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Author Archives: tonyw
Could London bus accident have been prevented?
This weekend we heard the sad news that 26 people were injured when a double-deck bus hit a low bridge in Tottenham, north London. But could this accident have been prevented? Likes(32)Dislikes(16)
Posted in Road signs, Transport
Tagged Department for Transport, DfT, dual-unit, height, measurement units, metric, metric road signs, Road signs, TSRGD
29 Comments
The 1895 Select Committee on weights and measures
This article looks back to the findings and recommendations of the 1895 Parliamentary Select Committee on weights and measures. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)
Posted in Education, General, History, Law, Transport
Tagged imperial measures, measurement units, metric, metrication, UK Parliament, UKMA, weights and measures
26 Comments
1862 report from the Select Committee on weights and measures
The question of adopting metric measures in the UK is not a new proposition; in 1862 Parliament’s Select Committee on Weights and Measures considered the matter and came down firmly in favour of metrication. A century and a half later, … Continue reading
Posted in Law, Science, Technical, Views from abroad
Tagged imperial measures, measurement units, metric, metrication, UK Parliament, weights and measures
7 Comments
Ireland’s road signs revisited
In Ireland, the changeover from Imperial to metric of its highway distance signs began in the 1990s. This was followed by the change of speed limit signs, which took place over a week-end in January 2005. Seven years on, we … Continue reading
Posted in General, Road signs, Technical, Transport, Views from abroad
Tagged bridge strikes, DfT, dual-unit, Ireland, metric road signs, metric speed limits
26 Comments
Marathon myth
With the London Marathon being run today, it is timely to remember the metric origins of the marathon, and to puncture the myth that it is a race measured in imperial units. Likes(1)Dislikes(1)
Posted in General, History, Myths, Sport
Tagged imperial measures, measurement units, metric
12 Comments
Transport for London raises the bar on vehicle signs
Metric Views is pleased to give credit where it’s due, and this week it is due to Transport for London (TfL) for raising the bar on the signage of vehicle restrictions. We have previously criticised the signing at the Rotherhithe … Continue reading
Posted in Road signs, Transport
Tagged dual-unit, metric road signs, Transport for London
21 Comments
Spain discredits DfT’s case against metric signs
The Spanish government this week exposed the Department for Transport’s case against adopting metric road signs in the UK as flawed. While the DfT maintains that it must allow an average of around £1400 to change our road signs, Spain this week changed all its motorway speed limit signs for an average cost of just €41, or £35.
Continue reading
Posted in General, Road signs, Transport
Tagged Department for Transport, DfT, metric road signs, metric speed limits
10 Comments
Southwark goes back to the 1980s
The London Borough of Southwark appears to relish its role as the setting for the BBC’s 1980s retro series Ashes to Ashes, which was filmed on location in the borough. Just a few hundred metres from filming locations, which were … Continue reading
Posted in Road signs, Transport
Tagged Department for Transport, DfT, imperial road signs, metric road signs, Southwark
10 Comments
60 km Jubilee Greenway to be signed in imperial
On 9th June 1977, the Queen officially opened the Silver Jubilee Walkway, a 21 km walking trail around central London to mark her Silver Jubilee, or 25 years on the throne. Thirty-three years later, work is under way to celebrate … Continue reading
Posted in General, Road signs, Transport
Tagged imperial road signs, journey time, Jubilee, kilometre, metric road signs, metrication, minutes
6 Comments
Imperial confusion on new tunnel signs
Transport for London (TfL) was today criticised by the UK Metric Association (UKMA) for bungling the erection of new signs at the Rotherhithe tunnel, including banning all vehicles over 33 inches long from using the tunnel – and for wasting … Continue reading
Posted in General, Road signs, Transport
Tagged bridge strikes, imperial road signs, metric, TfL, Transport for London
22 Comments