I recently attended a 5km charity race. The race was held over public roads, on paths in a public park and over grassed areas within the park.

According to Tony, the signs that were placed every 500 metres (to keep the runners informed as to their progress) are unlawful.

I believe that these events take place throughout the UK on a regular basis - why are they not targeted by ARM? Do ARM pick and choose their targets for "enforcement"

Or could it be that the ARM supporters would be lynched if they removed these signs?

Because when you commit a crime you don't do it in the presence of witnesses. If Tony was living in the US, he'd be behind bars right now. In addition he would have to pay for all of the signs he damaged plus court costs and lawyers fees and that would be pretty expensive.

<<<If Tony was living in the US, he'd be behind bars right now>>>

It still amazes me how lightly he got off. The whole legality of the signs should not have been an issue in the case against Tony.

A member of the public should never be allowed to tamper with road signs. Full stop. If they persistently do so, they should face more than just a slap on the wrist.

<<If Tony was living in the US, he'd be behind bars right now. >>

In the US, metric signage is legal and defined in the MUTCD alongside Customary signage. It is just rarely used. "Dual" is allowed too, except for speed limits which have to be one or the other.

So if Tony tampered with it, it would be illegal tampering with a legal sign.

Yes there are 5K and 10K races.

I wonder if pro-metrics go around changing the big K to a small one and adding a small 'g'.

Oh and making sure there's a space of exactly one space character between the number and the first letter?

<<I wonder if pro-metrics go around changing the big K to a small one and adding a small 'g'.>>

Would that be a pie eatting contest rather than a foot race?

Units are important. :)

I beleive that the London Marathon has signs every 5km as well as every mile.

However, signs for road races are not covered by the TSRGD so if anybody damaged them they could be charged for straight vandalism.

ah good to see that old chestnut resurfacing!

What gives you the idea, that metric countries are any more strict regarding notation, abbreviations etc than imperial countries?

Britain tends to be picky over this kind of thing, not "the metric system" "Europe" "the EU" or anyone else.

John,

I wasn't referring as much to the sign issue itself, but to taking the law into your own hands.

Taking the law into your own hands is illegal here. It is borderline vigilante activity. Can you think of a court that would side with you because you took it upon yourself to right what you consider a wrong?

If the signs are illegal, it is up to the court to decide corrective action not any citizen.

Daniel,

I don't entirely agree. There is this "citizen's arrest" thing, but the financial liability could be extreme if you are wrong, or use undue force. But to a very limited degree, there is a mechanism for a citizen to enforce the law. (I wouldn't rush out to use it.)

Yes, and that is to call the police and let them handle it. Ihat is what they are paid to do.

Yes - I meant 'm' and not 'g' after 'k' and no the London marathon is marked in miles only

Steve, please visit http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/iframes/news/main.htm

There you will see

<<
Every mile is marked by a huge arch across the road. You will definitely not be able to miss them. At each mile marker there will be a clock giving the time elapsed since the start.

Kilometres are marked at 5km intervals.
>>

Ok ok - technically they exist - but think about it - every 5K? I suppose its a bit like those little sticks on the motorway - technically they are there - but does anyone really look at them? (I assume you don't run marathons?)


;-)

Although I could not find the text you can see the markers here:

http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/iframes/marathoninfo/marathonmap_blue.pdf

Given that the London marathon is an international event I would imagine a lot of people look at the km markers. Even in Britain kilometres are becoming the norm for distance running.

On tracks maybe.

Anyhoo - all of the Marathon fraternity I know refer to miles. That saying they are all Brits.

<<
Anyhoo - all of the Marathon fraternity I know refer to miles. That saying they are all Brits.
>>

You obviously don't know Paula Ratcliffe. In an interview that read in either The Times or The Sunday Times it appears that she works in kilometres.

Thanks Andy for filling in the missing pieces. Telling us that there are kilometre markers and that some British marathon runners do use kilometres helps dispel the false impression that imperial only is used in this event.

If it wasn't for your's and other people's further explanations on what is really happening out there many of us would be left in a false belief that metric is not a part of this sporting event.

Again thanks for the clarification.

<<<You obviously don't know Paula Ratcliffe. In an interview that read in either The Times or The Sunday Times it appears that she works in kilometres.>>>

Hardly surprising if you think about it...

What is surprising is that the Times left it in kilometres and didn't convert!

<<You obviously don't know Paula Ratcliffe. In an interview that read in either The Times or The Sunday Times it appears that she works in kilometres>>

In the london marathon?

If anybody watched how Paula dropped out of the Marathon in Athens (she had suffering from a stomach upset before the race started) whould have noticed how she made it to the 36km marker, stopped, started again and then a short distance down the road withdrew.

In spite of her quite clearly having got to a *huge* sign with a "36" on it, many British papers still reported that she had dropped out after 22 miles.

<<<In the london marathon?>>>

YES! if she works in kilometres for every other marathon, not to mention the 5km and 10km races she does, I would imagine she "knows" kilometres far better and is hardly likely to complicate things by using miles as well.

That actually surprises me since whenever I've heard her she talks about mile.

Shudder to think - but is it possible the Times translated it to metric?

Maybe it depends how precise she is being - just as many people might say "that desk is about 2 foot wide" but if actually measuring it would use centimetres.

Maybe she speaks kilometre, but your ear hear mile. Or are you leaving something out again?

What's that meant to mean?

Sounds like you're losing it, being told what to say, or 'daniel' is the latest in a long string of names.

<...silence...>

I didn't realise - Paula radcliffe has her own website.

This page details that unscheduled "stop"...

http://www.paularadcliffe.com/news_apr_05.php