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Topic: Mileage signs  (Read 1193 times)

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Mileage signs
« on: January 16, 2005, 01:29:51 AM »
Hi everyone. I recently posted in the welcome wagon section and also recently back from a trip to the UK, my second. I have never driven in the UK (too scared :o) but my husband has......my question is the mileage signs on various highways. The sign will list the mileage to certain towns and maybe the town listed at the bottom will have the name and mileage in parentheses. What does this mean? Just curious.....

BTW, I live on the west coast of the states and not immediately planning a move or anything. My husband used to be stationed in the UK several years ago and he introduced me to the UK, which he loves and now me too. His first son was born over there in 1992. I have relatives that are apparently considering a move and I had some questions/concerns regarding this in the other thread.

This seems to be a great site, very informative and helpful!

Heather
It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2005, 03:37:18 AM »
I know how my "heart was in my mouth" the first time I drove on the right (wrong) side of the road - I was "only" given a hire car to take out of a multistory car park in an icy midwinter in the city centre of Ottawa!! Perhaps newcomers to the UK should start with shock treatment - the M8 near Charing Cross in Glasgow, the Magic Roundabout in Swindon, the Applecross road (in Scotland, for those from the flat lands), or out of the short term car park at terminal 1, Heathrow  ;)

To answer your question. Mileages that are shown without brackets are to places that are on (or only just off) the current road. Shown with brackets, they're to places for which you have to turn off onto a nother road.

Thus
A30
Exeter 20
(Plymouth 77)


Means that you're on the A30; it will take you to Exeter without a road change (expect perhaps into the city off the bypass).  You're going the right way for Plymouth, but you have a significant road change to make well before you get there.

Hi, Heather, Welcome!
-- Graham
Well House Consultants - Open Source training
Well House Manor - Hotel in Melksham, Wiltshire


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2005, 06:30:42 PM »
Hi Graham,

Thanks for the explanation on the brackets......I thought it might have meant something like that. ::)

I am not so sure about driving in the UK, seems very daunting. My husband seems to do very well even though he has not lived in the UK since 1992 or 93. When he was stationed there he was still married to his first wife and she told me that she rarely ever drove any where in the 2 1/2 years they were there, and they lived off base most of the time they were there. I can see why she wouldn't have wanted to  :-\\\\. They had their American car there and a car that was purchased there as a commuting car for my husband.

Mike, my husband, says the next time we take a trip over that he hopes I try driving  :o Normally I am not one to be afraid to try new things, and I am a good driver here in the states.........but I am not so sure how my skills here will do me any good on the roads there.

Heather
It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2005, 06:54:46 PM »
If you're looking at somewhere like Brandon (you mentioned that in another post), I wouldn't think that driving would be too much of a frightener, and you could catch the train to Cambridge, Peterborough or Norwich if there wasn't work locally in your field.
-- Graham
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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2005, 11:14:26 PM »
"If you're looking at somewhere like Brandon (you mentioned that in another post), I wouldn't think that driving would be too much of a frightener, and you could catch the train to Cambridge, Peterborough or Norwich if there wasn't work locally in your field."

My husband and his first wife lived in Brandon and it does seem like a "quieter" place to drive. His ex said that she would drive in town when they lived there......she said if she could do it, so could I and she was surprised with my trip #2 that I still didn't try  ::) Although she said it took her a few months of living there before she got up the guts to drive. She would drive from Brandon to Lakenheath for the commissary, etc.

Although, I do know I would rather drive in the UK than Paris any day........talk about crazy, and dangerous. Mike and I were in Paris on New Year's Eve and Day and down by the Arc de Triomphe in the evening----oh my gosh----people driving there were nuts!! Apparently this was supposed to to be a roundabout around the Arc but there were few to no signs, no lines, no nothing -- just chaos. Pedestrians were running through traffic, people on bicycles weaving through traffic, and cars, and there seemed to be no rhyme nor reason to when drivers entered the roundabout and they all drove as fast as they could.  It was entertaining to sit on the bench and watch it all happen, and there were surprisingly few traffic mishaps.

Speaking of trains, etc., I am impressed with the public transportation in the UK, as well as France. I live on the west coast of the states and people, particularly where I live, look at you funny if you actually take a bus. In Seattle, the closest metropolitan area to where I live, there is no subway system but it is more commonplace to take the Seattle Metro (bus). I live in a rural area 3 hours away from there and there is public transit but it isn't very common for folks to ride it even though it is quite cheap -- 50 cents per ride and one can transfer all over 3 counties for free. It is far more common for people to find the biggest SUV gas guzzler they can find, use it to commute to work, and then wonder why they spend so much money on fuel. I must admit that I own a Ford Explorer so I guess I'm the pot calling the kettle black  :o I did ride the bus a lot last summer and my co-workers thought it was strange.......which is pretty much the common attitude about public transportation.

There is also taxi service here but it is very expensive and the most who use it are those who are to drunk to drive -- which is good since it is far better than choosing to drive themselves. It's unfortunate that it is so expensive though, maybe more would use their services if not. In all, as probably many on this board know, public transportation in the states are not very accomodating to their customers and routes are usually limited, depending on where one lives. IMO, even Seattle's public transportation isn't that great for being the largest city in the state.

Well, me driving will need to be placed on the agenda for trip #3!! 8)

Heather
It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2005, 02:06:56 PM »
I drove an automatic for the first time in London...yes, I was in Marble Arch, drove up through Marylebone to West Hampstead and then ended up driving on various highways and the like to get to an area near Heathrow...it was a bit nervewracking at first but honestly it wasn't that bad...I had little problem with the distance/width thing...hit the curb once in a tight squeeze.  So - I wouldn't worry too much about it if you have no probs in the US...just focus and take lots of deep breathes!


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #6 on: January 18, 2005, 06:42:00 AM »
I drove an automatic for the first time in London...yes, I was in Marble Arch, drove up through Marylebone to West Hampstead and then ended up driving on various highways and the like to get to an area near Heathrow...it was a bit nervewracking at first but honestly it wasn't that bad...I had little problem with the distance/width thing...hit the curb once in a tight squeeze. So - I wouldn't worry too much about it if you have no probs in the US...just focus and take lots of deep breathes!

Whew.......in London no less? What a trooper! Do roundabouts make you nervous? That seems REALLY confusing to me. I have watched my husband drive in them and he does so well but it just seems so confusing. We have roundabouts where we live but of course they are all based on American driving, not British.
It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2005, 08:16:33 AM »
After driving in Boston on the roundabouts, the ones here aren't at all confusing...just give the people in there the right of way, figure out which lane to be in & be assertive (not aggressive of course  ;)).  I don't plan on having to drive too much but with playing field hockey it'd be easier to know how to drive so I can borrow my bf's car...I have goalie kit and taking the bus with it for training is a PAIN!  Next year - I'll drive!


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Re: Mileage signs
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2005, 04:57:52 AM »
After driving in Boston on the roundabouts, the ones here aren't at all confusing...just give the people in there the right of way, figure out which lane to be in & be assertive (not aggressive of course  ;)).  I don't plan on having to drive too much but with playing field hockey it'd be easier to know how to drive so I can borrow my bf's car...I have goalie kit and taking the bus with it for training is a PAIN!  Next year - I'll drive!

Well I know on our next trip I am going to have to try driving, even if for just a short time. I'm not usually someone who is afraid to do new things but this one has been a tough one for me! And Mike, my husband, is so good at it that it is just easier to let him drive when we are there. There are roundabouts in a town 20 miles away from here........have to go there tomorrow so maybe I will go try these roundabouts just for fun   :o

Taking the bus is a pain if you have a lot of stuff with you.........I can see why you would want to drive during those times for sure :)
It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this.


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