Whatever Happened To Footpaths And Manhole Covers?

[10ClarionSt]

Everywhere there is road works these days there are signs that say no footway, or, raised iron works. I've never heard anyone use those terms. We only see them on road signs. So what's going on? Why not footpaths or raised manholes? Anyone?

[THEMOTLEY1]

Surely Manholes would be viewed as sexist by the PC Brigade?

[Gromit]

Manhole is probably deemed sexist terminology.

Footway is a more catch-all term than footpath. Footway includes unpathed, unkerbed areas at the side of the road.

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/03/70/41/3704108_07df8bef.jpg

[THEMOTLEY1]

I was considering the name and not who used them, oh never mind, I tried.

[jackthehat]

'Raised ironworks' will include drain and hydrant covers, etc.

Manholes are still manholes.......except when they are Inspection Chambers (also with a metal cover).

[theprof]

Raised Iron Works signs are usually seen on road surfaces that have been planed or scraped in preparation for applying a new road surface. The planing removes the upper surface leaving manhole covers, ducts etc sitting proud of the remaining road surface. They call it raised iron works because it includes anything made of steel or iron that's set into the road not just manhole covers.

The issue of the word being PC or included in everyday language is debatable. Whilst the public may not be familiar with the term, local authority highway engineers no doubt talk about raised iron works every day of the week simply because it's part of their job. I discuss the merits of inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry with my university colleagues but I wouldn't expect the general public to have a clue about it. Just consider "raised iron works" to be a technical term used by those in the know. Is there such a thing as everyday language in this technological age we now live in?

[theprof]

Incidentally, the highway engineering term that still amuses me is "street furnishings". This includes, benches, lamposts, street signage, permanent traffic lights and just about anything else that sits permanently on a road or pavement.

[Gromit]

Not sure footpath is being substituted for footway for any PC reason.
Iron works include hazards that are not manholes, like drainage grids and utility inspection covers.

Footway and Iron works are more catch-all terms so cover more instances where a sign can be used.

[Mamyalynne]

I think the point being made is that to have a sign that covers many eventualities is less cumbersome than having a whole bunch of them for each particular 'raised item'.

[theprof]

10 Clarion Street, perhaps I didn't make myself clear. I was not comparing MS to the words footpath or manhole. I was comparing MS to the phase "raised iron works"

To the public, my example is just as baffling as the phrase "raised iron works". That was the point I was making.

[EDDIE51]

Referring to 'Woman-holes' and 'woman-hole covers' Is likely to be even more open to misinterpretation !