[Talk-GB] Ambiguous restrictions sign

[Gregory Williams]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Shaun McDonald [mailto:shaun at shaunmcdonald.me.uk]
> Sent: 31 October 2012 15:21
> On 31 Oct 2012, at 14:49, Matt Williams <lists at milliams.com> wrote:
> 
> > On 31 October 2012 14:37, David Fisher <djfisher81 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> The pedestrianised main shopping street in Croydon has a sign with
> >> the following wording: "Pedestrian Zone.  No vehicles except cycles
> >> and for loading 6pm-10am."
> >> How would you interpret that?  I see at least 3 possibilities:
> >>
> >> (a) Cycles permitted at any time; loading only permitted 6pm-10am
> >> (this is what I guess is the correct one)
> >> (b) Cycles and loading only permitted 6pm-10am (this would also make
> >> sense; i.e. cycling only outside shopping hours)
> >> (c) Restrictions apply 6pm-10am (clearly ludicrous!)
> >> (d) Something else?
> >>
> >> I'm guessing it's meant to be (a), but just thought I'd canvas
> >> opinion before tagging.
> >
> > I think I agree with (a). I would find it a little strange to disallow
> > cycling just during the day (why not just ban it entirely?).
> 
> The centre pedestrianised bit of Ipswich has cycling banned from 10:30am -
> 4:30pm. It does get pretty busy during that time.
> http://goo.gl/maps/ouha1

Canterbury also has a cycle ban in its pedestrianised high street between
10:30 and 16:00 for the same reason -- there's usually lots of people
walking about shopping and taking in the sights during the day. Keeping the
restriction to these times still allows people to commute to work by
bicycle.

As for the sign I think I'd interpret it slightly differently depending upon
the exact layout of the sign. I.e. whether the layout makes it clearer
exactly which highway users are bound by the time restriction. Also I think
my interpretation would differ between (a) and (b) depending upon which
restriction sign is shown at the top. Is it an empty red circle, or the "low
flying motorcycle" one? Do you have a photo that you could post?

Gregory