Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
"mastic" dont@thisaddress wrote in message ... Since the group has so many intelligent people on it here is a question that you may be able to answer for me. I have often wondered how come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road. Since the Brits drive on the left and all British colonies drive on the left how come America and Canada drive on the right keeping in mind that they were also British colonies? Please have a look at the following links: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/right.htm http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Sun, 07 Sep 2003 23:19:32 +1000, mastic dont@thisaddress wrote:
Since the group has so many intelligent people on it here is a question that you may be able to answer for me. I have often wondered how come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road. Since the Brits drive on the left and all British colonies drive on the left how come America and Canada drive on the right keeping in mind that they were also British colonies? One explanation I have read walking on the left side of the road was important for personal protection. If you were approaching someone you did not trust, you would naturally want to keep your sword arm, normally your right to the strangers. At one point it was mandated that pilgrims walk on the left for that reason. Countries that now drive on the right side generally had a period of time when large, multi-team wagons were common. In that case you would want to sit where you could easily check the clearence with oncomming wagons while having your strongest hand free to do things like handle the whip and reins. For that reason, driving on the right side became the norm. Art |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 13:46:12 +0000 (UTC), DejaVU
wrote: snip I'm left handed, and I drive on the left like anyone else here, and since I THINK too, I think that walking on the same side you drive makes for much easier walking traffic. snip No... means you have less warning of the need to jump out of the way if your back is to the approaching traffic. Always walk facing the traffic if there is no pavement/sidewalk :-) Mark Rand (PS I'm part of the sinistral minority as well) RTFM |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 12:21:02 +0000 (UTC), DejaVU
wrote: you took that right out of context Mark. I was talking about walking on pathways and in passage ways, and shopping malls. never did I imply nor mention walking along a road (where I agree, face the traffic) 'keep death off the roads, drive on the pavement' is a national axiom speed restriction signs are strictly adhered too, but they are taken to mean 'do not go slower than twice this speed and never mind the fog' Since we do not have sidewalks (pavements) in our subdivision, Puppy has learned to keep to the left on whatever hardsurface upon which she finds herself. This creates a problem when we go outside the neighbourhood and encounter high speed two wheelers who, in an effort to take evasive action and do an undignified ass-flop almost on top of her. Now she tries to jump up to my shoulder whenever she spots a bicycle. Another question has come up - does a cyclist have to obey "all way" stops while riding flat out on the sidewalk? or can he execute the "right turn, U turn, right turn" manoeuver? Gerry :-)} London, Canada |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 21:26:17 GMT, Gerald Miller
wrote: On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 12:21:02 +0000 (UTC), DejaVU wrote: Another question has come up - does a cyclist have to obey "all way" stops while riding flat out on the sidewalk? or can he execute the "right turn, U turn, right turn" manoeuver? Gerry :-)} London, Canada Tongue firmly in cheek Gerry? Any bicycle with wheel diameter over 16" is technically NOT allowed on sidewalks. Bicycles are subject to ALL vehicular traffic legislation. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 00:36:12 GMT, Gerald Miller
wrote: On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 00:28:01 GMT, clare @ snyder.on .ca wrote: On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 21:26:17 GMT, Gerald Miller wrote: On Fri, 12 Sep 2003 12:21:02 +0000 (UTC), DejaVU wrote: Another question has come up - does a cyclist have to obey "all way" stops while riding flat out on the sidewalk? or can he execute the "right turn, U turn, right turn" manoeuver? Gerry :-)} London, Canada Tongue firmly in cheek Gerry? Any bicycle with wheel diameter over 16" is technically NOT allowed on sidewalks. Bicycles are subject to ALL vehicular traffic legislation. Yup. Gettin tired of dirty looks from 30 MPH sidewalk rockets when I make a right turn. (I live within walking distance of two high schools and a community college so there are lots of these idiots around) Gerry :-)} London, Canada You saying it doesn't take brains to get into Fanshawe???? |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 00:05:45 GMT, clare @ snyder.on .ca wrote:
Yup. Gettin tired of dirty looks from 30 MPH sidewalk rockets when I make a right turn. (I live within walking distance of two high schools and a community college so there are lots of these idiots around) Gerry :-)} London, Canada You saying it doesn't take brains to get into Fanshawe???? Not even to get out if you are majoring in basket construction with minors in drug culture and party time. I suspect that is why the kiddy coop (juvenile detention centre) is next door. Gerry :-)} London, Canada |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
It reminds me of something an old Foreign Office chap told me about his
years in Malta....In the UK we drive on the right side of the road, most foreigners drive on the wrong side of the road, in Malta they drive in the shade....... chrisc More tea vicar? |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 22:27:30 +0100, "ChrisCrosskey"
wrote: It reminds me of something an old Foreign Office chap told me about his years in Malta....In the UK we drive on the right side of the road, most foreigners drive on the wrong side of the road, in Malta they drive in the shade....... That's what my dad tried to explain to me when I was learning to drive, the idea being that, in spring, you should try to drive on the south side of the road (in the shade) while the frost comes out on the north side. As he explained this, he steered around a large pothole and the model A dropped through the surface crust and the running boards were pushed up to the point we couldn't open the doors. I had to go out the window and walk three miles to get the neighbours team to pull the car out of the mud. We used to have a three week school break every spring due to road conditions. Gerry :-)} London, Canada |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
O.T. How come America and Canada drive on the "Wrong" side of the road
On Mon, 15 Sep 2003 22:27:30 +0100, "ChrisCrosskey"
wrote: It reminds me of something an old Foreign Office chap told me about his years in Malta....In the UK we drive on the right side of the road, most foreigners drive on the wrong side of the road, in Malta they drive in the shade....... chrisc More tea vicar? Or as we said driving in Zambia - they don't drive on the left, they just pass on the right. The "great north road" from Livingstone to Lusaka, and to a lesser degree up through Kabwe to Luansha and the copper belt, was just a big chicken game. In the early seventies much of it was single lane paved, with dirt on both sides. Through the Zaire Panhandle, where supposedly one drove on the right, it was a case of driving where the road was and the potholes weren't, or in one case, driving up the "ditch" to pass a large "lorry" because it was smoother than the road, and no oncoming traffic. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|