The non-metric signs would remain exposed while the metric signs are covered.
On "m-day," I imagine that the covering would be reversed, with the metric
signs unveiled, and the non-metric signs covered. Over time, the non-metric
signs would be taken down.
----- Original Message -----
From: David
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: 13 January, 2009 22:22
Subject: [USMA:42338] Re: highway metrication is metrication in microcosm
Sorry, this was supposed to go to the list, not just Mr. Trusten.
Anyway, that sounds like a great plan, sort of like Decimal Day in
England when they switched over to a decimal system of currency.
However I have a question. How long would the signs be covered? It
couldn't be for a long period of time because people still need to see where
they're going. Actually, Mr. Naughtin, how did they do this in Australia? How
long were the signs covered?
--- On Tue, 1/13/09, Paul Trusten <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:42333] highway metrication is metrication in microcosm
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 5:31 PM
If U.S. road signs are to be metricated, then, a coordinated, national planmust
be followed, such as in the following order:1)the American PEOPLE must be
metricated; that is, children must learn metricin school, and adults must learn
metric by a variety of methods: classes,seminars, public service announcements,
all with the total backing of federal,state, and local governments and industry
leaders. We can't go metric in avacuum.2) vehicle odometers and speedometers
must be manufactured to be metric ormetric-capable, and these changes
recognized by law and regulation (the statusof older, WOMBAT cars needs to be
factored in); all state DOTs are by necessityinvolved in this, e.g.., motor
vehicle measurement standards must become metric,such as vehicle titles
recording odometer readings in kilometers; vehicle weightmust be recorded in,
and legally based upon,
kilograms).3) metric road signs are prepared and erected, but covered over
until"m-Day" (perhaps President Obama will include the erection of thesenew
metric road signs as part of his national work program)4) "m-Day" is set (the
single day of unveiling metric road sign onthe highways nationwide)5) "m-only
Day" - date must be established beyond which theautomakers will manufacture
vehicles with metric measuring equipment only, sofuture vehicles could not be
accidentally switched back to the old unit readout----- Original Message -----
From: "Victor Jockin"<[email protected]>To: "U.S. Metric Association"
<[email protected]>Sent: 13 January, 2009 00:32Subject: [USMA:42329] Re:
Change-over period to the metric system & theaviation industry.> > Re: pipes
and plywood, I would rate the relative importance of areas toswitch in the
following way:> > Road Signs: 85%> Consumer Products: 7%> Temperatures: 7%>
Industrial, Construction, Manufacturing, Engineering, Architecture, etc.:1%> >
If road signs were converted, it would tip the scales and everything elsethat
matters would, eventually but surely, fall into place. For example,I'm trying
to get NY Times science reporters to not convert NASAs metricdistances to US
measures. Would they even think about doing that were the roadsigns in metric?
Would USGS keep showing elevations and distances in feet andmiles? Road signs
are the cornerstone of US traditional measures in thiscountry, and if we knock
that out, we win the war.> > On the other hand, would anyone who's not an
aviation engineer evenknow what units Boeing uses to specify parts? If
everything the public saw wasmetric, would or should the public even care?
(Yes, there may be
a businesscase for one way or the other, but a lot of business decisions are
dealt without of public view, as this one should be, as far as I'm concerned).>
> To me our cause for hope is this: Provided a clause can be slipped intosome
bill negating the ban on using public funds for metric signs, the wholebattle
(i.e., road signs, and the full conversion it would engender) can be wonthrough
the actions of one enlightened President, who could simply direct theDOT to
change the signs (here we can blame Ford and Carter). All Congress wouldneed
to do is decline to block such an action.> > > >
--------------------------------------------------> From: "Pierre Abbat"
<[email protected]>> Sent: 01/12/2009 9:39 PM> To: "U.S. Metric Association"
<[email protected]>> Subject: [USMA:42328] Re: Change-over period to the
metric system &the aviation
industry.> >> >> On Monday 12 January 2009 15:58:06 Bill Hooper wrote:>>> Some
things would take longer because of durable goods that it aretoo>>> expensive
just to throw out because it is not metric; think"my>>> house". You're not
going to tear down your house that wasbuilt to>>> olde English standards just
because you can only get metric sized>>> sheets of wallboard or plywood.
Manufacturers will need to make,and>>> suppliers will need to sell, some olde
English sizes of building>>> materials for some years so that old, pre-metric
homes can be keptin>>> good repair. The critical part of this is to persuade
the buildersand>>> suppliers of NEW construction to begin using metric sizes.>>
>> Another example, which I thought about during my hydrology class,
isstorm>> sewer drainpipes. I think the correct solution for that is
todesignate one>> pipe company (there are few) to make only Renard number sized
pipes in>> metric, require all new pipe runs to be done in such sizes, and
letthe other>> companies metricate when they decide to. Existing pipe runs may
berepaired>> with inch-sized pipes.>> >> Pierre>> >> > > >
