Traffic Circles/Roundabouts?

[Pixguy]

NH has installed a couple near me now. Their way of keeping it small is to raise the center of the circle with cobble stones. Keeping the 4 wheel cars off but allowing the trucks to ride over the center if needed.

Went to Ireland a few years back and yea, the Euros love their roundabouts! Try driving 6 hours the first day on the left side of the road and then enter a roundabout from the left. :shocked:

I payed for the insurance but luckily didn't need it. Just a new pair if undershorts that first day.

 

[brin]

The Tour de France is to start on Saturday (7/7). I enjoy watching the replays in the evenings; not so much for the race, but for the aerial views of the countryside.

I have noticed that the French make more use of traffic circles at intersections than we do in the US. It's been a long time since I was in the UK, but I seem to recall the same is true there.

Traffic circles seem to me to be a more efficient way of handling traffic at intersections than our use of traffic lights. If so, why don't we use them more here?

Steve

Savannah Georgia has lots of traffic circles through the old part of town going toward Bay Street...ever been there ?

 

[KennyG]

We are seeing more traffic circles in Michigan. They are effective when traffic is not too heavy. The Ann Arbor area has some that are undersized with too much traffic. You feel like you are in a figure 8 race.

 

[Bluest]

We certainly do love our roundabouts! The latest thing now, to tackle the horrendous congestion in most towns, is to install traffic lights to control access. Traffic already on the roundabout is halted by red lights to allow traffic to join.

The other really ridiculous roundabout fashion here is the dreaded mini roundabout. Basically a white circle painted in the middle of a normal junction. It is usually impossible to navigate them properly even in a small car, so you end up just driving over the middle. They are used as speed calming measure rather than to improve traffic flow.

The finest example of roundabout engineering I know of, in this fine nation, is this effort in Swindon...

I drive in France quite often. Not too long ago, all of their roundabouts gave priority to traffic joining, but over the years the vast majority have been converted to the conventional practise of giving priority to those already on the roundabout. This was achieved simply by adding a give way triangle on each approach. However a small number retain the old system and zi have been caught out more than once, luckily without incident.

 

[bcp]

More are showing up here, replacing lights or 4-way stops in residential arterial streets. The problem is that they are all different. Some are one lane, some two lane and some are two lane on only part.

Bruce

 

[smstonypoint]

The finest example of roundabout engineering I know of, in this fine nation, is this effort in Swindon...

With my apologies to Aggie graduates, was that project designed by Texas A&M civil engineers?

Steve

 

[300UGUY]

We have a couple here, I don't mind them, but my older neighbors hate them. Some plot ways around them that involve going miles out of the way. Young folks don't seem to have a problem, maybe because they are learning it young? Or maybe old folks just don't like change?

 

[300UGUY]

With my apologies to Aggie graduates, was that project designed by Texas A&M civil engineers?

Steve

Naw, not enough parts...

I've only known one Aggie, and he told me he was a Aggie within 2 minutes of meeting him. And he continued to remind me....

 

[paulharvey]

I don't see the advantage over a 4 way stop. You are suppose to stop before entering anyways. I'm partial to just 4 way stop with flashing red light. But they have them in Ocala and Gainesville FL. Both between 50-100k people. Always where a 3 or 4 way stop used to be, never a real intersection.

 

[MoKelly]

Naw, not enough parts...

I've only known one Aggie, and he told me he was a Aggie within 2 minutes of meeting him. And he continued to remind me....

Anyone with Jhonny Football can't be too bad.

MoKelly