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Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

bbc.com

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Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#91

Post by theodric »

ovi256 wrote: post #15
supernova87a wrote: post #7

It might be more honest and less surprising for the title to read: "Offshore path through tidal flats has killed 100+ people" I also recall another similar place in France where the path has small artificial posts/concrete piers built so that anyone caught out can climb to safety.

The one in France is the causeway to Noirmoutier island. It's a two way road that is impassable at high tide. At both ends, prominent panels display warnings, the current time and the time of the next high tide. Still, there are regular occurences of people that lose their cars and have to be rescued from the shelter poles, and, very rarely, worse. Incidentally, it's about the same length as this 3 mile path, 4.2 km.…

The article's assertion that it's unique in the world is misleading. There are many tidal causeways. I've personally driven across one in Northumberland that connects the mainland to an old monastic island.

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#92

Post by names_are_hard »

bpodgursky wrote: post #88
floatingatoll wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that a cultural difference, such that the UK tone for "proceed and you may die" takes for granted (with, presumably, support from their legal system) that the reader is at fault if they ignore the phrasing used? The US is particularly vulnerable to lawsuits seeking vengeance, and spends a lot of time agonizing over phrasing that is defensible against both literate and illiterate people. So it could be possible tha…

It's human nature to (1) distrust authority, (2) assume that authority is generally more nannying and risk-averse than you yourself are, and (3) want explanations consistent with your understanding of how the world works. I don't think it's just an American thing.

I wonder about the second point. Is it human nature or a learned reaction we have because in our lives we experience authority as overly- cautious? First our parents, then our teachers, then the government (perhaps less so, depending where we live) are constantly telling us not to do things because they're dangerous even when odds of injury are relatively low.

So it's natural we're distrustful.

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#93

Post by hebrox »

dijit wrote: post #89
Balgair wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh now that is a very stupid design. Thanks for the picture!

Yet, it was replicated in Copenhagen (albeit for a bicycle path). https://www.archdaily.com/868904/copenhagens-latest-piece-of...

I saw "The Unholy Trinity of Bridge Stupidity in Copenhagen" recently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McvZ68qlho4 and was shocked that this thing actually exists.

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#94

Post by adamsea »

bpodgursky wrote: post #88
floatingatoll wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that a cultural difference, such that the UK tone for "proceed and you may die" takes for granted (with, presumably, support from their legal system) that the reader is at fault if they ignore the phrasing used? The US is particularly vulnerable to lawsuits seeking vengeance, and spends a lot of time agonizing over phrasing that is defensible against both literate and illiterate people. So it could be possible tha…

It's human nature to (1) distrust authority, (2) assume that authority is generally more nannying and risk-averse than you yourself are, and (3) want explanations consistent with your understanding of how the world works. I don't think it's just an American thing.

Human nature would like to disagree with you about the nature of human nature.

;)

I bet a dollar that the environment - nurture, as opposed to nature - will have a huge impact on a persons attitudes and beliefs and behavior towards authority.

Imho vast claims about human nature should be backed up with some scientific or well-sourced evidence :).

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#95

Post by [deleted] »

bpodgursky wrote: post #88
floatingatoll wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that a cultural difference, such that the UK tone for "proceed and you may die" takes for granted (with, presumably, support from their legal system) that the reader is at fault if they ignore the phrasing used? The US is particularly vulnerable to lawsuits seeking vengeance, and spends a lot of time agonizing over phrasing that is defensible against both literate and illiterate people. So it could be possible tha…

It's human nature to (1) distrust authority, (2) assume that authority is generally more nannying and risk-averse than you yourself are, and (3) want explanations consistent with your understanding of how the world works. I don't think it's just an American thing.

[deleted]

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#96

Post by onion2k »

Up here in the north east of the UK is Holy Island, a small island off the coast with a village that has a population of about 200 people. The causeway to get there is cut off from the mainland twice a day too. A few times a year a hapless visitor gets their car swept out to sea.

It's well worth a visit - it's a beautiful place. https://holy-island.com/gallery/ybphotography.htm

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#97

Post by ovi256 »

freefal wrote: post #78
ovi256 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The one in France is the causeway to Noirmoutier island. It's a two way road that is impassable at high tide. At both ends, prominent panels display warnings, the current time and the time of the next high tide. Still, there are regular occurences of people that lose their cars and have to be rescued from the shelter poles, and, very rarely, worse. Incidentally, it's about the same length as this 3 mile path, 4.2 km.…

The Tour de France used this road in 1999 with predictable results: lots of crashes ( https://www.procyclinguk.com/flashback-1999-tour-de-france/ )

It's like the Tour de France's shtick is to be a giant hazing ritual where ex-racers find new ways to torment current racers.

In 1909, they sent them up the Pyrenées mountains to be attacked by bears.

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#98

Post by ascorbic »

Reason077 wrote: post #74
jedimastert wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Historical British footpaths do actually have legal protections. Rights of way[0] belong to the people and are public property. Here's a Tom Scott talking about it (kinda)[1] [0]: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_Wal... [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYc0Ouxhx0

Rights of way are legally protected, but are not necessarily public property. Footpaths and bridleways often cross privately owned land, especially in rural areas.

The UK foreshore is owned by the Crown, except for some cases where it has been sold off. These are the minority though. If anyone else owns this it's likely to be the Ministry of Defence.

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#99

Post by ascorbic »

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #58
pueblito wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can disuse cause a public right of way to cease existing in the UK?

No.

The reverse is true though. If a non-right of way is used as one for long enough then it can be designated as one. This is why landowners instead designate them as permissive paths and close them for one day per year.

Re: Desolate English path has killed more than 100 people (2017)

#100

Post by robin_reala »

Reason077 wrote: post #74
jedimastert wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Historical British footpaths do actually have legal protections. Rights of way[0] belong to the people and are public property. Here's a Tom Scott talking about it (kinda)[1] [0]: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Rights_of_way_in_England_and_Wal... [1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYc0Ouxhx0

Rights of way are legally protected, but are not necessarily public property. Footpaths and bridleways often cross privately owned land, especially in rural areas.

My last house came with two separate titles: one for the house and grounds, and one for just the footpath that lead up to and past it. I had literal nightmares when selling it that one the day of exchange the buyer would refuse to take the footpath title, leading to me being in a different country but legally having to maintain the passability of a footpath back in the UK.
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