At a number of railway stations (I think Remuera, Middlemore and Baldwin Ave are among them), there are rollers on shafts above signs and on building edges, seemingly randomly placed. Each set is made up of plastic, offset reels. Are they to scare aliens away or is there a more mundane reason for their existence?
- Rhys Morgan. Auckland
Sadly, it is more mundane. These are anti-climb roller barriers to deter climbing on to shelter roofs etc. They are part of rail electrification safety measures. However, when the aliens do arrive ...
Please help to clarify the following regarding multi-lane roadways. When learning to drive in the early 1960s I was always told to keep left on two-lane roads and stay on the inside lane (the left lane) unless passing. I have therefore always thought of the inside lane on a multi-lane road as being the lane on the left or closest to the road edge. Recently, I have been informed in no uncertain terms that the inside lane is the lane closest to the centre of the road or furthest to the right. Is there a definition of which is the inside lane?
- Peter Reece, Auckland
After a little local research (read: free and frank exchange of views with my husband), it seems opinions are evenly divided. My view is that, in countries where you drive on the left, as we do, the inside lane is the one nearest the kerb. My reasoning is that we refer to "passing on the inside" when we overtake on the left. One way to avoid arguments is to refer to them as left-hand, middle and right-hand lanes, as the Road Code does.
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