of them in a legal fashion.

Sure there's stretches of highway in florida that don't have billboards and as a result they have little or no hotels, restaurants or places to get gas either. Ask the tourists if they'd rather be forced to read a billboard or take a crap in a field and go hungry or wait in long lines and pay higher prices at the one and only gas station.

Sorry but there's no free lunch.
And I've been down that stretch of 75 countless times. There aren't any trees or anything pretty behind those billboards either. If anything, they help keep motorists from noticing how ugly and barren the agricultural and developed areas are by sticking rows and rows of billboards in front of it.

The narrator of the video claims there aren't any billboards in North GA and there most certainly are. Many of them are on very tall monopole structures above the treetops. Way up there they are hard to notice and even harder to read. You pretty much need a moonroof and a pair of binoculars to read them.

[neil0311]

I agree completely. There needs to be a balance between the ability to advertise and the rights of the citizens of the state not be bombarded by ugly billboards that destroy the landscape. Besides the terrible driving down south, that's one of the biggest and most noticeable differences on the roads when you move here from places like New England where billboard proliferation is controlled.

[cittic10]

Originally Posted by neil0311

I agree completely. There needs to be a balance between the ability to advertise and the rights of the citizens of the state not be bombarded by ugly billboards that destroy the landscape. Besides the terrible driving down south, that's one of the biggest and most noticeable differences on the roads when you move here from places like New England where billboard proliferation is controlled.

You agree with who?

The guy in the video thinks there should be NO signs. Like in parts of florida. Not a balance, none.

I, on the other hand, think there should be no sign regulations, which would result in more signs, but probably much smaller ones better spaced apart.

[Newsboy]

Signs are controlled by county and city ordinances, not state. The reason you see so many sections of I-75 through middle and south Georgia overrun with ugly billboards is, the local governments use these to GENERATE REVENUE! The more affluent counties don't need this revenue and have fewer signs; the poorer counties the opposite.

The BEST examples I know of are in middle Georgia, where both Bibb and Houston counties have strict billboard regulations but Peach County allows every damn ugly and offensive sign known to man. It's very noticeable driving the 20 miles or so from Macon to Warner Robins. Ditto Adel/Cook County (home of King Frog) between Valdosta and Tifton. UGLY UGLY UGLY!!!!

And if you believe sign controls don't make a difference in a community, just drive around Fayette County. HUGE difference compared to the rest of Metro ATL!

[Brian_M]

Hard to notice the signs when you're staring at all the TRASH on the roadside and trying to avoid the big crumble spots on the poor quality roads. GA road shoulders have to be the most disgusting I've seen in all the miles I've driven (every state, several countries). That's what I see, and shake my head about, when driving around GA. Sometimes (once a year?) they're cleaned up, but a week later there's as much trash as before. Doesn't matter if it's one of the interstates, a main highway or tiny local road. That's what I see.... I've never even noticed that there were That many billboards.

[cittic10]

Originally Posted by Brian_M

Hard to notice the signs when you're staring at all the TRASH on the roadside and trying to avoid the big crumble spots on the poor quality roads. GA road shoulders have to be the most disgusting I've seen in all the miles I've driven (every state, several countries). That's what I see, and shake my head about, when driving around GA. Sometimes (once a year?) they're cleaned up, but a week later there's as much trash as before. Doesn't matter if it's one of the interstates, a main highway or tiny local road. That's what I see.... I've never even noticed that there were That many billboards.

Good point. These anti billboard groups never have anything to say about trash and litter unless it's litter that forces them to read something. Not a peep about other blights such as decaying buildings or junk cars, un mowed lawns and other ordinance violations. All they care about signs because signs make them read, think and feel a certain way and these people feel that's a violation.

Blindfolds. Why didn't I think of that?

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by cittic10

You agree with who?

I agree that Georgia has too many billboards alongside the interstates, and there needs to be more responsible regulation, be it at the state, county, city, or other level.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cittic10

It's the same people trying to ban signs in commercial districts of cities and towns.

I don't think so. There's a big difference between a commercial area in a city and nice stretch of countryside.

The "right to advertise" (if there is any such thing) is surely at least as limited as freedom of speech generally.

Having freedom of speech doesn't mean you can say anything, anywhere and anytime. You can't yell fire in a crowded theatre, you can't walk into a church and start cussing, you can't lie, slander, plagiarize, commit fraud, paint graffiti on your neighbor's house, wear a shirt with obscene pictures and words, or do any number of other things.

In a free society all rights are balanced against the rights of others. If people think billboards are essential to a high quality of life, I'd simply create billboard zones. Say 500 feet from designated intersections. You can put up billboards to your heart's content in these areas but not elsewhere. That's a more than fair compromise.

[cdw1084]

Originally Posted by neil0311

I agree completely. There needs to be a balance between the ability to advertise and the rights of the citizens of the state not be bombarded by ugly billboards that destroy the landscape. Besides the terrible driving down south, that's one of the biggest and most noticeable differences on the roads when you move here from places like New England where billboard proliferation is controlled.

It's a known fact that northerners can't drive. That's why you guys prefer Mass transit....The worst drivers in GA are up the Northeast.