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Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
141–150 of 199 posts
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#142For a real nightmare roundabout, the winner has to be Place Charles de Gaulle around the Arc de Triumph in Paris[0]. It is about 8 lanes across, with no lane markings, and with vehicles entering the roundabout from one of 12 junctions having right-of-way. I'm not sure what was happening on the day the Google maps aerial photo was taken, as it unfortunately it doesn't show the chaos that normally ensues. [0] https://w…
I've never looked at the Google Maps image of the Arc de Triumph before so a question immediately comes to mind upon looking at it. How the hell did all of those tourists/pedestrians get there? There doesn't appear to be parking on the inside of the circle, nor any apparent crosswalks at that 12 lane circular nightmare. Is there a tunnel hidden underneath you can go through? There's no apparent exit unless it is inside of the monument. Is there a shuttlebus that just straight up blocks the inner lane when it shows up?
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#143I guess what this shows is two things: 1. Scaring people into slowing down is a viable way to avoid accidents. 2. Perceived scariness of an intersection is not indicative of how dangerous it actually is.
Aren't those ideas the underlying premise of shared streets (woonerfs)? Basically remove as many signs, markings and kerbs as possible so there's no segregation, and usually break up vision lines. The driver uncertainty stops traffic being the dominant user. Result lower accidents, much lower speeds, and above all safer cyclists, pedestrians and any kids playing.
Also far lower throughput, leading to severe daily congestion.
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#144The closest thing to this I've seen in America is a 5 points intersection, which most of just have a sign that says "keep right" or something to that effect. Might as well just say "Good Luck!"
Phsaw, how about a 7 point intersection:
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8715304,-77.1558859,1187m/da...
The signage is surprisingly terrible too, often appearing only after you're more or less committed to your lane because the one you're supposed to be in is bumper to bumper and stopped.
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#145This roundabout still gives me shudders after learning to drive (well trying to learn to drive) in Swindon in the 90s.
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#146A better solution for high traffic flow is the turbo roundabout[0] which is getting increasingly popular in Netherland. Before you enter the roundabout, you select the lane for the direction you want to go. You only cross traffic when entering the roundabout for the first time. After that, you simply follow your lane and it delivery you where you want to go. It looks complicated from above, but it's very simple once…
I don't understand how the turbo roundabout is any different than a typical two-lane roundabout. It looks like a regular two-lane roundabout from that picture in your link.
It's a two lane roundabout with an integrated instruction manual that makes it much easier to use.
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#147For a real nightmare roundabout, the winner has to be Place Charles de Gaulle around the Arc de Triumph in Paris[0]. It is about 8 lanes across, with no lane markings, and with vehicles entering the roundabout from one of 12 junctions having right-of-way. I'm not sure what was happening on the day the Google maps aerial photo was taken, as it unfortunately it doesn't show the chaos that normally ensues. [0] https://w…
I've never looked at the Google Maps image of the Arc de Triumph before so a question immediately comes to mind upon looking at it. How the hell did all of those tourists/pedestrians get there? There doesn't appear to be parking on the inside of the circle, nor any apparent crosswalks at that 12 lane circular nightmare. Is there a tunnel hidden underneath you can go through? There's no apparent exit unless it is insi…
There's a tunnel. I was there with my dad in 1993, and we only discovered the tunnel after we crossed the 8 lanes to get to the monument.
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#148Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't understand how the turbo roundabout is any different than a typical two-lane roundabout. It looks like a regular two-lane roundabout from that picture in your link.
Isn't a two-lane roundabout one that simply has two lanes going round? The thing about the turbo-roundabout is that there are actually no lanes going round. Each lane just takes you to your exit. There's no option to stay on the roundabout at that point: you're forced off. It's very restrictive in that sense, but that also means that traffic flows smoothly: other drivers also have no option to merge wrong or try anyt…
> other drivers also have no option to merge wrong or try anything weird
If they're following the markings, yes. We have a 1.5-lane roundabout in my area[1] (two lanes on the north side of the circle, one lane on the south side) fed on the southwest by a two-lane road; the right lane is supposed to be a bypass for vehicles turning right, and does not actually enter the roundabout. Some vehicles still make the attempt, ignoring road markings, adjacent vehicles legally entering the roundabout from the left lane, and even the impending concrete barrier.
[1] https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0332849,-91.6029348,100m/dat...
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#149A better solution for high traffic flow is the turbo roundabout[0] which is getting increasingly popular in Netherland. Before you enter the roundabout, you select the lane for the direction you want to go. You only cross traffic when entering the roundabout for the first time. After that, you simply follow your lane and it delivery you where you want to go. It looks complicated from above, but it's very simple once…
The problem with The Netherlands is that in some cities (I'm looking at you, Nijmegen) they've built massive roundabout which aren't actually roundabouts.
It looks like a roundabout, it feels like a roundabout but the priority rules are reversed so if you treat it like a roundabout it only ends badly..
Re: Magic Roundabout (Swindon)
#150Earlier quoted context omitted.
Aren't those ideas the underlying premise of shared streets (woonerfs)? Basically remove as many signs, markings and kerbs as possible so there's no segregation, and usually break up vision lines. The driver uncertainty stops traffic being the dominant user. Result lower accidents, much lower speeds, and above all safer cyclists, pedestrians and any kids playing.
Also far lower throughput, leading to severe daily congestion.
Which is presumably why they are never used for major through routes, so don't cause severe daily congestion. Though I would like to see far more streets, even some with appreciable traffic, converted to downrank cars.