Is the British roundabout conquering the US?

**Maggy J** · 01-07-2011, 19:58

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13863498

Quote:

A roundabout revolution is slowly sweeping the US. The land of the car, where the stop sign and traffic light have ruled for decades, has started to embrace the free-flowing British circular.

Quote:

The city is at the forefront of a dizzying expansion, across several American states, of the circular traffic intersection redesigned in 1960s Britain and then exported globally. About 3,000 have been built in the US in the last 20 years.

And there is me thinking we have too many of the damned things...

denphone · 01-07-2011, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13863498

And there is me thinking we have too many of the damned things...

But l agree with you totally as we do have too many roundabouts and traffic lights and over zealous car park attendants and traffic wardens.

TJS · 01-07-2011, 23:52

In stoke they seem to be destroying round-abouts every now and then and swapping them for cross junctions with traffic lights

LondonRoad · 02-07-2011, 00:20

I think roundabouts are the perfect solution to many junctions.... but then I was raised in East Kilbride, aka polomint City because of the number of roundabouts.

When I was in Florida earlier this year my sat nav only ever had to mention one "traffic circle" but quite a few of the junctions would have been have allowed the traffic to flow better if they had roundabout rather than lights.

Anonymouse · 04-07-2011, 13:25

Oh, I hate those damn things. If they aren't placed properly - as is the usual case - they make traffic worse. Near where I used to live, there's one on a fairly tight corner...on a bus route. There is no way a bus can legally negotiate it, i.e. not going over the roundabout. Waste of time and money; they'd be better off with traffic lights there.

Pauls9 · 04-07-2011, 15:49

Near us there's a roundabout with part-time lights. When they're off, traffic flows freely with vehicles entering the roundabout as gaps occur. Sometimes (quite often recently) the lights have been switched on, resulting in queues developing as traffic is stopped by the lights. Then vehicles fill up inappropriate lanes round the roundabout and cause trouble trying to merge when the lights go green.

Sigh...

(Note to self: find out who's responsible and send a stiff e-mail.)

**Maggy J** · 04-07-2011, 20:22

Traffic lights and a roundabout has always seemed to me to be overkill.

Please one or the other, not both together.

LondonRoad · 04-07-2011, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Traffic lights and a roundabout has always seemed to me to be overkill.

Please one or the other, not both together.

It actually works very well. Using the lights at peak hours on roundabouts keeps traffic moving far better than just lights or solely roundabout.

There's a couple of major roundabouts I use regularly that use the lights at peak times. I can remember well how poor the traffic flow was before the lights were introduced.

royaltiger · 04-07-2011, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

It actually works very well. Using the lights at peak hours on roundabouts keeps traffic moving far better than just lights or solely roundabout.

There's a couple of major roundabouts I use regularly that use the lights at peak times. I can remember well how poor the traffic flow was before the lights were introduced.

Unfortunately we have gone overkill with traffic lights on roundabouts, Peak periods ok, but waiting at a light at midnight, they should do as most of europe and the world do and switch to flashing amber in the evening.