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We're excited about our new roundabout

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Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#81

Post by nullindividual »

AngryData wrote: post #75
nullindividual wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no room for a traditional roundabout in this location and the gravel trucks from the nearby quarry can hop the very short curbs as needed. This roundabout is perfectly fine in practice.

Gravel trucks are the last trucks that should ever be hopping curbs though, even gentle ones. Gravel trucks already require many roads to be upgraded due to the weight and damage they do just to a flat surface. A truck carrying diapers and crackers won't mind so much, but when you got 50 tons of gravel then even a small 1 inch jump causes significant extra forces on both the road and the truck.

That road has been carrying gravel trucks for decades. The smart WSDOT engineers took into account the business with large trucks that is just a mile away when building this roundabout.

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#82

Post by penguin_booze »

lmm wrote: post #16
lolinder wrote: post #14

Keep in mind that a lot of these traffic devices look way more confusing from above than they actually look while on the ground. From above you can see the whole device at once, and trying to trace a path through it can feel overwhelming, but when you're actually going through it your view is usually restricted in ways that limit your perceived choices at any point in time.

I'd say just the opposite. Indeed, in the UK it's normal for the signs leading up to a roundabout to include an overhead map view, since that's often the easiest way to understand what you need to do to get where you want to.

Agreed. I use to not pay attention to the layout at all. Instead, I resorted to counting down the exits I was moving past them, whilst remembering myself to gradually changing lanes to the left, paying attention to cars on the adjacent lanes. Because of this, I forget to look and plan ahead--almost like tunnel vision. Suffice to say, it was--and still is--stressful, especially at those roundabouts with which I'm not familiar.

Then I started paying attention to the displayed layout. This helped me with the bearings and lane positioning. At least, that's one item off my list when I'm in the roundabout.

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#83

Post by googledocsftw »

Terr_ wrote: post #32
googledocsftw wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is a roundabout more disruptive than a 4 way junction with stop signs. In terms of brain processing, you get used to it and it becomes second nature. It is a skill.

Agreed, with the condition that there is only one lane. Ones with multiple layers stress me out, there are more ways to screw up and more demands on your defensive-driving attention.

Yes. If there are 2 it should be a "dog bone" with a long straight bit so you have time to adjust. Like:

     |            |
    =O============O=

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#84

Post by Legogris »

twelve40 wrote: post #46

At least that one is small. They'd know for sure from the change in numbers pretty soon if it improved things or not. But for multi-lane ones I absolutely lose my shit and freak out when I get into one. Many decades of driving experience, but when in Europe (France, Italy, Spain) i encounter a multi-lane roundabout, every time it feels extremely confusing and unpredictable. People moving in all directions, cars, scoo…

IME (also observing other drivers), the usual multi-lane roundabouts are something you get comfortable with after just a little spaced repetition and then it's not all bad.

There are major cities in those countries with a few exceptionally gnarly ones, though. I don't blame if you're traumatized if you ever found yourself circling Arc de Triomphe in Paris, for example.

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#85

Post by adammarples »

Dalewyn wrote: post #20
nixosbestos wrote: post #12

Apparently I'm sticking my neck out here, but it really doesn't seem that hard. Overhead, I can intuit the path I would take, and if I imagine it first-person, it seems even more obvious. It's frustrating riding with certain other American drivers in other countries. I've met numerous folks now that seem upset that they have to actually pay attention to their driving and the traffic. Meanwhile I'm horrified that they…

I'll take a traditional cross with traffic signals or stop signs on all sides, it's simple and effective. Roundabouts are a waste of space, disrupt traffic, and take more brain processing than I care to afford if I can help it. This particular example isn't even round.

If your stop signs don't disrupt traffic then they're not working properly. Roundabouts are designed to efficiently weave traffic streams together instead.

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#86

Post by netsharc »

al_borland wrote: post #38
nixosbestos wrote: post #12

Apparently I'm sticking my neck out here, but it really doesn't seem that hard. Overhead, I can intuit the path I would take, and if I imagine it first-person, it seems even more obvious. It's frustrating riding with certain other American drivers in other countries. I've met numerous folks now that seem upset that they have to actually pay attention to their driving and the traffic. Meanwhile I'm horrified that they…

I'm ok with most roundabouts. However, there is one near me that everyone complains about. There are 3 of them right in a row, but even that isn't the main issue. There is one with 5 places to turn out, which is relatively small and confusing. If you get it wrong it dumps you out on the expressway and it's an almost 9 mile trip to get back to where you originally wanted to go with no other option than to drive the 9…

Don't the exits have signs to say where the exit takes you? In Europe they'd be labeled, and highway onramps will have a different background color to indicate a highway..

Also, keeping your navigation display "north up" is much better than having one that will probably be laggy in a roundabout, confusing you on which exit to take.

If all else fails, look at the signage; I remember driving and a passenger not sure if the roundabout exit I was taking was correct, I said "Well there's a big sign there that says this way to our destination."

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#87

Post by al_borland »

netsharc wrote: post #86
al_borland wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm ok with most roundabouts. However, there is one near me that everyone complains about. There are 3 of them right in a row, but even that isn't the main issue. There is one with 5 places to turn out, which is relatively small and confusing. If you get it wrong it dumps you out on the expressway and it's an almost 9 mile trip to get back to where you originally wanted to go with no other option than to drive the 9…

Don't the exits have signs to say where the exit takes you? In Europe they'd be labeled, and highway onramps will have a different background color to indicate a highway.. Also, keeping your navigation display "north up" is much better than having one that will probably be laggy in a roundabout, confusing you on which exit to take. If all else fails, look at the signage; I remember driving and a passenger not sure if…

I think part of the issue is that it’s multi-lane. So if you’re in the right-lane to go to one road, and miss it, staying in the right-lane forces you onto the highway. If there is a car in the left lane you can’t get over to avoid it without causing an accident, or stopping, which would backup the whole circle and also risk accidents. So you end up paying the 9 mile tax. There is no way to miss your turn and easily recover.

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#88

Post by maltalex »

woleium wrote: post #77
bfdm wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. Canada suburbs here. We're starting to see roundabouts used more often for what would be higher traffic four-ways or inconvenient lights. They're great, both as a driver and as a cyclist. Lower conflict risk, simple rules to proceed. IMO all smaller 4 way stops should become what I've described as trash can roundabouts. Small island to circle around. So much better than stop signs.

In the UK they are called mini roundabouts, and are sometimes just painted on: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mini-roundabout.jp...

Painted roundabouts will be invisible when it snows.

Re: We're excited about our new roundabout

#90

Post by bobthepanda »

maltalex wrote: post #88
woleium wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the UK they are called mini roundabouts, and are sometimes just painted on: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mini-roundabout.jp...

Painted roundabouts will be invisible when it snows.

People are generally driving significantly slower in snow though, so the need for a roundabout is lessened. And you can also install signage indicating a roundabout is there.
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