Roundabouts

[Melvang]

So where I live at the city is looking to put in roundabouts at 6 places on a fairly major road that is a 45mph zone all the way across town and is 6 lanes both directions.  I haven't read details yet as it was just voted on today.  But a lot of people are scared to death of them as there is only one other one in town in an out of the way corner. 

Personally I like the idea of them for various safety and traffic throughput reasons. 

I was wondering if anyone else here has personal experience with them vs a tradition 4 way stop light on busy roads.

[hwood34]

they make life soo much easier, hopefully americans will learn how to use them at some point

[smknjoe]

hopefully americans will learn how to use them at some point

People have a very hard time with them here. They actually made one "two-way" close to where I live because people couldn't or wouldn't go in one direction. Since it's so lightly traveled it works out okay in this situation.

[HoffmanMyster]

We put a whole bunch in where I'm at a few years ago. At first, everyone was awful. It's like they all slept through that day of drivers ed. Now, people are getting better.

I did, however, have someone honk at me for entering the roundabout at the exact same time as them, one entrance in front of them (as if I had cut them off or something). So that happened.

[Cottonsox]

hopefully americans will learn how to use them at some point

People have a very hard time with them here. They actually made one "two-way" close to where I live because people couldn't or wouldn't go in one direction. Since it's so lightly traveled it works out okay in this situation.

So basically they turned 1 intersection into 4?

[Lain1911]

Sounds like a roundabout way of doing things to me. Du dum tsh.

[smknjoe]

Three streets hit the circle. So, now it's basically 3 two-way intersections.

[smknjoe]

No, 2 two-way and one three-way. It's inside of a subdivision. Not on city streets.

[engicoder]

Just wait until you get one of these babies:



Its called the "Magic Roundabout" in Swindon in the UK.

If you look closely, its 5 small roundabouts circling around a larger center one...even more interesting, the outer ones are clockwise, as would be expected in the UK, but the center one is counter-clockwise.

How about a ride with a couple Finn's around it?

[baldgye]

6 lanes in either direction and the speed limit is 45? wtf lol

[azhdar]

France started put them everywhere like 10years ago now in cities we got one about every 500 meters.
They suffer 2 problems :
- bottling , if the roundabouts is jammed, there's no more law and it makes the traffic even slower than traffic light
- old peoples or lazy people who can't position in it and/or won't use turn signal

I mean it's ****ing easy :

[rowdy]

We have this in Melbourne:



Actually I used to live really close to this, and you do get used to it when you go around it every week.

[Belfong]

Lots of them in Malaysia!

[baldgye]

We have this in Melbourne:

(Attachment Link)

Actually I used to live really close to this, and you do get used to it when you go around it every week.

Seems pretty straight forward tbh lol

Honestly the only 'dangerous' roundabouts are the sunken ones that are basically just painted on the ground. People don't think and don't look and just go across like its a normal road. Seen many many accidents on them...

[Melvang]

6 lanes in either direction and the speed limit is 45? wtf lol

3 lanes each direction for 6 lanes total.

[baldgye]

6 lanes in either direction and the speed limit is 45? wtf lol

3 lanes each direction for 6 lanes total.

Still tho, wtf 45 is such a random number lol and hella slow!

[HoffmanMyster]

6 lanes in either direction and the speed limit is 45? wtf lol

3 lanes each direction for 6 lanes total.

Still tho, wtf 45 is such a random number lol and hella slow!

45 mph through a town is very standard.  Not through the downtown portion (that would be 25 mph), but through the outskirts of town where there are crossroads and neighborhoods. 

What would be an intermediate speed limit in Britain?  O.o   Surely you don't go 60-70 mph everywhere. 

[baldgye]

6 lanes in either direction and the speed limit is 45? wtf lol

3 lanes each direction for 6 lanes total.

Still tho, wtf 45 is such a random number lol and hella slow!

45 mph through a town is very standard.  Not through the downtown portion (that would be 25 mph), but through the outskirts of town where there are crossroads and neighborhoods. 

What would be an intermediate speed limit in Britain?  O.o   Surely you don't go 60-70 mph everywhere. 

Towns usually 30 or 40, residential areas 30, dual carriageways 50-60 (depending on the area) and motorways 70. Back lanes are national limit (which is 60 on single carriageway roads).

With America being so big, I can't imagin driving at such slow speeds, would drive me mad haha

[katushkin]

Roundabouts are easy. But people find them hard. Two lanes in, two lanes off, yet some people like to use all of them!

On the A38 near my house, it used to be a very nice, straight dual carriageway with nothing on it. Just loooooong straight road. Lots of people used to race down there because there are no speed cameras at all. Then they put in roundabouts every mile and a half/two miles. People still street raced down there, just slowed down for the roundabouts because they weren't very big (usually you don't slow down when there are only two directions entering onto the roundabout) which just added some fun to the straight races.

Now they've added traffic lights. Which takes ALL the fun out of it

[fohat.digs]

Our city has added a few in recent years.

The small ones on minor 2-lane streets work great, but the big ones are very confusing for people who don't get it.

I have never been on one of those 2-stage ones. The Australian example that was stretched longitudinally into 3 looks great, but that 5-way with the center rotating in the other direction is crazy!

[plegnic]

6 lanes in either direction and the speed limit is 45? wtf lol

3 lanes each direction for 6 lanes total.

Still tho, wtf 45 is such a random number lol and hella slow!

45 mph through a town is very standard.  Not through the downtown portion (that would be 25 mph), but through the outskirts of town where there are crossroads and neighborhoods. 

What would be an intermediate speed limit in Britain?  O.o   Surely you don't go 60-70 mph everywhere. 

Towns usually 30 or 40, residential areas 30, dual carriageways 50-60 (depending on the area) and motorways 70. Back lanes are national limit (which is 60 on single carriageway roads).

With America being so big, I can't imagin driving at such slow speeds, would drive me mad haha

In most states, the highest allowable speed-limit is 70mph (the speed-limit-limit?). Some states are moving away from this, though. In Texas, there are now some roads that go up to 85mph. I've heard that some of the more 'remote' states like Montana have some roads that just say something to the effect of "Drive a reasonable speed."

EDIT: Did some reading on Montana. Looks like that one is a myth... bummer. Here's a map of the maximum speed limits in the US. Some continental states cap out at 65... that would be miserable.

EDIT 2: Here's a question for people: Do you actually go the speed limit? In the south-eastern US I find that many people expect you to go ~5mph above the speed limit most of the time.

[HoffmanMyster]

Some continental states cap out at 65... that would be miserable.

The only bad thing about Wisconsin... 

[saturnotaku]

Does Youtube embedding not work here any more? Did it ever work in the first place?

[fohat.digs]

In the south-eastern US I find that many people expect you to go ~5mph above the speed limit most of the time.

I live in Marietta, and I had a Cobb County cop tell me flat-out that it was an unwritten rule that you would not get a speeding ticket in Georgia at anything up to 9 miles per hour over the speed limit, unless there were other conditions such as a school zone.

PS - you are obviously not a native. Southeastern is one word, capitalized, no hyphen

[SpAmRaY]

In the south-eastern US I find that many people expect you to go ~5mph above the speed limit most of the time.

I live in Marietta, and I had a Cobb County cop tell me flat-out that it was an unwritten rule that you would not get a speeding ticket in Georgia at anything up to 9 miles per hour over the speed limit, unless there were other conditions such as a school zone.

PS - you are obviously not a native. Southeastern is one word, capitalized, no hyphen

I have also heard the same thing about the speed limits in Georgia, I typically run 5-10mph over whatever the speed limit is on interstates.

When I drive through Atlanta I notice the 55mph signs are more of a recommendation since most people are driving 80mph+

I've also heard in Georgia that state troopers tend to give tickets to out of state vehicles more than instate ones.

[HoffmanMyster]

EDIT 2: Here's a question for people: Do you actually go the speed limit? In the south-eastern US I find that many people expect you to go ~5mph above the speed limit most of the time.

Same as fohat, it's an unwritten rule to go a bit over the speed limit.  I typically go ~7mph over, just to be safe.  The extra few mph isn't worth hundreds of dollars to me, though I could probably get away with 9-10mph over.

[fohat.digs]

I have also heard the same thing about the speed limits in Georgia, I typically run 5-10mph over whatever the speed limit is on interstates.

When I drive through Atlanta I notice the 55mph signs are more of a recommendation since most people are driving 80mph+

I've also heard in Georgia that state troopers tend to give tickets to out of state vehicles more than instate ones.

All true.

So set your cruise control at 9 mph over the speed limit and you are pretty well cool anywhere.

And keep right except to pass (this is just my own pet peeve, but has been put up for law multiple times).


PS - in Georgia it is also against state law to answer your front door naked, so keep that in mind when you are here.

[jacobolus]

I hate roundabouts. They’re awful for pedestrians, and often also for cyclists.

[baldgye]

EDIT 2: Here's a question for people: Do you actually go the speed limit? In the south-eastern US I find that many people expect you to go ~5mph above the speed limit most of the time.

Same as fohat, it's an unwritten rule to go a bit over the speed limit.  I typically go ~7mph over, just to be safe.  The extra few mph isn't worth hundreds of dollars to me, though I could probably get away with 9-10mph over.

tbh here in the UK the police will prob rape you if you speed at all in a 30-40 zone, but if your in a 50 your pretty fine to do 55-59ish and on the motorway you probably wont be pulled over for anything under a ton, unless your driving like a proper **** and/or the policeman is pissed

[katushkin]

I usually go about 33 in a 30, 45 in a 40, and about 85 in a 70 :$

[baldgye]

I usually go about 33 in a 30, 45 in a 40, and about 85 in a 70 :$

Pretty much the same, though in my current car if I do over 80 it just rapes me on the fuel

[HoffmanMyster]

I hate roundabouts. They’re awful for pedestrians, and often also for cyclists.

This is incredibly true, at least where I am.     It's very unclear as to when the pedestrians have the right of way; I would not want to walk through/around one.

Thankfully (ugh, not really... ) we don't have a big biking culture here so it's not a common problem.   

[baldgye]

What the **** are you doing walking around a round about??? There is no pedestrian right of way.. what the **** lol... cross the road, not the round about...

Though for bikes it's pretty easy, you treat it like you would a car, not much you have to think about...

[HoffmanMyster]

What the **** are you doing walking around a round about??? There is no pedestrian right of way.. what the **** lol... cross the road, not the round about...

Though for bikes it's pretty easy, you treat it like you would a car, not much you have to think about...

Nonono, I was referring to crossing at the crosswalk.  And if you wanted to cross two entrances, you are effectively walking around the roundabout.  Outside it.  But around it.  On the outside.

People are having a hard enough time paying attention to traffic flow and entering the roundabout at the proper time, so I would not trust them to pay attention to a pedestrian entering the crosswalk from the right (left in Britain) and avoid hitting them.

With a stop sign there is a very clear right of way for pedestrians (if you get there before the car you walk across), but it's less clear to me with a roundabout.

[engicoder]

I grew up in a small town that had a roundabout (traffic circle in CT) at the main crossroads. Growing up with one, they are natural to me. The one in our town worked excellently. The problem arises when the powers that be force one upon people who are unfamiliar with them.  The moment of pause as they approach and have to decide what to do is all it takes to disrupt the flow. Its a kin to adding new traffic signs in a foreign language and expecting everyone to understand them.

[plegnic]

In the south-eastern US I find that many people expect you to go ~5mph above the speed limit most of the time.

PS - you are obviously not a native. Southeastern is one word, capitalized, no hyphen

I'm a native (not Georgia: Eastern US below the Mason-Dixon). I just really like hyphens

[baldgye]

What the **** are you doing walking around a round about??? There is no pedestrian right of way.. what the **** lol... cross the road, not the round about...

Though for bikes it's pretty easy, you treat it like you would a car, not much you have to think about...

Nonono, I was referring to crossing at the crosswalk.  And if you wanted to cross two entrances, you are effectively walking around the roundabout.  Outside it.  But around it.  On the outside.

People are having a hard enough time paying attention to traffic flow and entering the roundabout at the proper time, so I would not trust them to pay attention to a pedestrian entering the crosswalk from the right (left in Britain) and avoid hitting them.

With a stop sign there is a very clear right of way for pedestrians (if you get there before the car you walk across), but it's less clear to me with a roundabout.

I've been trying to understand what you mean, but I don't know US traffic laws, I know some states have j-walking which you have to contend with.. But honestly just walk around the roundabout and look before you cross... Not too hard.
If US drivers can't handle a roundabout and the odd pedestrian then they shouldn't be driving anyway lol

If it was a X-roads with only traffic lights or stop signs, would you walk across the Middle of the junction?

[fohat.digs]

If US drivers can't handle a roundabout and the odd pedestrian then they shouldn't be driving anyway

If it was a X-roads with only traffic lights or stop signs, would you walk across the Middle of the junction?

In a conventional perpendicular intersection, you can look each way, wait for your turn, and make your way across.
This is true for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

With cars coming and going at random times in random directions, you are looking around and moving around every which way for several seconds, or more, weaving your path into everyone else's, and any interruption of that complex flow pattern is problematic.

There is no place for a slow-moving walker in that, although a cyclist has a reasonable chance.

[baldgye]

Living in the UK I've been around roundabouts my entire life, never before have I had an issue crossing them at the point where the road joins the roundabout. Ever.

Also roundabouts arnt random in anyway and are entirely predictable....

[HoffmanMyster]

Living in the UK I've been around roundabouts my entire life, never before have I had an issue crossing them at the point where the road joins the roundabout. Ever.

Also roundabouts arnt random in anyway and are entirely predictable....

My point was that since they are so new here, drivers and pedestrians are all relatively inexperienced at it.  And I stated it as more of a fear than anything else.  I wouldn't feel comfortable crossing one on foot, knowing the aptitude of those in the cars.  Perhaps it's an unfounded fear; it's not a statistic, it's my personal feeling on the matter - it could very well be perfectly safe.

[Tym]

Living in the UK I've been around roundabouts my entire life, never before have I had an issue crossing them at the point where the road joins the roundabout. Ever.

Also roundabouts arnt random in anyway and are entirely predictable....

I've been trying to wrap my head around this too, but i think the idea is in the UK we sit the pedestrian crossing abit back from the roundabout, giving us plenty on time to cross?

[JaccoW]

Or another one:


And they are great for cyclists too:

[baldgye]

Living in the UK I've been around roundabouts my entire life, never before have I had an issue crossing them at the point where the road joins the roundabout. Ever.

Also roundabouts arnt random in anyway and are entirely predictable....

My point was that since they are so new here, drivers and pedestrians are all relatively inexperienced at it.  And I stated it as more of a fear than anything else.  I wouldn't feel comfortable crossing one on foot, knowing the aptitude of those in the cars.  Perhaps it's an unfounded fear; it's not a statistic, it's my personal feeling on the matter - it could very well be perfectly safe.

Yeah I'm used to them, but this whole notion of 'fear' is pretty insane, given that the whole of Europe has managed with them for years... It's not something you need lots of experiance with, you learn what the rules are and that's kind of it.
Even as a learner driver roundabouts where pretty straight forward, even ones with three to four lanes...

[paicrai]

osama bin laden and “Boyhood” both took 12 years to shoot

[baldgye]

Living in the UK I've been around roundabouts my entire life, never before have I had an issue crossing them at the point where the road joins the roundabout. Ever.

Also roundabouts arnt random in anyway and are entirely predictable....

I've been trying to wrap my head around this too, but i think the idea is in the UK we sit the pedestrian crossing abit back from the roundabout, giving us plenty on time to cross?

Yeah but Ive lived around a lot where you cross the road pretty much at the roundabout (without a pelican or zebra crossing or what have you) and it was never a problem, you just look both ways and cross when it's clear lol

[JaccoW]

If US drivers can't handle a roundabout and the odd pedestrian then they shouldn't be driving anyway

If it was a X-roads with only traffic lights or stop signs, would you walk across the Middle of the junction?

In a conventional perpendicular intersection, you can look each way, wait for your turn, and make your way across.
This is true for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

With cars coming and going at random times in random directions, you are looking around and moving around every which way for several seconds, or more, weaving your path into everyone else's, and any interruption of that complex flow pattern is problematic.

There is no place for a slow-moving walker in that, although a cyclist has a reasonable chance.

And then get splattered by the idiot that turns right at a red light. US drivers generally lack the spatial awareness that you need for driving in busy city traffic or certain roundabouts in my experience .
Never have I had more close calls with people that just drove onto the road without looking than in the US. And I've driven through most of Europe and even through Taipei in rush hour.

[HoffmanMyster]

Living in the UK I've been around roundabouts my entire life, never before have I had an issue crossing them at the point where the road joins the roundabout. Ever.

Also roundabouts arnt random in anyway and are entirely predictable....

My point was that since they are so new here, drivers and pedestrians are all relatively inexperienced at it.  And I stated it as more of a fear than anything else.  I wouldn't feel comfortable crossing one on foot, knowing the aptitude of those in the cars.  Perhaps it's an unfounded fear; it's not a statistic, it's my personal feeling on the matter - it could very well be perfectly safe.

Yeah I'm used to them, but this whole notion of 'fear' is pretty insane, given that the whole of Europe has managed with them for years... It's not something you need lots of experiance with, you learn what the rules are and that's kind of it.
Even as a learner driver roundabouts where pretty straight forward, even ones with three to four lanes...

...are you really unable to comprehend that some people might feel uncomfortable doing things that you feel comfortable doing?  Moreover, in a completely different region that you have little to no experience in, with different customs and cultural history (and experience with these things)?   

Yeah but Ive lived around a lot where you cross the road pretty much at the roundabout (without a pelican or zebra crossing or what have you) and it was never a problem, you just look both ways and cross when it's clear lol

Well duh.  Thanks for the input.   

And then get splattered by the idiot that turns right at a red light. US drivers generally lack the spatial awareness that you need for driving in busy city traffic or certain roundabouts in my experience .
Never have I had more close calls with people that just drove onto the road without looking than in the US. And I've driven through most of Europe and even through Taipei in rush hour.

Yay!  Someone who has actually experienced driving/walking in the US!

[baldgye]

If US drivers can't handle a roundabout and the odd pedestrian then they shouldn't be driving anyway

If it was a X-roads with only traffic lights or stop signs, would you walk across the Middle of the junction?

In a conventional perpendicular intersection, you can look each way, wait for your turn, and make your way across.
This is true for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

With cars coming and going at random times in random directions, you are looking around and moving around every which way for several seconds, or more, weaving your path into everyone else's, and any interruption of that complex flow pattern is problematic.

There is no place for a slow-moving walker in that, although a cyclist has a reasonable chance.

I just re-read this, and what a load of ****e lol... 'Complex patterns' honestly what the **** are you talking about lol.

[baldgye]

Like I said Hoff I've never driven in the US, but I've driven around Europe...
If drivers being bad is the problem, roundabouts would make the roads safer as you've got less head on traffic coming at each other (for example running a red at a cross road) as regardless if you have right of way you have to slow down anyway simply to go around it...

[vivalarevolución]

Six-lane roundabouts with a 45 mph speed limit sounds like a little much.  I will be interested to see how that works.  Roundabouts always make sense from a technical perspective, it's the implementation phase from drivers that are pissed from anything different that cause all the kerfuffles. 

If you live in the north suburbs of Indianapolis, namely Carmel, the roundabout capital of the United States, you will accept roundabouts as a way of life.  Roundabouts are an elegant, efficient infrastructure solution that we all should fall in love with.  Stop the stoplights!

https://www.google.com/search?q=roundabout+capital+of+the+united+states&oq=roundabout+capital+of+the+united+states&aqs=chrome..69i57.16486j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8