Talk:Single track road

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Contents 1 POV 2 Passing places 3 Trams and striped poles 4 Scottish bias?

[edit] POV

I've toned down some of the POV a bit, as mentioned in my edit summary. For example, it's certainly not true that there is a "complete absence" of road rage on single-track roads; I've personally experienced it. It's fair to say that courtesy is a vital part of making the system work properly, though, so I've left that in. I also removed the complaint about how former single-track roads were being left to rot rather than being turned into lay-bys and so on; I sympathise with that, but it's not NPOV and so had to go. Loganberry (Talk) 18:26, 13 August 2005 (UTC)

I've done some further NPOVing by deleting the bit in italics below:

Many A class and B class roads in the Highlands are still single track, although some sections are being widened for the sake of faster travel. Given the great importance of tourism in much of the area, however, some question whether the end result is worth the sometimes significant environmental impact.

Aside from the use of weasel words, I would hazard a guess that opinion in favour of widening greatly outweighs opinion against, especially in the communities concerned. If anyone can produce some concrete evidence of either side of the debate then we can include it, otherwise it's just opinion masquerading as fact. Blisco 20:25, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Passing places

the passing places may still be found to be marked with older black and white striped posts

Is this right - to my recollection, the stripped poles are to mark the route in case of heavy snowfall - and aren't exclusive to Scotland.--JBellis 21:19, 4 December 2005 (UTC)

The black and white posts used to mark passing places are quite different from snow poles, which are taller and thinner and (I think) orange. See also my comment below. Blisco 22:15, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

I've removed the 'Citation Needed' because it is clear on the Undiscovered Scotland link referenced at the bottom of the page that black and white striped pole are also used to define Passing Places. --Liam Mason 16:52, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

When I added the tag (to my own edit) I wasn't questioning the fact that striped poles are used, only that they're used mainly in Argyll and Bute. That is based on my own half-remembered original research, but it's probably true, and no one's seen fit to question it. --Blisco 19:25, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Trams and striped poles

This forum thread is my evidence for the assertion that square signs are being introduced because diamond signs are reserved for trams. I wouldn't have thought you'd get many people driving their trams along single track roads and getting confused, but apparently regulations is regulations, and the Highway Code seems to agree [1].

I've said that striped poles are most in evidence in Argyll and Bute because that's where I've noticed them; in fact as far as I know/can remember, only striped poles are used in Argyll and only square/diamond signs are used elsewhere. I imagine it was the old Strathclyde Regional Council that was responsible for this policy. Does anyone know if they're used anywhere else? Blisco 22:15, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Scottish bias?

Is there some reason why this article is so heavily related to Scottish usage of the term? As far as I know, "single track road" is a perfectly common and standard term used throughout the UK, so I see no reason to suggest that it is "widely used in Scotland, particularly the Highlands", as in the first paragraph. Indeed, I can't think of any alternative term that might be applied elsewhere - certainly when out in the countryside of rural England (eg in Hampshire and Shropshire) I've often seen signs warning "single track road with passing places ahead". Perhaps this article should be generalised a touch? Cheers, DWaterson 12:31, 22 June 2007 (UTC)

Oh, also I'd suggest that, contrary to the article's claim that "Passing places are generally marked with a diamond shaped white sign with the words 'passing place' upon it", in fact, (perhaps in England at least?) passing places are almost never marked in any way whatsoever - they are just there. Cheers, DWaterson 12:35, 22 June 2007 (UTC)