Radar Locks on Trans-Pennine Trail gates?

[BobSweet]

Trafford council have responded to my Freedom of Information request about the gates that prevent disabled access on the Trans-Pennine Trail with the following: "Radar locks are fitted to gates on the trail to allow access for all."

Now to me they look like standard squire padlocks. Anyone know if keys are available for these locks?

[Tinnishill]

A pedant notes;

Radar locks are not intended to provide "access for all". They are intended to restrict access to people with health and mobility problems who can be bothered to register.

It sounds like Council Fob Off No 94.

You can see pictures of Radar keys on Google Images and they look nothing like your obstruction padlock, which appears to be bog standard.

[hemo]

Looks like one has to take their own portable grinder along to open those special RADAR locks.

[peterb]

A pedant notes;

Radar locks are not intended to provide "access for all". They are intended to restrict access to people with health and mobility problems who can be bothered to register.

It sounds like Council Fob Off No 94.

You can see pictures of Radar keys on Google Images and they look nothing like your obstruction padlock, which appears to be bog standard.

May I pedantically suggest that your post needs to be edited? Perhaps 'restrict access' might be replaced by 'allow access only'?
(those are definitely not Radar locks)

[Tinnishill]

Excellent pedentry, poor quality Council.

[Audax67]

YouTube is your friend:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ock+picked

[nirakaro]

A pedant notes;

Radar locks are not intended to provide "access for all". They are intended to restrict access to people with health and mobility problems who can be bothered to register.

It sounds like Council Fob Off No 94.

You can see pictures of Radar keys on Google Images and they look nothing like your obstruction padlock, which appears to be bog standard.

May I pedantically suggest that your post needs to be edited? Perhaps 'restrict access' might be replaced by 'allow access only'?
(those are definitely not Radar locks)

As a card-carrying pedant myself, I'm struggling to see the difference in meaning between "restrict access to…" and "allow access only to …". Please explain?

[reohn2]

A simple and effective answer to the idiot Trafford Council's obstruction :- https://youtu.be/dBSSA5ot0tA

PS,don't tell anyone I told you though

[peterb]

A pedant notes;

Radar locks are not intended to provide "access for all". They are intended to restrict access to people with health and mobility problems who can be bothered to register.

It sounds like Council Fob Off No 94.

You can see pictures of Radar keys on Google Images and they look nothing like your obstruction padlock, which appears to be bog standard.

May I pedantically suggest that your post needs to be edited? Perhaps 'restrict access' might be replaced by 'allow access only'?
(those are definitely not Radar locks)

As a card-carrying pedant myself, I'm struggling to see the difference in meaning between "restrict access to…" and "allow access only to …". Please explain?

Perhaps I'm wrong but I thought 'restrict access to' somewhat ambiguous, reading 'restrict' in it's sense of 'interfere with · impede · hamper · obstruct · block · slow · check · curb · retard · handicap' - make access more difficult.

[Bmblbzzz]

What sort of gates are they fitted to? Something I've seen in a number of places is a large kissing gate – alongside a small ungated cattle grid if cycle access is officially allowed – fitted with similar padlocks. The opening mechanism on these gates can be opaque to those unfamiliar with it – it appears as if the padlock is holding the latch locked. In fact, it's not, it's just preventing it opening completely – but it's sufficiently non-obvious that stickers are often fitted to the gates explaining that the gate opens and can be opened completely by releasing the padlock with a Radar key. Presumably the kissing gate area isn't quite big enough for a wheelchair, although it's substantially larger than most kissing gates.

Something like this: https://mcveighparker.com/woodstock-kissing-gate

But in this case, as noted by Peterb, those aren't Radar locks.

[ratherbeintobago]

FOI the Equality Impact Assesment. I’m told a RADAR lock on its own doesn’t meet the requirement.

Given that the TPT is a national route it’s probably worth contacting your local Sustrans group, and there must be some sort of Walk Ride group in Trafford.

Edit - try Walk Ride Alty as a starting point

[pete75]

A pedant notes;

Radar locks are not intended to provide "access for all". They are intended to restrict access to people with health and mobility problems who can be bothered to register.

It sounds like Council Fob Off No 94.

You can see pictures of Radar keys on Google Images and they look nothing like your obstruction padlock, which appears to be bog standard.

Radar locks are there to provide access to anyone with a Radar key. This might be useful for anyone with a tandem, trailer or trike using the TPT. Just looke don ebay and they're available for less than 3 quid posted.

[ratherbeintobago]

Radar locks are there to provide access to anyone with a Radar key. This might be useful for anyone with a tandem, trailer or trike using the TPT. Just looke don ebay and they're available for less than 3 quid posted.

There’s a counter argument that says only people who are entitled to them should be using them, and that people using them illicitly are likely to cause problems in the long run.

[Psamathe]

Radar locks are there to provide access to anyone with a Radar key. This might be useful for anyone with a tandem, trailer or trike using the TPT. Just looke don ebay and they're available for less than 3 quid posted.

There’s a counter argument that says only people who are entitled to them should be using them, and that people using them illicitly are likely to cause problems in the long run.

If there is a public cycle path with a Radar locked barrier and to use the path you need to open the barrier e.g. 'cos you ride a trike does that mean you are "entitled" to use the key for access to the cycle path?

Couple of years ago I was driving Mum's and Dad's cars on errands for them a fair bit (as they were no longer driving) and both cars had Blue Badges but I'd never use it unless one of them was with me and was getting out of the car (i.e. disabled parking space necessary for them). I suspect a lot of people needing a Radar key to access a cycle path but not needing disabled toilets would only use the key for what they needed (i.e. the cycle path).

Ian

[Bmblbzzz]

I think we need to see a photo of the whole gate. What are those padlocks securing? Is there another part locked with a Radar key? Frequently the Radar lock will be built into the post.