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Kirkland Roundabouts

kirklandroundabouts.com

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Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#141

Post by Jblx2 »

rootusrootus wrote: post #139
arlattimore wrote: post #137

I don't think roundabouts are complex, treat them like a giveway/yield and they are brilliant. The biggest issue is they are an infrequently used traffic control device in the US. So infrequent, I don't think they even appear in the WA drivers handbook which is kind of shocking. As a by product, you see the craziest driver behaviour in Seattle on them: 1) No one uses their indicators/turn signals as they approach. Th…

> So infrequent, I don't think they even appear in the WA drivers handbook which is kind of shocking They are definitely in the handbook. Couple different types, with pictures and diagrams, and written instructions.

Specifically, section 4.15, staring on page 126:

https://dol.wa.gov/driver-licenses-and-permits/driver-traini...

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#142

Post by com2kid »

munificent wrote: post #98
com2kid wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They exist so people cannot run through the stop sign. Their only connection to a round about is the shape.

It's more complex than that. I live in Seattle near a street that has these traffic circles. The design is: * There is a round obstruction in the middle of the intersection like a roundabout. * The street going north-south through the intersection does not have a stop sign. * The street going east-west has stop signs on both sides. * But the north-south street which doesn't have to stop also has speed humps on it to…

Hah! Yeah I also live on a neighborhood greenway street with a traffic circle in Seattle and the odd stop sign layout. It confused me for a year until I learned about the greenway program.

Seattle has plenty of traffic circles just laying around that predate the greenway program though.

I almost never see Seattle drivers blow through stop signs though, maybe people in my neighborhood are just more chill? :D

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#143

Post by niwtsol »

KennedyHere wrote: post #64

Hey all, I'm the author of this game. I didn't expect to see it on HN! I wrote it to add some fun to all the conversations happening in the local forums about this roundabout. They've been heated at times. And, yes, this roundabout is right next to the Kirkland Costco. I definitely agree with all the critiques of the gameplay - and I have about 100 more. I cut it down to the bare essentials to get it done while it's…

Just adding a pause in the game would be huge! I'd like to pause and come back to it while waiting for a prompt to finish!

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#144

Post by munificent »

com2kid wrote: post #142
munificent wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's more complex than that. I live in Seattle near a street that has these traffic circles. The design is: * There is a round obstruction in the middle of the intersection like a roundabout. * The street going north-south through the intersection does not have a stop sign. * The street going east-west has stop signs on both sides. * But the north-south street which doesn't have to stop also has speed humps on it to…

Hah! Yeah I also live on a neighborhood greenway street with a traffic circle in Seattle and the odd stop sign layout. It confused me for a year until I learned about the greenway program. Seattle has plenty of traffic circles just laying around that predate the greenway program though. I almost never see Seattle drivers blow through stop signs though, maybe people in my neighborhood are just more chill? :D

Mine was converted to a greenway pretty recently, so it may be that drivers just have old habits from before when those intersections didn't have any stop signs.

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#145

Post by munificent »

gs17 wrote: post #121
munificent wrote: post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's more complex than that. I live in Seattle near a street that has these traffic circles. The design is: * There is a round obstruction in the middle of the intersection like a roundabout. * The street going north-south through the intersection does not have a stop sign. * The street going east-west has stop signs on both sides. * But the north-south street which doesn't have to stop also has speed humps on it to…

I live by a bunch of these, but worse IMO is the "four way intersection with no signs or circle or anything" where you just kind of hope no one comes fast and hits you (I imagine on a bike where you wouldn't stop if there was a sign this is even more dangerous). Seattle is weird. Traffic circle with stop signs is fine by me, they don't really function well as roundabouts for most cars, anyways, some of them are too c…

> worse IMO is the "four way intersection with no signs or circle or anything" where you just kind of hope no one comes fast and hits you

Agreed, totally. That's what this street used to be before they converted it. I hated driving it because I had to crawl through each intersection because you never knew if someone was going to just blow through it or not. It was even slower than a four-way stop.

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#146

Post by spaqin »

arlattimore wrote: post #137

I don't think roundabouts are complex, treat them like a giveway/yield and they are brilliant. The biggest issue is they are an infrequently used traffic control device in the US. So infrequent, I don't think they even appear in the WA drivers handbook which is kind of shocking. As a by product, you see the craziest driver behaviour in Seattle on them: 1) No one uses their indicators/turn signals as they approach. Th…

In Europe most people don't indicate when approaching the roundabout; only if you're taking the first exit.

Roundabout is basically a straight road that loops itself, so there's no need for blinkers when you're on. You indicate when you want to leave, and that's how cars approaching from your exit know it's safe to get on.

Besides that I'm not surprised Americans don't know how to use them; while nowhere else in the world you'll find a 4-way stop...

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#147

Post by com2kid »

gs17 wrote: post #122
lokar wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems reasonable. Of course there are really good (true) roundabout designs that are great of cycling (and walking), but without understanding the space it's hard to know if they would fit / work well.

What they're talking about is basically a small concrete circle (sometimes it's not a circle, but a round-ish shape vaguely near the center) plopped down in a standard residential intersection (sometimes with a lot of stuff in it that blocks the view in case you were worried about knowing if someone is crossing the street on the other side). Better designs likely wouldn't fit without raising the cost a huge amount.

Seattle ones are works of art with trees and native flowers and sometimes art pieces.

They are more than just a small concrete circle. :D

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#148

Post by com2kid »

munificent wrote: post #144
com2kid wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hah! Yeah I also live on a neighborhood greenway street with a traffic circle in Seattle and the odd stop sign layout. It confused me for a year until I learned about the greenway program. Seattle has plenty of traffic circles just laying around that predate the greenway program though. I almost never see Seattle drivers blow through stop signs though, maybe people in my neighborhood are just more chill? :D

Mine was converted to a greenway pretty recently, so it may be that drivers just have old habits from before when those intersections didn't have any stop signs.

Good to hear they are adding more green ways! I love the program and I feel they are safer (and a lot more affordable) than "bike lanes" on arterial streets that are often just a painted line.

I do wish Google maps was aware of them though.

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#149

Post by lokar »

gs17 wrote: post #122
lokar wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems reasonable. Of course there are really good (true) roundabout designs that are great of cycling (and walking), but without understanding the space it's hard to know if they would fit / work well.

What they're talking about is basically a small concrete circle (sometimes it's not a circle, but a round-ish shape vaguely near the center) plopped down in a standard residential intersection (sometimes with a lot of stuff in it that blocks the view in case you were worried about knowing if someone is crossing the street on the other side). Better designs likely wouldn't fit without raising the cost a huge amount.

They sometimes have to keep access for fire trucks

Re: Kirkland Roundabouts

#150

Post by psidium »

maest wrote: post #7

I'm all for hating bad infrastructure, but this roundabout seems pretty straightforward? Maybe it's different when you're actually driving on it, but from a topdown view it's clear it's a central roundabout with some extra sidelanes to avoid the roundabout if you're immediately turning right.

I’m typing this just down the road from this Kirkland roundabout. It is fine. I’m used to roundabouts from my old country tho. I do fear someone else will just hit me down there cause I don’t trust people around here on roundabouts.

A breath of fresh air is how much faster getting off I-405 is now. I used to wait a lot on the traffic lights that were there before, and now it is like a mini slow rollercoaster.

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