Village road used as a rat run by traffic - so what?
The derogatory term "rat run" used to describe a road when used by traffic to avoid congestion. Well then, maybe we should all sit in the jams like good little clones and not have the temerity to consider or even use an alternative route?
This term is typically used by people who, when they bought a house, were too stupid to notice that it had a highway in front of it and are now shocked that said highway can actually be used by traffic. If you don’t want others to drive by your house, then move to a place that doesn’t have any roads!
To combat such rattish behaviour, local councils happily install nonsensical "traffic calming measures" (read roadblocks and hazards), one way systems and bollards to make Mr. and Mrs Suburban happy again that their personal village road cannot be used by anyone but themselves.
This is pure and simple just a case of the following:
- Anti-vehicle political correctness gone way beyond mad. We're seeing this more and more these days.
- Such politically correct activity being legitimised by local government and the media, by gleefully proliferating the term "rat run".&mbsp; Finally got a name for people merely trying to get to work in the morning to earn a living have we?
- A quashing of any expression of individuality - i.e. "just know your place, conform and sit in the queue with the rest of the plebs."
Here’s the bottom line. We pay road tax and we want to (in fact sometimes need to) drive our cars. Who are you to tell us what roads we can and can’t drive on? Who are you to tell us what route we should take to work in the morning?
If the main roads become congested and there alternative routes there will always be a “rat run”. I would have thought it was obvious blatantly obvious that if you solve the congestion problem, you at least go some way to reducing traffic cutting through the villages.
By: Angry Git
Comments from visitors
Well, you don't pay road tax, because there's no such thing, but that's not the point.
The motorways were designed, engineered and constructed (incidentally at taxpayer expense that far exceeds the paltry sum you pay in user fees) for you to drive your single occupant vehicle to and from work with all the other cogs at your place of employment.
Local, residential streets are maintained to serve the communities in which they exist. If you have business in a village, then so be it. Conduct your business there, collect your goods, leave your money and be on your way. And at a courteous, reasonable speed while you're at it.
Who is exactly the government to tell you anything anyway? Well they are the lawmakers. If you don't like them, elect someone that can change the law. Granted this is admittedly hard to do in a municipality in which you don't live, nor possess interest.
Good on the locals council for making ordinances which benefit <i>It's own</i> constituents. Traffic calming measures have no adverse impact on the folks who live here, only you lot from Shelbyville (who are unwelcome anyway ;-)
The motorways were designed, engineered and constructed (incidentally at taxpayer expense that far exceeds the paltry sum you pay in user fees) for you to drive your single occupant vehicle to and from work with all the other cogs at your place of employment.
Local, residential streets are maintained to serve the communities in which they exist. If you have business in a village, then so be it. Conduct your business there, collect your goods, leave your money and be on your way. And at a courteous, reasonable speed while you're at it.
Who is exactly the government to tell you anything anyway? Well they are the lawmakers. If you don't like them, elect someone that can change the law. Granted this is admittedly hard to do in a municipality in which you don't live, nor possess interest.
Good on the locals council for making ordinances which benefit <i>It's own</i> constituents. Traffic calming measures have no adverse impact on the folks who live here, only you lot from Shelbyville (who are unwelcome anyway ;-)
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Rat_and_proud.....I'e been led to believe the term "rat-run" is derived from the way real rats travel, in that they always use the quickest possible route between two points. It's not being derogatory to any drivers.
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Actually some people bought their houses over 30 years ago when there was a lot less traffic on the roads!
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counter angry git - 4-Apr-11 18:05
Rat runs is a stupid and insulting phrase. Just remember that these roads are public roads, they are YOUR roads, you pay to use them, and please do so. Do so carefully, but do not be deterred.
+8
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Rat_and_proud - 22-Mar-11 22:21
My first step would be to seek help. You have an addiction. But since that addiction is to cars we'll just stick our heads in the sand and ignore it. Go on Britain. The solution is obviously working. blah blah blah... I pay road tax... blah blah blah... political correctness gone mad.... blah blah blah... quashing of any expression of individuality... blah blah blah......... what a load of bollocks.
good luck!
good luck!
+2
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My first step would be to seek help. You have an addiction. But since that addiction is to cars we'll just stick our heads in the sand and ignore it. Go on Britain. The solution is obviously working. blah blah blah... I pay road tax... blah blah blah... political correctness gone mad.... blah blah blah... quashing of any expression of individuality... blah blah blah......... what a load of bollocks.
good luck!
good luck!
+4
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Anonymous, I don't think I mentioned bikes, they are nothing to do with this gripe! They should be on the road; I was talking about the fact that pedestrians don't belong in the road unless they are crossing.
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grumpyoldwoman - 12-May-10 14:00
Grumpyoldwoman
Roads are also for bikes! Some motorists - you may not be one of them - seem to think that bikes should be on pavements and not roads.
People who have no choice but to walk or get public transport hate and fear thugs on bikes who use pavements as race tracks.
Roads are also for bikes! Some motorists - you may not be one of them - seem to think that bikes should be on pavements and not roads.
People who have no choice but to walk or get public transport hate and fear thugs on bikes who use pavements as race tracks.
+2
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I agree & DISAGREE too. In London, I am on a rat run. This is created when councils choose to 'route' traffic through by one way streets making it the only viable option. I say, remove one way streets as no one should be privledged at the expense of others in this near gridlocked city.
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The problem with the idea of making residential roads primarily pedestrian areas is that said pedestrians, many of them children, become complacent. These children will end up thinking that they can wander on & off the pavement with impunity; which will have tragic results when they go for a walk further afield.
I have already seen silly teenagers sitting on the kerb with their feet out in the road, on a busy main road. I don't think they really wanted artificial legs, but who knows?
They need to be taught that roads are for cars!
I have already seen silly teenagers sitting on the kerb with their feet out in the road, on a busy main road. I don't think they really wanted artificial legs, but who knows?
They need to be taught that roads are for cars!
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grumpyoldwoman - 15-Apr-10 08:13
The so called 'rat runs' are through residential areas and presumably we all live in these.Surely it is reasonable to be courteous when passing through someones living area.There is an increasing move towards the idea of shared spaces which will in time mean that all roads in residential areas will become pedestrian priority with speed reduced to little more than walking pace.The idea is that the space between houses is part of the residents living environment and vehicles are barely tolerated.
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I think that rat runs are a great way to loose all the traffic. But only if the rat runs are wide enough and there are speed bumps!
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Thing is, people tend to drive fast and erratically on short cuts.
Tends to be angry people who do that. Which leads to accidents. All because some fool couldn't wait in a queue because the little vein in his temple was throbbing.
Get some perspective. It's the speed that people dislike.
Tends to be angry people who do that. Which leads to accidents. All because some fool couldn't wait in a queue because the little vein in his temple was throbbing.
Get some perspective. It's the speed that people dislike.
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The way to reduce the use of rat runs and keep our countryside quiet is if this country improves traffic flow on the trunk roads and motorways.
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Why just villages though Sammy Spire?
As I said I sometimes use the local shops as I go through these villages, I'm sure they are glad of my money.
Also, if you care about polluting the atmosphere, I use less petrol by taking a shorter route and spending less time with the engine running. Just think of the amount of pollution caused by traffic jams!
I do know where my accelerator is too, thank you, but I use it as necessary, and always try my best to drive carefully.
There are probably people (I'm not saying you are one) who live in villages used as "rat runs" who don't like it, but also think we should all try to drive less miles to save the planet and can't see the hypocrisy in this!
As I said I sometimes use the local shops as I go through these villages, I'm sure they are glad of my money.
Also, if you care about polluting the atmosphere, I use less petrol by taking a shorter route and spending less time with the engine running. Just think of the amount of pollution caused by traffic jams!
I do know where my accelerator is too, thank you, but I use it as necessary, and always try my best to drive carefully.
There are probably people (I'm not saying you are one) who live in villages used as "rat runs" who don't like it, but also think we should all try to drive less miles to save the planet and can't see the hypocrisy in this!
+5
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grumpyoldwoman - 16-Sep-08 08:32
grumpyoldwoman, I never stated towns and cities, nevermind all. This is your idea.
As for road pricing and the economy, don't think it could get much worse, but it will.
As for road pricing and the economy, don't think it could get much worse, but it will.
+3
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Yes - good idea! Introduce congestion charges for all villages, towns & cities together with road pricing so that nobody can afford to go anywhere at all & see what happens to the economy then!
+10
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grumpyoldwoman - 15-Sep-08 15:40
Grumpyoldwoman you may be able to find reverse but, how long before you find the accelerator pedal.
There was a time when you could cross a street in a village, not any longer. Introducing congestion charges for entering villages just may be the way ahead.
What's in your wallet!?
There was a time when you could cross a street in a village, not any longer. Introducing congestion charges for entering villages just may be the way ahead.
What's in your wallet!?
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I totally agree with Angry Git, we all pay road tax to drive on any roads we want to.
I use the lanes near where I live as much as possible as I would rather do a bit of reversing or shoving my car up a hedge to get past someone than put up with the stress of being stuck in a jam.
(Yes I am a woman who can find reverse!)
This does involve driving through a few small villages but so what? I sometimes find a small shop I can use from time to time in the process.
I use the lanes near where I live as much as possible as I would rather do a bit of reversing or shoving my car up a hedge to get past someone than put up with the stress of being stuck in a jam.
(Yes I am a woman who can find reverse!)
This does involve driving through a few small villages but so what? I sometimes find a small shop I can use from time to time in the process.
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grumpyoldwoman - 15-Sep-08 10:23
If the villagers think it is bad now then imagine what it would be like if the governments charging per mile came in to effect. Everyone would be using the back roads and rat runs to keep the cost down. Towns and main routes would be empty. Another example of our politicians moving a problem instead of solving it.
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