Picnic Area

Synonyms

Picnic Site, Rest Area, Rest Stop, Picnic Table, Picnicking

Category

Travel, Tourism, Public Facilities, Road Signs

Message / Function

To indicate the location of facilities for picnics and to indicate the availability of a roadside area where drivers may rest

	Source	Description
	BS 8501:2002	Side view of a human figure seated at a table, tree in the background
	UKDT	Side view of a human figure seated at a table next to a tree
	ON Testdesign	Side view of a human figure seated at a table next to a tree
	ISO 7001	Side view of a human figure seated at a table with attached bench, tree in the background
	Bolivia	Side view of a human figure seated at a table with attached bench, tree in the background
	In-Safety	Side view of a human figure seated at a table with attached bench, text WC
	Tern	Side view of a human figure seated at a table with attached bench
	CNFC	Side view of a human figure seated at a table with attached bench
	Unknown	Side view of a human figure seated at a table with attached bench
	Unknown	Side view of two human figures seated at a table
	GSR Portugal	Side view of two benches next to table and tree on base
	La Clusaz	Side view of two benches next to table and tree on base
	France IISR	Side view of two benches next to table and tree on base
	SWISSTRAFFIC	Side view of two benches next to table and tree on base
	Ecuador	Side view of two benches next to table and tree on base
	SADC	Side view of bench next to table and tree on base
	Dreyfuss	Side view of table next to tree, on base
	SSRS	Bench and tree on base
	STA	Bench and tree on base
	UN 1968	Bench and tree on base
	Slovenia 2015	Bench and tree on base
	Unknown	Bench and tree on base
	W-RSN	Bench and tree
	Aragón	Tree and bench
	Québec	Side view of picnic table with attached bench next to tree
	Québec	Side view of picnic table with attached bench next to tree
	TAC	Side view of picnic table with attached benches
	Carbon	Side view of picnic table with attached benches and outline circle in top right corner
	NPS	Side view of picnic table with attached benches
	U.S. National Park Service	Side view of picnic table with attached benches
	Parks Canada	Side view of picnic table with attached benches
	NZS 8603	Side view of picnic table with attached benches
	BTA 1989	Side view of table
	FMTK 1986	Side view of table
	Peru 2016	Basket with food on checkered piece of cloth

Discussion

The examples shown above are a selection from the range of pictograms and symbols for the referent Picnic Area that can be found in publications and guiding systems worldwide. There are several general concepts and a considerable number of visualizations. Obviously there is no clear stereotype to indicate the location of facilities for picnics.

Test results from research found in our database cover quite a few image contents available:

Several variants from the selection above were studied in Appropriateness Ranking Tests (Brugger, 1984, Gärling, 1985) and a Comprehensibility Judgement Test (Brugger, 2006) regarding symbols used on highways. Results from a total of five countries indicated that variants with a person sitting at a table are judged as more comprehensible than tree/bench based variants without a person. The latter could also be misinterpreted as Park. Adding the letter based symbol for Toilet or Parking improved judged comprehensibility. Showing just a picnic table with attached benches as in the variant NPS was consistently ranked as least appropriate.

When Vukelich & Whitaker (1993) examined the effects of context on the comprehension of graphic symbols applying a Comprehension Test, the old NPS map symbol was part of this study. Percentages of correct answers varied from 36 to 76 depending on the amount of context provided, but with 25 subjects only in each of the context groups data may not be very reliable.

The variant labeled ON Testdesign passed ISO acceptance criteria in the Comprehension Test of the 1986 ISO Test Series (Brugger, 1987). Applying lenient scoring 72.6 % of the answers were classified as correct. Results for this pictogram are based on responses from more than 500 respondents, collected in Australia, Austria, Hungary, Japan, and the United Kingdom. No context information was provided in this test.

Recommendations

Regarding test results from research available we recommend the use of a symbol like PI TC 004: Picnic Area of ISO 7001.

Tests of pictograms of referent Picnic Area

Brugger, Ch. (1984): Reihungstest 1984. Report to the Austrian Standards Institute (ON) dated 19/84, Vienna.

Brugger, Ch. (1987): Evaluation of Public Information Symbols, ISO 1986 Test Series: Comprehension/Recognition Test. WIEN: ISO/TC 145/SC 1.

Brugger, Ch. (2006): Comprehensibility Judgement Test. Report In-Safety, 506716.

Gärling, T. (1985): ISO Appropriateness Ranking Test 1985 - Redovisning av genomförande. Report to the Swedish Standards Institute dated 1985-07-24.

Vukelich, M. & Whitaker, L. (1993): Effects of context on the comprehension of graphic symbols. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 1. 511-515. 10.1177/154193129303700804.