Credit for developing the first systematic road-marking system in the United States goes to Bachman, who in 1912 began marking roadside telephones poles in different colors to designate different routes. By 1920, he had banded 2,000 miles of Michigan highway poles, the forerunner of a national system of uniform highway signing. He was a founder in 1916 of the Automobile Club of Michigan, which became the largest Auto Club in the world through his 44 years as membership director. Bachman was a pioneer in traffic safety, erecting Michigan's first stop sign in Detroit and supervising the original stop-signing of every major Michigan city and placement of 6,000 "danger" signs at railroad crossings throughout the state.