Rat-run

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What does "rat-run" mean? I couldn't find it in any dictionaryhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north yorkshire/3179769.stm Cheers,4B

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]What does "rat-run" mean? I couldn't find it in any dictionary http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north yorkshire/3179769.stm[/nq]
It must be a modern British term. A Google search turns up this fuller explanation:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk news/story/0,6903,930643,00.html

UK streets lost to rat-run plague
Mark Townsend
Sunday April 6, 2003
The Observer
They are the scourge of gridlock Britain, recklessly careering along residential streets to shave
valuable seconds from their journey.
Hardly any street is safe from the rat-runner, new research reveals. The first study of its kind into the phenomenon found that thousands of streets have already been rendered a no-go zone for residents.
Parents are afraid to let their youngsters play
outside. Some claim traffic is so heavy that
children can no longer walk to nearby shops as
motorists desperate to avoid Britain's grinding
congestion navigate the side-streets.
(snip remaining article)
So, side-streets that are suffering under heavy and fast traffic.

I imagine the name is from the sense of "run" in Merriam-Webster's Definition 9: "a way, track, or path frequented by animals."

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What does "rat-run" mean? I couldn't find it in any dictionary http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north yorkshire/3179769.stm[/nq]
[nq:1]It must be a modern British term. A Google search turns up this fuller explanation: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk news/story/0,6903,930643,00.html(snip article) So, side-streets ... the name is from the sense of "run" in Merriam-Webster's Definition 9: "a way, track, or path frequented by animals."[/nq]
NSOED gives the literal and this metaphorical meaning, which it describes as "colloq." but doesn't date. I remember my father using the term for his devious and swift routes through south London in the 1950s.

Matti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What does "rat-run" mean? I couldn't find it in any dictionary[/nq]
Well, it's in COD9, which isn't the latest, though COD is one of the commonest. In Br at least it's a back-road route used to avoid main streets, especially at rush times.
Mike.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What does "rat-run" mean? I couldn't find it in any dictionary[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, it's in COD9, which isn't the latest, though COD is one of the commonest. In Br at least it's a back-road route used to avoid main streets, especially at rush times.[/nq]
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, New Edition (2003) gives:

rat run (countable) British English
a quiet street that drivers use as a quick way of getting to a place, rather than using a main road:
The road has become a rat run for traffic avoiding the town centre.

It dates back to the 1970s:
During weekday rush hours ... a normally peaceful residential street can become a rat run. ( Country Life , January 24, 1974)

Also used as a verb:
Plans to stop vast amounts of London-Birmingham traffic trying to 'rat run' through quiet villages on the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire border are being drawn up by the Transport Department because there will be delay in completing a vital section of the M40 motorway. ( Daily Telegraph , March 27, 1989)
Regards, masakim

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Well, it's in COD9, which isn't the latest, though COD ... route used to avoid main streets, especially at rush times.[/nq]
[nq:1]Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, New Edition (2003) gives: rat run (countable) British English a quiet street that drivers ... place, rather than using a main road: The road has become a rat run for traffic avoiding the town centre.[/nq]
And those are where they put sleeping policemen to calm the traffic.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]rat run (countable) British English a quiet street that drivers ... become a rat run for traffic avoiding the town centre.[/nq]
[nq:1]And those are where they put sleeping policemen to calm the traffic.[/nq]
"Sleeping policemen" has a rather dated feel about it. I remember it being used in the past, when these things were more of a novelty, but these days when they're all over the place they get called by the more prosaic name "road humps". At least in Britain.
Matthew Huntbach

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]And those are where they put sleeping policemen to calm the traffic.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Sleeping policemen" has a rather dated feel about it. I remember it being used in the past, when these things ... when they're all over the place they get called by the more prosaic name "road humps". At least in Britain.[/nq]
Are those like AmE "speed bumps"?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]"Sleeping policemen" has a rather dated feel about it. I ... the more prosaic name "road humps". At least in Britain.[/nq]
[nq:1]Are those like AmE "speed bumps"?[/nq]
"Bumps" or "humps"? We have both around here. Speed humps are designed to allow you to progress at the (low) posted speed limit (say, 25mph) or a bit above, while speed bumps are designed to make you slow down to a near stop before going over.
They installed speed humps on a street near my house and I was surprised at how well they worked, reducing the traffic speed from about 35-40mph to 25-30mph. (The street passes a grade school and is posted at 25mph.) The only hassle is being behind people who don't realize that they don't have to stop before crossing them.

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1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >choice between learning and usingPalo Alto, CA 94304 >win32, or leaving the computer

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Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Are those like AmE "speed bumps"?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Bumps" or "humps"? We have both around here. Speed humps are designed to allow you to progress at the (low) ... 25mph.) The only hassle is being behind people who don't realize that they don't have to stop before crossing them.[/nq]
The only hassle? In the "rat run" I described in my small community, there are 3 such speed bumps, and I think we would love those drivers who go slowly enough to stop for them.. In addition, there are wrought-iron sewer grates in the middle of the roadway/parking lot.
People who use our "problem" drive too fast, (causing bad road noise, but would hardly be noticed if it werent for the speed bumps and grates), don't care if their cars don't recover from the speed bumps, and don't care if they lose their cargo and spare car parts, or if anyone along the way is sleeping. The roar, the bumps and the rattle of the grates are really irritating. The bridge repair that has doubled traffic through our area was supposed to be completed by the end of October, but we are hearing from the workmen that mid-November is more likely, or even optimistic.

For 2 weeks I placed my precious bod in the way of the outsiders using the drive to go to work, but didn't have the nerve to face them on the other end, as they came home from work.
(We had just put up signs, and people needed that pointed out to them. Now we even have saw-horse signs, so I haven't braved the gateway, but from day to day, I can hear the increase in traffic, so will have to venture out again, to point out the signs.) Since it is a private drive, the local police can't sit and watch to give No Trespassing tickets. M-o-a-n.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]And those are where they put sleeping policemen to calm the traffic.[/nq]
[nq:1]"Sleeping policemen" has a rather dated feel about it. I remember it being used in the past, when these things ... when they're all over the place they get called by the more prosaic name "road humps". At least in Britain.[/nq]
Actually here they're just called "humps". Said to be onomatopoeic, in imitation of the protests from the suspension as the vehicle goes over them.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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