A Man Only?

[John Smith]

Am I seeing things or was this deliberate:

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well, the entire thing says "Ambulances Only" (it's a parking area by the hospital).  But as for why they're parked precisely where they're parked for that particular scene -- who knows?  They do seem to go for symbolism now and then (see this post).

 

Welcome to Sherlock Forum, John Smith! 

[Ruthyone]

Hmmm!!! I wonder whether or not this was intentional and perhaps are looking into things too deeply?

[John Smith]

Too deeply? This is Sherlock. Moriarty says over and over again "you're just ordinary" and Sherlock says "I'm no hero". It fits with the plot of the episode perfectly.

Remember, this was Sherlock's fall from grace. The vantage point is from directly behind him, that's his leg in the frame.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Another point in favor of your theory would be what Jeff the cabbie says in "Study in Pink" (from Ariane DeVere's transcript):

 

SHERLOCK: Who’d sponsor a serial killer?
JEFF: Who’d be a fan of Sherlock ’olmes? You’re not the only one to enjoy a good murder. There’s others out there just like you, except you’re just a man ... and they’re so much more than that.
SHERLOCK: What d’you mean, more than a man? An organisation? What?
JEFF: There’s a name no-one says, an’ I’m not gonna say it either. Now, enough chatter.
 

I would like to point out that, assuming that "A MAN ONLY" was indeed deliberately done, I see it as an artistic flourish (part of a theme) by the production team.  I personally don't see it as any sort of clue, nor as a deliberate insult left by Moriarty.

 

[John Smith]

Hi Carol, I would agree, more a production team in-joke than anything else.

Another point would be, you won't see that many cars abandoned in an ambulance spot. They'd be clamped in minutes. ;-)

[aely]

Probably in London they would be clamped in minutes, particularly somewhere like that which isn't INSIDE the hospital, in Liverpool people parking in places they shouldn't in a hospital area and not getting clamped happens all too often. Maybe because the hospitals usually only have 1 clamp...

[Carol the Dabbler]

Are they cars, then -- rather than ambulances?  Shows how much attention I've been paying (though in my defense, I do find it somewhat difficult to notice background details during an intense dramatic scene between Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch).

 

Presumably the vehicles are shown in at least some of the scenes shot from John's PoV.  I'll have to watch for that next time.

 

Maybe employees of the ambulance station have special parking permits?