An Air Carrier Captain reported stop bars placed in close proximity to each other at EWR causes confusion and stopping at the wrong one could block another aircraft's taxi route.

Narrative

This report is not connected to an event. It is something I have observed and consider a potential threat that I want to highlight. I have observed there are many locations on many airports where multiple stop bars are in close proximity to each other. As far as I know; there is no source document available that lets me know while taxiing which stop bar to use. The threat becomes that any plane could be stopped at the wrong stop bar and not allow sufficient wingtip clearance for a taxiing aircraft on a crossing taxiway. This situation develops when two stop bars are installed near each other for opposite direction traffic. For example; at EWR on Taxiway J there are two stop bars installed between taxiways S and R; one for each direction of travel to hold a taxiing plane short of the upcoming crossing taxiway inbound and outbound. They are so close that there could be an over lap and the possibility of stopping at the wrong one leaving insufficient clearance for a taxiing aircraft on a crossing taxiway. Another situation that poses this threat is a location where multiple taxiways converge. Stop bars are installed to provide clearance for each taxiway. Again it can be difficult to know which is the correct stop bar to use. An example here is again at EWR taxiing northbound on R. As you approach the B1 and L intersection there are as many as 4 stop bars in close proximity. Stopping at the wrong one many leave a risk of insufficient clearance from another aircraft.