we have round abouts in very strange places down here.. We even have round abouts that go around a way to big of an area....

we like to get all the scion caravans we do in the middle and really confuse the crap out of people on where they are to go..

it just takes about 10 to stop a roundabout from going around....

I like them.....

 

I first got used to driving roundabouts in NJ, and there they seem to be viewed as just a slight bend in many high-speed arterials - whirling around one in excess of 40 MPH is common (in light traffic I was known not to slow my Firebird Trans Am from whatever speed I was going on the straight - tail-out 'round the circle was 'fun').

Thing is, the Washington State stuff quoted above is self contradictory...
(Emphasis added.)

In a multi-lane circle one MUST change lanes, pass, and be passed (HA!) in order to use it correctly.

Also - common practice is to signal left when entering and right when exiting a circle...

Traffic circles/roundabouts are fine by me, and are much faster than lights - unless there are slugs going 'round the ring.

Tom

 

It isnt the roundabouts that get me ...its the F'n minivan right in front of me that stops before entering one for no good reason.. Besides... everytime I see a roundabout, I think of the Beatles song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"

 

PFFT... roundabouts. You should see what it's like in England. They don't really have intersections, they have roundabouts. ALL OVER THE FREAKIN PLACE!

In town, out of town, on freeways, you name it. Nothin tripped me out more on my first trip there than having to traverse a 5 lane roundabout with traffic signals and 6 inlet/outlets....

And then there's the ring road...

 

Yes, UK roundabouts are insane at best, but the one at Swindon is a roundabout of roundabouts...



I can't even imagine trying to negotiate that, in realtime, on the wrong side of the street...

http://www.swindonweb.com/life/magicradio2.htm

Driving through this one over the Christmas holidays while visiting relatives in unfamiliar territory was enough to make me want a drink...

http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/Pubw...ion/index.html

Tom

 

A better view of the Swindon "Magic" roundabout:







Tom

 

Oh my dear lord... I think my head just exploded... cause I KNOW how hard that would be to drive... Wonder if my wife's ever been through that...

 

I AM GOING RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE!

 

That is insane.

 

I'd pull over and walk

 

Now that you've had a chance to look at Swindon's "Magic," consider most of those markings are just paint on the pavement and think about trying to navigate that at night in the rain when most of 'em would be invisible...

Don't even thing about the countryside fogs, and what they could do.

Remember, one of those is the "M4," a major motorway.

At least here, our engineers for the most part put curbs and islands in place to guide vehicles.

Even looking at Magic and trying to figure out the correct path from any road entering to one most directly opposite is mind boggling. I'm not sure I could actually do it right the first time or two...

I find it fascinating that in the middle pic of Magic that most cars seem to be heading in some random direction compared to all others...

Tom

 

the fun things about roundabouts is if there is no traffic in the area take the shortest route thru the roundabout even if that means going around it the wrong way thats pretty fun

heh a good way to stick it to the man

 

One of the biggest reasons cities are using roundabouts more is due to their cost. When I left California 5 years ago they were just starting to put them in because it cost between $20,000 and $40,000 where as traffic lights can cost $100,000 to $200,000 if not more.

I think roundabouts are better than stop signs especially with the careless/irresponsible drivers out there who don’t bother to stop, or can’t figure out its their turn to go. They work well in low traffic areas.

 

well in a roundabout you cant but in a traffic calming circle you are allowed to make go to the left.

 

Hmmmmm... Most islands used for calming locally that I've seen have 'keep right' signs/arrows...

Tom

 

Tell that Magic roundabout that I hate it.

 

surprised nobody posted this yet:



that would be a helluva spot for a light.

 

reminds me of Paris

 

I'm never going to leave Concrete!!!

 

Just talked to an engineer. The traffic calming circles he thinks are mainly in Seattle. They are just small circles that usually arent even marked. Those you can go to the left if ur making a left turn.