We had to admire the skill of a lorry driver on Saturday who backed his huge HGV along Old Courts Road, Brigg, across the traffic lights towards Wesley Road and then pulled forward to head off along the A18 in the direction of Ancholme Way.
He was being directed by a colleague - a very brave soul who turned policeman on point duty to hold up the traffic while the above mid-afternoon manoeuvre was carried out.
It appeared the juggernaut had either delivered to premises in the town centre, or was attempting to do so. However, there was a very high volume of traffic using the Old Courts Road entry road to the town's main car park on Christmas Farmers' Market Saturday.
Was this delivery really necessary at this time and on this particular day?
....there's nothing wrong with delivering at any time of the day...but there is something fundamentally amiss if the delivery driver has to use the so-called pedestrian zone for making the delivery.
ReplyDeleteOther towns have designated Loading Bays from where the driver carries, or uses handling equipment, ie a pump truck, to deliver the assignment.
Anyway, technically we cannot really call Brigg's pedestrian zone a pedestrian zone if vehicles freely use the false traffic-free area unchallenged/unhindered....
Nige - the recognised term for the guy assisting a vehicle to manoeuvre is BANKS-MAN.....
ReplyDelete'Banksman' - originates from the first part of the c19th and described the worker who was position on, for example a bank of coal, or near a pit and supervised the mechanical loading of wagons....
ReplyDeleteBuses/coaches cannot legally reverse if there are passengers still aboard - one health and safety reason is that the driver does not have a banksman to assist.
In my student days, I had a Bond 3-wheeler - 250cc motor-bike engine, no reverse gear - and if I wanted to turn the car round, I picked up the front end and walked it thro' 180 degrees...
The recognised signal for a boat/ship reversing (go astern) is 3 short blasts on the hooter. (although technically is means 'I have my engines in reverse propulsion' as large vessels may take many miles before they stop and for the prop to grip the water for the ship to go astern.)
Unlike UK drivers, boats in rivers,channels drive on the right - although it is often recommended that small craft with shallow draught sail just outside a buoyed channel, so as not to hinder a vessel that is confined by the channel....
Learn this, I will test you later, Nige...
.....the humming bird is the only bird that can fly backwards....
ReplyDeleteQuestion - Name 2 sporting events that the winning team goes backwards...
A word, or sentence that reads the same backwards is called a PALLINDROME....
ReplyDeleteFor example,
CIVIC.
RADAR
RACECAR,
MADAM, IN EDEN, I'M ADAM.
Answer to Question 2 being Tug o' War and Rowing. Tug o' War last featured in the 1912 Olympics (I think it's right)
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2 continued answers.
ReplyDeleteBackstroke in swimming and the high jump. The high jump is interesting as the competitor runs forwards but "jumps" backwards using the Fosbury Flop, first used by Dick Fosbury circa 1965.
Addendum to previous posting, now having checked Tug of War featured in the Summer Olympics between 1900 and 1920.
@Ian - Well done....Give yourself some Brownie points....
ReplyDelete