Signs in KM

[Hipper]

We operate a mixed system of "weights and measures" - more metric today than when I was a youngster. We also have rods and perches and chains - latter is length between cricket wickets, I think, 22 yards (I've no idea how many metres).

20.12m!

Running tracks are in metre lengths but 4 feet wide (actually 1.22m).

Football pitches are in metres but goals are 7.32m (8 yards), 2.4m high (8 feet). The 6 yard box is 5.5m, the 18 yard box (penalty area) is 16.5m. To get back 10 yards it is 9.15m. The quarter arc at the corner flag was 1 yard and it is now 1m.

What I find annoying is an article that mixes imperial and metric measurements - that's laziness.

[LeadBelly]

Spot on Hipper re footy measurements, whilst having metric equivalents they are still largely based on feet/yards because the rules were made in UK.
Centre circle is 9.15 m radius (as is pen spot to pen area arc)- an extremely odd measurement but = 10 yds.
I think the only specific distance that's been properly metricated is the corner arc- as you say now actually 1 m rather than .915 meters as would be when it was 1 yd.
The length/width min/max parameters have been metricated as well though I think.

[JohnMac]

Who uses the imperial system anymore?

Me - Born in 1955

I don't recall seeing any road signs in this Country in Km's and my recent speeding course was because I was doing 36mph.

I tend to ask for a pound of Mince, it sounds better than 454 grammes

I have lived in Germany so understand both systems but the UK has only ever played at going metric, doing it 'half cock' as usual. A bit like retaining the Pound but wanting to be European ( prior to Brexit obviously)

[LifeafterRobbie]

Here's some help for those born after metrication:
1 inch
12 inches in a foot
3 feet in a yard
22 yards in a chain
10 chains in a furlong
8 furlongs in a mile

Not confusing at all haha!

[Burnley Ace]

[quote="JohnMac"]Me - Born in 1955

I don't recall seeing any road signs in this Country in Km's and my recent speeding course was because I was doing 36mph.

I tend to ask for a pound of Mince, it sounds better than 454 grammes

Your response tends to prove the point, as a country we are quite able to use and understand both systems. Pint of beer / litre of milk, these weren't road signs and everyone bar most ignorant understood them.

Do we really need to embarrass the town by complaining? One of my favorites was the in the DM where the man was claiming that it was anti British and the signs should be in "Black & White" presumably not realising that the Ampersand is from the Latin!

[dsr]

But if I said somewhere was 3 fulongs and 7 chains away, how many would know how far that was......................... and that's imperial

fulongs?

Yes, well is the metric equivalent of 74 dekametres any better? That's metric.

[dsr]

Anyone who claims to fully understand the metric system - what's your collar size? And your shoe size? Imperial shoe sizes are based on barleycorns, but they're still easy enough to follow - you don't need to know how many barleycorns to the inch.

[Lancasterclaret]

I just wish people would get over the Empire.

If you haven't reconciled yourself to the loss of it in 2017, there really is something wrong with you.

[LeadBelly]

Isn't there a group trying to restore The Empire? The Odeon has gone forever though.

[JohnMac]

A penalty in Germany is an 'Elf Meter'.

A Quarter Pounder in France is a Royale with Cheese

[SammyBoy]

[Funkydrummer]

Let's drive on the right and have done with it.

[yorkyclaret]

As long as my T Bone is 24oz who cares?

[conyoviejo]

But if I said somewhere was 3 furlongs and 7 chains away, how many would know how far that was......................... and that's imperial

I'd say anybody who followed horse racing ,so that would be many thousands of punters.

[geopancake]

The proclaimers would be p#ssed off if they had to sing "I would walk 804.642 kilometres".

However I would have voted remain if the EU had actually forced them to do it.

[Funkydrummer]

Here's John Kilometres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAsvjVx-Mg4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Paul Waine]

I was on the A307 near Kew Gardens today. Road sign to Kew Gardens Station showed 0.3m and 0.5km.

Richmond, as everyone will remember, voted "remain" by big majority.

[KeighleyClaret]

When I was at school back in the 1960's and early 1970's, we were taught in SI units (Kilometres, Kilograms etc) on the basis that these were both Standard and International (SI units). We were not even in the EU then.

Only the USA in the whole world uses Miles on roadsigns, apart from us. Every person under about 65 fully understands distances in Km. Its nothing at all to do with the EU or what we fought wars for. Its as logical for these Brexiteers to be asking for the return of shillings and pence.

[KeighleyClaret]

We didn't have road signs in Km post membership of the EEC because they never insisted on it the UK wanted to keep miles. It was never an EU issue.

[Lancasterclaret]

Its always the fault of the EU or immigrants.

Always.

[LifeafterRobbie]

Let's drive on the right and have done with it.

Ireland are planning to do it. Cars next week, Buses and Taxis the week after................................ I'll get my coat

[Pearcey]

Just seen this thread. I thought we were signing Kenny Miller!

[Burnley Ace]

I was on the A307 near Kew Gardens today. Road sign to Kew Gardens Station showed 0.3m and 0.5km.

Richmond, as everyone will remember, voted "remain" by big majority.

They weren't road signs they were for pedestrians.

[Paul Waine]

They weren't road signs they were for pedestrians.

Hi Burnley Ace, am I confused?

Signs in Burnley were in a "country park" (I bet that surprised a lot of the readers in the national press: "What, Burnley has a country park?"), so, yes, I agree that the signs are intended for use by the users of the park, pedestrians (walkers and joggers) and cyclists I'd guess.

The ones I saw on A307 near Kew Gardens are most likely also intended for pedestrians - even though they are on the road side.

Since then I've seen some other signs on the Thames riverside near Teddington Lock. Some distances are marked "m" (for miles) others on the same signs aren't marked. I've no idea whether the units are km or m.

[Burnley Ace]

All road signs for motorists have, by law, to be iniles, signs for pedestrians don't. You can normally tell by the colour and design.

[Rats_cle]

I can remember when we (supporsidly) changed to metric, my wife asked the green grocer for a pound of sprouts, he replied they're kilos now. She replied, " sorry I'll have a pound of kilos".