On 16/05/2011 15:24, Judith wrote:

Simon wrote:
wrote:

The locals (some at least) don't want the cycle racing, and the cyclists are
not good enough to ride safely. Which are some of the reasons that road
racing on cycles is not a good idea.

Best also scrap The Grand National, The British Grand Prix, the Manx
TT, the London Marathon, Rugby, Show Jumping, Skiiing, Boxing, Judo,
Karate

**** - I had not realised that they were held on public roads.

Like you, I am surprised to learn that the British Grand Prix (whatever it is
- I certainly couldn't care less), rugby matches, show-jumping, skiing (!!!),
boxing, judo or karate take place on public roads.

However, the course over which the Grand National is run is bisected by a
well-used public road - Melling Road in Aintree, which, as the name implies,
is the main route to Melling (from Liverpool). For the horse race, the road
is closed and the course is extended from one part of the enclosed land to
the other, by means of gates maintained for the purpose and large quantities
of sand spread across the relevant parts of Melling Road's carriageway.

The closure has to be ordered by the relevant authorities, of course.

The London Marathon - as I understand it - is run more or less exclusively on
the public highway, save and except for any part running through a Royal park
or along pedestrianised areas, though even they are technically part of the
highway.

ALthough the IoM TT takes place, of course, on public roads, it does not take
place in the United Kingdom and Parliament would have to be a lot more
energetic than usual in order to be able to influence it.

I have no idea why the antepenultimate poster felt the need to capitalise the
words "rugby", "show", "jumping", "skiiing" [sic], "boxing", "judo" and
"karate". My information is that spurious capitalisation is often used (in
green ink) in "letters to the Queen" or "letters to the prime minister".



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