UK Metric Association
LightNews LightNews
banner
ukma.org.uk
UK Metric Association
@ukma.org.uk
88 followers 11 following 64 posts
The UK Metric Association is an independent organisation campaigning for the UK to complete metrication ukma.org.uk
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by UK Metric Association
ukma.org.uk
Can we have an option for wind speed in standard metric units please (metres per second and km/h).

FUN FACT: The Met Office officially adopted metres per second for wind speed (along with mm for rainfall, and millibars for surface air pressure) on 1 May 1914.
November 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
mfturcotte.bsky.social
you are using the metric system for temperature and distance (visibility in km) but MPH for winds?
November 21, 2025 at 12:56 PM
ukma.org.uk
The contestants' words both had five letters. But the best word had six.

It pays to #ThinkMetric

📺 🔠 ⏲️ #countdown #channel4

www.channel4.com/programmes/c...
Countdown - first shown 14 November 2025 on Channel 4. METRIC was the best word in this round.
November 15, 2025 at 11:56 AM
ukma.org.uk
Our latest blog article ⚖️:

"Why can I not record my cat’s weight as five pounds?"

metricviews.uk/2025/11/11/w...
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
rhyddian.bsky.social
Went on Facebook for a few mins tonight. First thing I saw was this...

No comment necessary, I imagine.
A pic of a road sign - probably generated with AI by Russian trolls trying to engage aged members of our society into thinking there are problems where none exist - showing a bridge height as 2.1m and the 6'-88" (sic), accompanied by a headline above asking, "Why attempt to decimalise an imperial unit?" adding the inflammatory, "This sign is all kinds of wrong." Presumably, designed to enrage irrational boomers harking back to a nonexistent golden era past pre the metric system which, incidentally, came into usage in the UK in 1971, 54 years ago FFS.
November 12, 2025 at 12:09 AM
ukma.org.uk
For a TV show @qi.com in 2025 to be using #inches to measure a wavelength in the millimetre-to-metre range is #QuiteInteresting.

FUN FACT: Since the first UK radio stations began broadcasting in the 1920s, wavelengths have been given in #metres.

#metricsystem #SI #QI

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Screenshots with subtitles from Episode 4 of Series W of QI, first broadcast on 11 November 2025. They show a complete jumble of measurements units being used, with a wavelength in the millimetre-to-metre range being described using using inches.
November 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
dagoien.bsky.social
Fun fact: Before Europe went metric in the 1870s, Norwegian, Swedish, Amsterdamse, Preussian, Bavarian, Saxon, Württemberg, Viennese and imperial feet and inches were all different.
November 7, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
ukma.org.uk
The roadworks signs say yards, but the actual distances are in metres.
November 7, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
johnhyphen.bsky.social
fascinated by the editorial choices around the use of the metric system or not
irish times article saying ukraine's drones hit plant 1300 km inside russia irish examiner article saying ukraine's drones hit plant 800 miles inside russia
November 4, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
metrication.uk
On this day 50 years ago, breakfast cereals went #metric.

On 1 November 1975, METRIC PACK sizes ⚖️ were introduced for flaked breakfast cereals 🌽❄️. Imperial pack sizes were withdrawn on 30 June 1978.

#OTD #metricsystem #metrication
A 1975 METRIC PACK of Kellogg's Corn Flakes. The back of the pack includes information about the switch to metric pack sizes: "Kellogg's and Metrication You will probably have noticed from the front of this packet that it has a new metric weight. It now contains 500 grammes (1.10 lb) of Corn Flakes in place of the previous 16 oz. Since the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, we have had to pack our flaked breakfast cereals in multiples of 4 ounces. This was the main reason why Corn Flakes were packed in 8 oz, 12 oz and 16 oz packet sizes. But now that Britain is changing to the metric weight system the Law has been amended to permit flaked cereals to be packed and sold in set metric quantities. This Giant pack, which previously held 16 ounces, will now contain 500 grammes (one of the new set quantities). So there are now 10% more Corn Flakes in the packet."
November 1, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
stungeye.com
Just got back from a trip to Winnipeg in the 70s.

Brought back some souvenirs.
Vintage Manitoban miscellany laid out on a green-and-white checkered tablecloth: a yellow “Think metric!” Manitoba Highways 1977 plastic bag showing speed-limit conversions (50 km/h = 31.1 mph, 90 km/h = 55.9 mph); a Lufkin Ultralok tape measure (3 m / 10 ft, metric/English); a blue plastic MTS (Manitoba Telephone System) window scraper, and a small light-blue notepad with the Manitoba Hydro logo.
October 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social
Outside of Canada, many assume that the entire country uses bagged milk.
The truth is, only part of Canada have bagged milk in the fridge.
But why? Well, it comes down when Canada made the transition to the metric system.
This is the story!

🧵 1/9
A supermarket aisle displaying various dairy products, including bags of milk and cartons of cream, with brands such as "Sealtest" and "Lactantia" prominently featured. The products are arranged on shelves, with some bags of milk in blue and red packaging in the foreground and various milk and cream cartons in the background.
October 20, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
ccouzens.bsky.social
Hey BBC, it's time to update your guidelines around use of metric and imperial for weights. Seeing this headline I felt like I was looking at a historical newspaper.
Screenshot of BBC news with headline "Suffolk mum tried 58-stone pumpkin to beat son in family challenge"
October 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
ukma.org.uk
Today, being the 10th day of the 10th month, is National Metric Day in the USA.
usma-metric.bsky.social US Metric Association @usma-metric.bsky.social · Oct 8
The governors of Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin have issued proclamations in recognition of National Metric Week this week:
usma.org/metric-week/...

Example:
October 10, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
stdomingo1878.bsky.social
I work with these type of measurements in my work but not in Imperial, no one on the planet, except the US, use Imperial in the design & construction industry. We use it then the press realase convert it back to Imperial. Pathetic really seeing the UK are a metric country officially. 🙄
October 8, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
wlambchop.bsky.social
I am in my 50s and was never taught the imperial system at school. Why on earth is the transition to metric taking so long. It's got to be holding the country back.
October 6, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
davecykl.bsky.social
If we had just actually properly kept on with the original plan of going fully metric (like the rest of the British Commonwealth did), we wouldn’t even have this crazy problem… @ukma.org.uk
October 6, 2025 at 5:00 PM
ukma.org.uk
Our latest blog article:

#Metric speed limits, with a limit of 30 km/h in built-up areas, could reduce annual insurance premiums by £50

metricviews.uk/2025/10/05/m...
Metric speed limits, with a limit of 30 km/h in built-up areas, could reduce annual insurance premiums by £50
Yet another argument in favour of switching to metric road speed limits has emerged since Wales switched the default speed limit in built-up areas from 30 mph to 20 mph two years ago.
metricviews.uk
October 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
ukma.org.uk
This can still happen though, as the pressure for England to reduce urban speed limits is not going away.

#Metric speed limits also have the added benefit that they provide highway authorities with a greater range of available speed limits to choose from.
A diagram showing speed limit signs lower than 30 mph. Imperial : 20 mph Metric : 40 km/h, 30 km/h, 20 km/h
October 5, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
ukma.org.uk
The cost can be reduced if the speed limit reduction takes place at the same time as a switch to metric speed limits.

“30” signs could be retained, but perhaps with the addition of a temporary “km/h” plate.

Metric also provides a more flexible range of speed limits.

metricviews.uk/2023/09/01/o...
Opportunity missed to save £ millions on new speed limit signs in Wales
An opportunity to save millions of pounds on new speed limit signs in Wales has been missed by the failure to synchronise the lowering of the default speed limit on roads in built-up areas in Wales…
metricviews.uk
October 4, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
teamcanadaforever.bsky.social
In September of 1977 our speed limit signs went metric 🇨🇦

❤️🍁🇨🇦TEAM CANADA FOREVER🇨🇦🍁❤️
❤️🍁🇨🇦VIVE LE CANADA 🇨🇦🍁❤️
September 20, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
metrication.uk
No 50th anniversary special #stamps from the Post Office today, but here's an event day cover ✉️, from 50 years ago, commemorating the Post Office's 🏤 very own M-Day.
A British stamps "Day of Event" Cover, commemorating the #metrication of the Post Office #metrication on 29 September 1975. The envelope bears the words, "THE POST OFFICE GOES METRIC". The 8½p stamp is franked with the words, "NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM 29 SEP 1975 LONDON EC1".
September 29, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
dougsloane.bsky.social
The UK : Anything but the metric system
September 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
eurejoiner.bsky.social
As a massive proponent of the metric system I have recently devised a collection of stickers encouraging people to “think metric”.
A green disk, enclosing a white thought bubble with the word “thinkmetric” in black. The letters km are enlarged. Sheet of orange “thinkgrams” stickers
September 19, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by UK Metric Association
oldukprintads7890s.bsky.social
Sep 1974: Metric System ad from The Metrication Board

(+Cement; Plaster; Linseed Oil Putty; Deodorants; Cosmetics; Shaving Creams; Hair Sprays; Pharmaceutical Products; Dog Meat; and After Shave)

«Weighing up the kilogram.»
An old advert for the metric system of measurement. It is saying that 1 kilogram weighs 2 1/4lbs. Many goods are sold in quantities of 250 grams, 500 grams, etc. Weighing up the kilogram. Virtually every country in the world is metric, or, like Britain, is changing to metric now. Under the metric system the kilogram is used for measuring weight. It is pronounced 'killo-gram.' When you buy in metric weights, it may help to remember that 500 grams (half a kilogram) is just over 1 lb. Many goods are sold in quantities of 250 grams (1 kilogram), 500 grams (kilogram), etc. Already examples of goods sold by the kilogram are in the shops, for example-putty, plaster, and cement. Deodorants, cosmetics, shaving creams, hair sprays and many pharmaceutical products have been sold in metric sizes for some time, and most of the bathroom scales you can buy show dual marking. Where to get more information. More information is available from your local Trading Standards Officer or Consumer Protection Officer (Inspector of Weights and Measures), from your Citizens' Advice Bureau or your local Women's Institute or Rural Community Council. The Metrication Board 22 Kingsway, London WC2B 6LE Britain in the Metric World.
September 18, 2025 at 5:50 AM