Following on from last week’s informative article about the UK’s introduction of decimal currency, we look at some of the features contributing to that success and draw comparisons with the changeover to metric measures.
Continue reading “Decimal changeover lessons”50 years of decimal currency
On 15 February 2021, we mark 50 years of decimal currency in the UK.
Continue reading “50 years of decimal currency”Unfamiliar US weights and measures
Defenders of the imperial system occasionally cite Americans’ continued use of non-metric measurements to justify Britain’s dual system. Ronnie Cohen is not convinced.
Continue reading “Unfamiliar US weights and measures”BBC symbol clangers
John Austin, editor of the UK Metric Association (UKMA) newsletter, looks at incorrect metric symbols used by the BBC.
Continue reading “BBC symbol clangers”COVID-19 and the search for a vaccine
As the UK’s vaccination programme hits the headlines, Ronnie Cohen takes a look at the microscopic elements that are affected by viruses and the vaccines developed to fight them.
Continue reading “COVID-19 and the search for a vaccine”Bats in the belfry
During the BBC programme “Bells on Sunday”, one of our readers noted that an unfamiliar unit was used to denote the weight of a bell.
Continue reading “Bats in the belfry”Road speed units mix-up could have been fatal
We begin the year with a cautionary tale – a recent incident that highlights a possible consequence of the UK’s ongoing measurement muddle.
Continue reading “Road speed units mix-up could have been fatal”Progress on metrication of the British rail network
Ronnie Cohen passes on an update on this topic that he has recently received from the UK Department for Transport.
Continue reading “Progress on metrication of the British rail network”Official thinking behind e-scooter mph speed limit
Following the recent Metric Views article about the miles per hour (mph) speed limits for e-schooters, Ronnie Cohen wrote to his MP about the issue. Ronnie now reports on the responses that he has received, and adds his comments.
Continue reading “Official thinking behind e-scooter mph speed limit”Government’s blank cheque for HS2
A reader with a long memory might recall that Philip Hammond, when Transport Secretary, turned down on the grounds of cost a proposal for providing metric height restriction signs on all bridges over highways. The estimate may have been around £2million. Ronnie Cohen compares this and other costs of converting road traffic signs with the cost of HS2.
Continue reading “Government’s blank cheque for HS2”
Metric Views 