jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

What got me to post this is the cartoon that someone sent me - below.

Some people like the roundabout, and some people don't. I don't. We used to have a large traffic circle in Kingston at the Thruway exit. The state spent millions of dollars to turn it into a roundabout - the same thing, only much smaller. Why is smaller bad?

If I want to enter the roundabout, and I see a car entering on my left, I don't have time to enter. There is usually a line of cars entering, so I have a substantial wait. The old circle was large enough that I would have plenty of time to enter the traffic circle. Now, traffic backs up at all the entrances.

The circle is so small that an 18-wheller must use part of both lanes.

Contradicting all logic, cars in the left lane are allowed to make a right turn to enter the Thruway Interstate. I'm usually in that right lane so I can get on the local highway to go home. Every time I get to that point, I hit the brake and look left to see if the car next to me is going to cross in front of me. Yes, there is a big, white arrow in the left lane telling cars that they can cut across the right lane.

Kingston recently converted a regular redlight intersection into a roundabout. Traffic is heavier there, and entering can be a challenge. The pictures show it almost empty. I don't know how they did that.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Yes, a smaller roundabout takes up less space, but the only way something like this works is much larger, ask the Europeans.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

in Small European towns I have seen traffic circles that are designated by a white dot about a meter in diameter that is located in the middle of the intersection.

With respect to the large circles either the Europeans are smarter than the US drivers or use to the concept of being nice to each other. During high traffic times they seem to expect people will merge quickly; but if traffic circle has 2 or more lanes you better choose correctly or you will get honked at.

alexol

Not a chance, that would require seeking out other's experience and knowledge gained over many years.

We like to reinvent things, slowly & expensively, remaking the same avoidable mistakes.

Not that long ago, I personally witnessed a local driver reversing about a quarter of a roundabout because they had missed their exit. Sometimes, it's impossible to fix stupid or to make people think even a little bit.

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

The "trick" to using a roundabout is . . . COURTESY! Something the 'Murrican Mind has not the faintest knowledge of! I first "encountered" a roundabout while driving in the UK in 1973. . .And, after leaving Heathrow (and, god-awful-London) I arrived at the small village where I would be staying for several weeks. Going walkabout the first morning, I came to a small roundabout; and, became confused while attempting to cross the street. A neighbor, politely took my hand; and, "walked me" across the street; and, explained the intracacies. Next day, the same gentleman, tapped on my window as I was venturing out in the car. . .And, politely, explained "how to do it." My major difficulty was. . Learning to be "Courteous!" Once I mastered THAT concept, driving and walking in England was like a walk in the park! I brought that same Concept of Simple Courtesy back to the US with me. . .And, I still use it for these past 50+ years!

And, you cannot count the number of times I have been screamed at; had my life threatened; etc etc in the United States of Exceptional 'Murrica!. . .And, it is not "rocket science" to understand WHY 'Murricans are so often referred to as "UGLY!" when they travel ANYWHERE!

RogStrix Loc: UK

you ought to see the 'magic' roundabouts in Swindon UK, picture courtesy of Google Maps.

(Download)

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

Swindon is FAMOUS world-wide! I ran into a guy in South Africa; and, while having a beer, he mentioned Swindon's roundabout! THAT brought another pitcher! <smile>

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

You beat me to it.

Note that there is not just one, but six roundabouts: one big one and five small ones. The small ones go in the directions you expect (they drive on the left there) and the big one goes the 'wrong' way. Also note that the arrows on the magic roundabout are straight or slightly curved. The one Jerry posted has arrows that are squiggles and combinations which at driving speed could be exceedingly confusing to people coming across it for the first time.

The town I lived in a few years ago had a major commuting road with three roads entering from the side. The side roads had problems getting traffic flow at rush hours. They considered putting in a traffic light OR a roundabout. I argued at the time that the roundabout wouldn't work. Given a constant flow of traffic on the primary road, there would never be an opportunity to enter the roundabout from a side road on the heavy traffic side. A traffic light would improve the access from the side because it would provide breaks in the traffic. It would also benefit downstream side roads because with a roundabout, even if there were a break in the traffic on the main road, that break would be filled with the side road traffic so there would be no breaks downstream. Fortunately they determined that there was not enough room to build a roundabout. But they haven't put in a stoplight either.

Roundabouts work well where there are moderately equal flow rates on all roads. An adjacent town had a roundabout fed by three roads, all of which had a lot of traffic. They came into the roundabout at roughly 120 degree angles so they were basically all on equal footing.

thomseninc

If a roundabout bothers you, let's hope you don't encounter a Double Crossover Diamond interchange. Traffic coming at you on the right side of the road!

https://highways.dot.gov/public-roads/novemberdecember-2010/double-crossover-diamond

nobody13579

What do you expect from the government?

nobody13579

They have been installing roundabouts on residential streets around here to slow down traffic. They act like speed bumps (sort of).

alexol

I suspect you miss the point - these roundabouts, while apparently a little complex, work very well to both calm traffic and reduce accidents.

The vehicle-related deaths in the US are ludicrously high for a place counts itself as an educated first world country. In general, our standard of driving is something of an embarrassment - we haven't even mastered 'zippering" when two lanes are restricted to one for construction for example. Can't do it without a lot of inconsiderate, stupid behaviours, with much finger waving.

Ollieboy

Let's not forget the "jughandle" which is very famous in New Jersey. I think it was invented to eliminate left turns and keep the main road narrower since there is no left turning lane.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

"...for a place counts itself as an educated first world country." Yeah, talk is cheap. We trail most of the developed world in education and in many other areas. We have a lot of stupid, arrogant, frightened people here.

Education - https://wisevoter.com/country-rankings/education-rankings-by-country/

Healthcare - https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/best-healthcare-in-the-world

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, that's an interesting development.