Happy Birthday, M1!
This is what the M1 looked like when it first opened, 50 years ago.
That was Mr Chuck Berry. He was riding along in his automobile, and he is here to help us celebrate a special birthday. Yes, dear listeners, this week saw the 50th birthday of Britain’s first motorway.
Germany and Italy built their first motorways before the second World War, but in Britain we waited until the 1950’s. Our first proper motorway ran for about 100 km north from London into the centre of England. The government gave it the romantic name “M1” – the “M” stands for “motorway”, of course. And 50 years ago this week, the first cars and lorries started to use it.
A lot of things were very different then. There were no speed limits on the new motorway. You could drive as fast as you liked. There were no crash barriers in the middle of the road, and no lighting. And there were many fewer cars than today. The M1 was originally built for 13,000 vehicles a day. Today, it regularly carries 10 times that number.
There was lots of public interest in the new motorway. People stood on the bridges over the motorway and cheered and waved as the cars passed below them. Drivers enjoyed going as fast as they wanted – though often the cars did not enjoy it as much as the drivers, and there were lots of breakdowns from things like overheated engines. At weekends, families who were lucky enough to own a car used to get in the car and drive up and down the new motorway, just for fun. If they were really lucky, Dad might even stop at one of the new service stations to fill the car with petrol, and everyone could get out and get something to eat. It all seemed very new and modern and exciting.
Before the motorways were built, long-distance journeys by road were slow and difficult. Most of the main roads were narrow and twisting, and ran through the centre of towns, instead of round the edge. If people wanted to travel a long way, they normally took the train. But the trains were often slow and dirty, and the number of people using them was falling. So in the 1950’s it seemed very sensible to build new roads and close old railway lines.
Today, the M1 often looks like this!
What is it like today? We have over 3000 km of motorway in Britain, and some of our motorways are the busiest in Europe. We also have huge traffic jams and pollution, and endless road works. When the M1 was built, there were only 2 million vehicles in the country. There are now well over 30 million vehicles on Britain’s roads, and they all seem to be on the same road as me! In the 1950’s, hardly anyone opposed the building of the first motorways. Today, many people say that if you build more roads, they will quickly fill up with more cars. And the motorway service stations, which once seemed so glamorous, are today crowded and expensive, with huge car parks full of Coca-Cola cans and empty crisp packets.
Happy birthday, M1.
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25 December 2009
Mr. Peter. Where are you? We are waiting for your new podcast. It's very helpful thing.
8 December 2009
gd morning. how are you. man
8 December 2009
peter tnksa alot for your help me learn engli?h… both we learn to engli?h an d learn to culture of engli?h peaple… god bles yopu too much you are veryvvery good person
24 November 2009
Mr Carter has gone… What's happening? Please come back. You know that you have a Global mission. Hope you come back soon. Have a nice time.
20 November 2009
thanks a lot Mr peter
i enjoy your podcast
17 November 2009
hi there..very interesting peice about the english motorways. connecting people from one place to another has always been the sign of a real progress even though later Britain has making up for the lost time.
happy birthday M1!
Ps:Is there the speed limit now?
17 November 2009
thanks a lot Mr peter
i enjoy your podcast in fact I am fan of yours.
In motorways the speed limit should apply otherwise we will face mortal accident wich end in ICU in Hospitals.
By the way some countries the rate of death cause by accident is the highest one more than any other deceased.
May God bless you Mr Peter and all people in planet.
yours faithfully cavalier
16 November 2009
Hello, Peter!
I like reading and listening your podcasts.The "colour"of your voice is very pleasant. I look forward to next podcasts. I look forward to hearing your voice again:-))
16 November 2009
Dear Peter,
Your podcasts are very interesting so that I don't want to miss them.
By the way, could you explain the idiom loud and clear.
example :What the Obama administration is telling us loud and clear is that the war on terror is over
Thank you very much.
15 November 2009
Is it very interesting???????? Yes, it is. But I'm sure, when you write about Polish motorways it will be much more interesting and comical….......... Polish people very well understand me….......and visitors too…..
10 November 2009
Will there be flying cars in future?
8 November 2009
podcasts very much it realy help me to improve my English and also I can to know some things more about England every podcast are very intersting ..
8 November 2009
Hi!
I'm learning English Language from You still and still !
You make me a smile and a good humour!
Thank You so much for your effort !!! Good luck !
8 November 2009
Hi Peter, Thanks for ur sending poetry to me. Iam very excited to read ur poetry.
Regards
Samy.R
7 November 2009
very good
thanks alot
regard
majed
7 November 2009
dear Mr.Peter hello,
You are so read that podcasts hence I gives myself over listen it…
7 November 2009
Dear Peter,
as usual your potcast gives me a lot of inspirations. The inauguration from
the first motorway in Switzerland was in 1963, in the french part of the country —
from Geneva — to Lausanne. Normally we celebrate a new motorway with
a big public festival.
Thank you for your podcast.
Beatrice
7 November 2009
our motorway by all these cars are sending smokes.i would like to tell to drivers slow down with it.it's other way for smoking.
7 November 2009
Hi Peter,
Thank you so much for yours postcards ! Your accent and yours formulations are rich and simple at the same time. It's a great present for people like me who don't speak very well english. It's a good training listening to you. Thank you so much.
7 November 2009
Hi,
You're doing a great job, I just love to listen those stories here, it makes my interest to find new words more. I haven't driven on a highway yet coz we don't have express way here in Sri Lanka yet. There is a one which hasn't finished, so I'll have to wait 2-3 years more to take some experience drving on highway. :D
I hope to follow all the podcasts, Good luck!
6 November 2009
Dear Peter and followers,
I wonder if someday, in the future, the cars will run or they will be stopped on highways. What I am trying to say is that: there are so much cars on our streets that one day they will stop because the traffic jam will reach its limit. What do you think? And that will take place in whole cities…and nations!
6 November 2009
thank u for your efforts …....
But I have some problems in grammar plz can you teach us a little grammar within your stories…..thanks
Osama from Sudan
6 November 2009
Hello Peter,
I discovered your site recently, too.
Your stories are always very interesting and useful to improve my english.
Thank you!
6 November 2009
I can imagine if no have speed limit, the cars would go like a rocket
thanks Peter :-)
6 November 2009
Hello, Mr Peter:
It's great to receive your podcast this week. I'm always looking forward to it because i always learn something new from your stories. Thanks so much for that.
Best regards,
6 November 2009
this is one way more to learn (english) and enjoy the small thing behind the reality. keep your way!! very good!
6 November 2009
Dear Mr Carter. Your work is outstanding, I've been listening and reading to your podcasts for 2 years, and how helpful they are. I know you've listened this many times but I'd like to reinforce all the eulogies. Congratulations…
6 November 2009
I discovered your site quite recently. We enjoy your stories very much, Peter, my students and me. Thank you!
5 November 2009
...." The government gave it the romantic name “M1” "..... lol
Very good, Peter! I laughed a lot because of that!
Congratulations for your new post, interesting, didatic and funny, as always.