French Road Sign

[Bert45]

On the way up to the Col du Pourtalet (1794 m), there are several signs saying how high the sign is and how far it is from the highest point. It also says, for instance, "6% sur 1 km". What does this actually mean? I know what 6% means – that the road rises 60 m in 1 km, or 6 m in 100 m. But does "6% sur 1 km" mean that the slope is 6% for the next kilometre or simply that the slope at the place where the sign is is 6%? If it's the latter, it seems not a lot of use to say what the slope is at that point, if it could change to 10% or 2% 100 m further up.

[Atheist]

I'd take it as a 6% slope for the next kilometre.

[bhg481]

Atheist is right.

[johnk]

Are the signs for cyclists

[Bert45]

Johnk: No, I don't think so. There is nothing to indicate that they are for the benefit of cyclists. What made me doubtful about the meaning was that you would expect a sign every kilometre telling you what the slope was for the next kilometre, and there wasn't. Also you might expect a sign saying that the slope would be "X% sur 2 km" or "Y% sur 1.5 km"and there were no such signs.

[Spicerack]

It would only warn you about steep slopes. Same as here.

[Etch]

The only such signs I can find do seem to be for the benefit of cyclists:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h_qCFDn9ji4/Vey3Q6R1j-I/AAAAAAAAQTs/kc78bVEUUxk/s1600/20150905_165826.jpg
I don't think a slope of 6% would merit a warning for motor vehicles. In this context the French use "sur" in the sense of "over", e.g. in English we might say "risk of flooding over the next mile".

[Bert45]

Etch, you're right, and so are you, johnk. I hadn't noticed the cyclist symbol at the top of the sign. Thanks.