Ben Fordham shares picture of confusing parking signs in Sydney – sparks debate among motorists

Is this the most confusing sign EVER? Complex parking rules are mocked on social media – inspiring a driver to create a graphic to make sense of it

  • A set of Sydney street signs has sparked confusion among motorists on Twitter
  • Media personality Ben Fordham shared a picture of the confusing signs
  • The photo, taken on on Wednesday, shows six complex signs on a single pole
  • The signs advises drivers when they can and can’t park in the designated zones 
  • One driver decided to create a flowchart to make sense of the confusing signs 

Australian media personality Ben Fordham has sparked a debate on social media after he struggled to decipher a set of parking signs spotted on a Sydney street.

The 2GB radio host shared a picture of the confusing signs on Instagram after spotting them while attempting to park in the city centre. 

The photograph, taken on Pitt Street in Haymarket on Wednesday, shows six complex signs on a single pole advising drivers when they can and can’t park in the designated zones – and for how long.

Channel Nine TV presenter Ben Fordham has sparked a debate on social media after he struggled to decipher a set of parking signs (pictured) spotted on a Sydney street

The 2GB radio host was left confused after he stumbled across the confusing parking signs

The 2GB radio host was left confused after he stumbled across the confusing parking signs

Managing director Bruno Bouchet decided to create an elaborate flowchart (pictured) to give drivers a better understanding on how to read the confusing signs

Managing director Bruno Bouchet decided to create an elaborate flowchart (pictured) to give drivers a better understanding on how to read the confusing signs 

Breakdown of the signs 

1. Special Event Clearway with arrows pointing in both directions. Drivers are prohibited from parking their cars from 11am on Saturday, February 29 to 4am on Sunday, March 1.

2. Graphic picture showing a car being towed away by a tow truck

3. No Stopping with an arrow pointing to the left. Vehicles can’t stop under any circumstances on the spots to the left of the sign between 6am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

4. Four-hour ticket parking with an arrow pointing to the left. Drivers must pay for a ticket to park on the left of the sign between 8pm to 12am from Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm on Saturday and 8am to 10pm on Sunday and public holidays.

5. Loading Zone with an arrow pointing to the left. Only drivers of vehicles principally constructed for carrying goods can park in the Loading Zone. The vehicles include vans, trucks, and other commercial vehicles. Drivers must pay for a ticket to park on the the spot to the left of the sign between 10am to 3pm from Monday to Friday and 6am to 10am on Saturday.

6. No Stopping with an arrow pointing to the right. Vehicles can’t stop under any circumstances on the spots to the right of the sign.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the City of Sydney for comment. 

The top three signs show a Special Event Clearway with arrows pointing in both directions from 11am on Saturday, February 29 to 4am on Sunday, March 1; a graphic picture of a car being towed by a tow truck and No Stopping with an arrow pointing left between 6am to 10am and 3pm to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

The bottom three signs show a four-hour ticket parking with an arrow pointing to the left between 8pm to 12am from Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm on Saturday and 8am to 10pm on Sunday and public holidays; Loading Zone ticket with an arrow pointing to the left between 10am to 3pm from Monday to Friday and 6am to 10am on Saturday; and No Stopping with an arrow pointing to the right.

Many Australians were left scratching their heads when they saw the complex street signs emerged on Twitter.

‘You need a degree to understand those parking signs,’ Lainey tweeted.

Alan said: ‘The sign is so laden with mind-numbing instruction, it’s about to tear away from the pole under its own weight.’

Silks said: ‘I’ve done a law degree and still have no hope with a Surry Hills parking sign.’

Fiby said: ‘Gotta love the city of Sydney.’

And Annette added: ‘These signs are for real!! They do your head in.’

Many Australians were left scratching their heads when they saw the complex street signs

Many Australians were left scratching their heads when they saw the complex street signs

Despite creating his flowchart, Bouchet admitted he still didn't understand the complex signs

Despite creating his flowchart, Bouchet admitted he still didn’t understand the complex signs 

In August 2018, Sydney journalist Dean Nye tweeted a picture of multiple signs he spotted in Leichhardt. He described the signs as 'the most confusing thing I've ever seen'

In August 2018, Sydney journalist Dean Nye tweeted a picture of multiple signs he spotted in Leichhardt. He described the signs as ‘the most confusing thing I’ve ever seen’

Managing director Bruno Bouchet decided to create an elaborate flowchart to give drivers a better understanding on how to read the confusing signs. 

‘My mate Ben found the following Sydney CBD streets signs difficult to understand. Not sure why. Anyway – here’s a super simple guide to understanding whether you can park there or not,’ Bouchet tweeted, along with his graph.

In August 2018, Sydney journalist Dean Nye tweeted a picture of multiple signs he spotted in Leichhardt, along with the comment: ‘Sydney take a chill pill’.

Nye told 2GB at the time the signs were ‘the most confusing thing I’ve ever seen’.

‘I just don’t understand how people during the week, in peak hour, how they’re meant to read that really quickly.

‘These signs should be easily digestible and that certainly wasn’t.’



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