Logic behind order of cities on signs on highways

Going on a highway from Rhine Falls to Zug I noticed a couple of signs in the highway similar to this one I have attached. Could someone explain me the logic behind the order of the cities on this sign? I mean, they are not ordered by distance, like in any other country I know.

Thanks!

Hi GGustavo-

Welcome to the forum.

In fact, they are ordered by distance (look again), but the route to Lausanne goes to the southwest, while the route to Basel goes to the northwest. Depending on how close you are to Schaffhausen, you may take the E60/E41 ( Rte 4) via Regensburg, not enter Zürich at all, and near Unterengstringen, choose to go south on the E41/4 to get to Lausanne, or northwest on the E60/1 to Basel.

A look at a map provides an instant answer to your question. Perhaps you do not have one?

map.search.ch/?pos=678456,251904&z=32

Slowpoke

Hi Slowpoke,

Thank you for your answer.

I have attached several highway signs from different countries. See my point? Everywhere (Argentina, Canada, Russia, USA, etc) the closest city is on top, and so on.. On the sample of Swiss sign i have attached, the first city on the list is 86 km from where I am, and the last one on the list is 26 km from where I am, no matter which way I take.

I would like to understand the reason of this particular order of cities on Swiss signs. Thanks!

Upside down?

Slowpoke

From bottom to top there is not order either. All the distances are mixed up.

Maybe it is intended to keep you alert .

if you want to be picky, only two numbers are mixed up.

In your first example, the two middle numbers are essentially the same.

Pretend that they are the same. Then what?

Slowpoke

To tell you the truth, Slowpoke, when I saw the sign I took a picture of it for a reason. There is a TV show here, you send interesting questions and there is a team of "knowledgeable" players which have to find a correct answer to that question in 1 minute. I find a good question: "Give me the reason of the order of cities on Swiss signs". The problem is, I cannot find the answer to this question myself!

Perhaps most people don't care? Except the TV viewers and you?

I don't.

;-)

Slowpoke

Most people don't care about anything. Is that a good reason for stop asking questions? I don't think so. Thanks, anyway.

I don't know the answer either, but the order might be related to popularity of the mentioned destinations. If most of the traffic at a certain location is bound for Zürich, they may list that at the top.

Hi Arno, It's funny but apparently by population could be the right answer. At least it works in this case:

1) Zurich (population 2010: 372,000) - 143 km

2) Basel (population 2010: 163,000) - 114 km

3) Lausanne (population 2010: 127,000) - 116 km

4) Bern (population 2010: 124,000) - 24 km

Thanks :)

<<"Is that a good reason for stop asking questions? I don't think so. ">>

Your right. My answer was inappropriate.

Slowpoke