I fucking hate roundabouts.
There. I feel better now. Thanks.
Wait, no the rage is coming back - multi-lanes!!! ahhh!! help!
The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
61–70 of 76 posts
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
One of the great advantages of roundabouts is that they're approximately "fair" whereas traffic lights are not. What I mean is that a traffic light is very arbitrary and stops people who just barely didn't make the cutoff. Multiply that by 5, 10, or 20 traffic lights on a journey and an extra minute at each one can add up. So people have incentive to run the light and shave the 30 seconds or a minute. But then when p…
Traffic lights with magnetic sensors to detect cars and amount of cars waiting work pretty well here in California. Unless you're riding a motorcycle...
Yeah. I know some motorcyclists who have gotten off their bike to walk to corner to push the crosswalk button to get the light to change. It may not be 100% legal, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 4-way Stop - a ridiculous type of intersection that ought not to exist. Ought not to exist in places like Europe, perhaps. The four-way stop has the virtue that it is easy for Americans and Canadians to understand. 1. Everyone arriving at the four-way pretends to stop by slowing down to around 20 mph. 2. Regardless of who arrived first, if two or more vehicles take conflicting paths, the biggest asshole goes first.…
Where exactly do you live? I've driven all over the east coast and have never, ever seen any of this to be remotely true.
I live in Los Angeles, particularly Beverly Hills / Century City, and am surprised when I see people acting civil at 4-way stops.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#64Why not have a roundabout with traffic lights on the entrances which are turned on at peak times only to ensure even flow.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
Traffic lights with magnetic sensors to detect cars and amount of cars waiting work pretty well here in California. Unless you're riding a motorcycle...
Yeah. I know some motorcyclists who have gotten off their bike to walk to corner to push the crosswalk button to get the light to change. It may not be 100% legal, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Now that is crazy, I just look around for cops a dozen times and floor it (carefully).
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#66Earlier quoted context omitted.
For true insanity you need to go to Washington DC which has roundabouts with divided lanes, pedestrian crossings, traffic lights, stop signs, and turning lanes. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Washington,+DC/@38.9092507... https://www.google.com/maps/place/Washington,+DC/@38.9020455...
This is pretty common in France. Every major city has like dozens of these kinds of intersections (e.g. behind the Trocadero, around the Arc de Triomphe, etc)
My recollection is that the roundabouts in Paris are free for alls (a whole different kind of crazy, but it seems to work). I checked the satellite images of the circle around the arc de triomphe and it seems to be as I remember. There may be lights regulating entry into the circle, but the lanes aren't divided. And if I recall correctly pedestrians access the middle via underground walkway.
I just checked via Google street view and it confirms my memory.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#67I tend to hate roundabouts. They're terrifying. But for 5-ways (and more) I think they can be a better solution than the complicated signage and striping of a traditional intersection. Provided that they are low speed.
There should be a compass marking at the center of each roundabout as standard.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
> North America, please stop abusing using "stop" signs. No one stops anyway, just make them "Yield" signs unless its a seriously bad intersection. Maybe outside of cities. In cities, they are the best thing ever for pedestrians.
I disagree. I think roundabouts like this one are much better for pedestrians: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5513462,-121.7200079,3a,75y,... As a driver, there's 2 places I need to watch for pedestrians: just before I get into the roundabout, and right at the exit. And the place I need to watch for is the width of a lane of traffic that's directly in front of me. Compared to a 4-way stop. Now there's nearly 180 deg…
I drive through that particular roundabout multiple times a day. At least 5% of the vehicles I encounter there will stop and yield to other traffic that is only approaching the roundabout, or more maddeningly, stop in the middle when they see traffic approaching.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
I disagree. I think roundabouts like this one are much better for pedestrians: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.5513462,-121.7200079,3a,75y,... As a driver, there's 2 places I need to watch for pedestrians: just before I get into the roundabout, and right at the exit. And the place I need to watch for is the width of a lane of traffic that's directly in front of me. Compared to a 4-way stop. Now there's nearly 180 deg…
I drive through that particular roundabout multiple times a day. At least 5% of the vehicles I encounter there will stop and yield to other traffic that is only approaching the roundabout, or more maddeningly, stop in the middle when they see traffic approaching.
I've had to slam on my brakes because someone wasn't stopping (and then they waved at me to thank me for stopping for them...). But that was once after the hundreds of time through there. I know it's not quite fair since they're at different places, but compare the roundabout to something like 3rd and F at 12:30. It's a nightmare there, whereas even when there's a bus letting off 60 people walking to the apartments by that roundabout, it's not that unpleasant.
Re: The UK is replacing roundabouts with traffic lights; US is doing the opposite
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
Roundabouts with stop signs are insane, i see them in Ontario too and cannot figure them out. Coming from Australia (that admittedly at times tends to over uses roundabouts) all i can ever wonder when i see a quiet road with traffic lights, or a seemingly pointless 4 way stop sign is "WHY IS THIS NOT A ROUNDABOUT?" I agree at a certain volume there are better alternatives, but there are massive benefits for a very lo…
> North America, please stop abusing using "stop" signs. No one stops anyway, just make them "Yield" signs unless its a seriously bad intersection. Maybe outside of cities. In cities, they are the best thing ever for pedestrians.
I don't know about you, but in my mind when I see a yield sign...i'll stop if it makes sense. I don't feel that the stop sign changes my desire to not run over someone all that much. As a driver I want the flexibility to make a judgement on if stopping is required based on the situation. Maybe a red sign makes sense to provide additional information ("this is a bad intersection, be extra careful!") but I don't like that the sign requires me to stop, even if it doesn't make sense.
This goes back to my ongoing complain that driving laws are very relaxed (i.e. speed limits never complied with - but for some reason we still have them?) and its causing an inconsistent approach to driving. For example, hardly anyone signals when turning or changing lanes, and if they do its by the time they're already well into the turn. Its just bad driving, dangerous and quiet frankly while I do not want stricter laws, or more enforcement...i'd appreciate some consistency in how people behave on the roads.
To me this is just adds to the vibe of the 'broken window' issue with roads and how people interact with them right now.