Local Farcilities

[Interleaved quoting: please read to end for all comments] Tony W wrote in uk.rec.cycling: about:
Re: Local Farcilities

Quoted message said:

In days of old, when knights were bold we British had a set of signs all our own -- some other
European countries were also 'different'. Then, in a fit of harmonisation -- probably long before
the Common Market reached these shores, we all adopted a fairly similar set of signs.

[I find it somewhat comical that some people even now still refer to the EU as the "Common
Market" ;-) ]

Quoted message said:

For a while (ISTR) the new harmonised signs where a bit unharmonised and confusing. Those pesky
Europeans used a non standard red octagon with STOP, we uses a point down triangle surrounded by a
red circle with either HALT or STOP in it.

I believe the reason for STOP signs being octagonal (all new British STOP signs are also octagonal)
is so that they can be uniquely identified if covered in snow. The Give Way sign is an inverted
triangle for a similar reason, I guess.

Quoted message said:

As for the NSL sign, the older amongst us still think of it as 'Any Speed You Like' -- i.e. a
derestriction sign and so part of the family with 'you can now overtake etc.

Since you're posting in a cycling newsgroup, I sincerely hope you in no way believe NSL to mean "Any
Speed You Like". If you actually do drive in an insane fashion like that, you should have your
licence revoked!

Quoted message said:

Signs with red circles are don't do, point down triangles are do and point up triangles are
warnings.

Strictly speaking, the inverted triangle is an exception, and circular blue signs are those which
"give positive instructions" (eg, turn left ONLY ahead, route for cycle ONLY)

--
David Marsh, <reply-to-email is valid at time of writing> | Edinburgh, Scotland. [en, fr, (de)] |
web.viewport.co.ukweb.viewport.co.ukOpen ↗ | Learn usenet and netiquette: read news:news.announce.newusers |

Quoted message said:

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"David Marsh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

[I find it somewhat comical that some people even now still refer to the EU as the "Common
Market" ;-) ]

That was what it was called when the UK joined it - hence my use of the phrase. I fully appreciate
that it has had several name changes and is now (for the time being at least) the European Union.
When I refer to its current incarnation I would normally use the term European Union or EU.

Quoted message said:

I believe the reason for STOP signs being octagonal (all new British STOP signs are also
octagonal) is so that they can be uniquely identified if covered in snow. The Give Way sign is an
inverted triangle for a similar reason, I guess.

That could be true. I've heard it before -- though it could be an urban myth.

Quoted message said:

Since you're posting in a cycling newsgroup, I sincerely hope you in no way believe NSL to mean
"Any Speed You Like". If you actually do drive in an insane fashion like that, you should have
your licence revoked!

I thought I made it perfectly clear that, though I think of the sign as an 'any speed you like' sign
(a reflection of what we called it as children) I am very aware that it is an NSL sign. I will not
claim never to have broken the speed limit (nor to never now break the speed limit) though would
claim to be getting more responsible as I get older.

; )

T

[Interleaved quoting: please read to end for all comments] Tony W wrote in uk.rec.cycling: about:
Re: Local Farcilities

Quoted message said:

"David Marsh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[I find it somewhat comical that some people even now still refer to the EU as the "Common
Market" ;-) ]

That was what it was called when the UK joined it - hence my use of the phrase.

Wasn't it the "European Economic Community" then? I thought that "Common Market" was just an
idiomatic term?

Quoted message said:

I fully appreciate that it has had several name changes and is now (for the time being at least)
the European Union. When I refer to its current incarnation I would normally use the term European
Union or EU.

I take your point! Sorry, I thought perhaps you were still calling it that! I find it funny the
number of people who, even today, make comments such as "I wonder what wacky legislation the EEC
[sic] is foisting upon us this week.."

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I believe the reason for STOP signs being octagonal (all new British STOP signs are also
octagonal) is so that they can be uniquely identified if covered in snow. The Give Way sign is an
inverted triangle for a similar reason, I guess.

That could be true. I've heard it before -- though it could be an urban myth.

Seems plausible to me, otherwise you could come up to a junction and see a circular sign which could
equally well be a "No right turn" as a STOP sign.. With the octagon, you would know that it is a
STOP sign and you'd have to stop. Of course, everybody should be driving more slowly and carefully
in heavy snow anyway.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Since you're posting in a cycling newsgroup, I sincerely hope you in no way believe NSL to mean
"Any Speed You Like". If you actually do drive in an insane fashion like that, you should have
your licence revoked!

I thought I made it perfectly clear that, though I think of the sign as an 'any speed you like'
sign (a reflection of what we called it as children) I am very aware that it is an NSL sign. I
will not claim never to have broken the speed limit (nor to never now break the speed limit)
though would claim to be getting more responsible as I get older.

Sorry, I misinterpreted what you wrote (too easy on usenet). I thought you meant you actually did
treat the sign as such in your "misspent youth"! :-( Sadly, too many people do, however.. :-(

--
David Marsh, <reply-to-email is valid at time of writing> | Edinburgh, Scotland. [en, fr, (de)] |
web.viewport.co.ukweb.viewport.co.ukOpen ↗ | Learn usenet and netiquette: read news:news.announce.newusers |

Quoted message said:

Please interleave & trim quotes otherwise your posts will be ignored.<

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On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 10:46:04 +0100 someone who may be David Marsh <[email hidden]>
wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

I take your point! Sorry, I thought perhaps you were still calling it that! I find it funny the
number of people who, even today, make comments such as "I wonder what wacky legislation the EEC
[sic] is foisting upon us this week.."

Just like those people who think there is an organisation called Edinburgh District Council.

Even more amusing are those who think that there is a Road Fund (and a tax paid into this fund)
which pays for the roads.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E I will always explain revoked
keys, unless the UK government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

"David Marsh" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That was what it was called when the UK joined it - hence my use of the phrase.

Wasn't it the "European Economic Community" then? I thought that "Common Market" was just an
idiomatic term?

You may be right.

Quoted message said:

I take your point! Sorry, I thought perhaps you were still calling it that! I find it funny the
number of people who, even today, make comments such as "I wonder what wacky legislation the EEC
[sic] is foisting upon us this week.."

I thought it was one of those strangely conjugated English verbs as it.

It was a great success -- your government dun it fer you. It was a stupid idea -- the Common Market
dun it fer you. It was a very stupid idea -- it was the Frogs!!

Quoted message said:

Sorry, I misinterpreted what you wrote (too easy on usenet). I thought you meant you actually did
treat the sign as such in your "misspent

youth"! :-(

Quoted message said:

Sadly, too many people do, however.. :-(

True.

T