Roundabout
By Sherry
@norcal (4889)
Franklinton, North Carolina
May 17, 2016 11:47pm CST
Circular traffic intersections, called roundabouts, have been common in Europe for over a century. Many Americans find them decidedly foreign and may have trouble navigating them.
There are relatively few of them in America, but that's starting to change. Since 1990 about 3,300 roundabouts have been built in the US. Two of these roundabouts were constructed in the small Sierra Foothills town of Grass Valley, CA.
The intersection in the picture below is where Main Street, Idaho-Maryland Road and State Highway 20 meet. At the right of the photo is access to the freeway.
Work on this project was completed in 2008. Before the roundabout was built it was an awkward intersection. Traffic was congested at certain times of the day, like when school let out.
In my view the roundabout is a huge improvement. Traffic moves through much more smoothly, especially now that people have had time to get used to it.
What do you think? Does your town have a roundabout? If it does, do you like it?
7 people like this
8 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
18 May 16
Being in Britain, our city has very many roundabouts. Even the village I live in has 6 mini roundabouts in its mile long High Street. Some I like, others I don't. The ones I don't like often have heavy traffic using just one (straight through) route and it's sometimes difficult to enter the roundabout if you are crossing the main stream. Having said that, they would probably be more congested if they were light-controlled. Several of the most heavily used routes have large roundabouts which are also light-controlled at peak times.
Once you get the two basic rules of a roundabout, they are very easy, logical and safe.
1) When entering the roundabout, traffic from your LEFT (in the US) has priority.
2) Once on the roundabout, you have priority until you reach your exit.
It is sensible to be in the correct lane (if the roundabout is wide enough for two) and to indicate clearly.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
21 May 16
they put one'n here, out near where my vet used to be. those thingies aint horse trailer friendly! that'n they thought (the city) that buildin' such'p high'n the center 'n plantin' schtuff was a good idea. ya can't see nothin' 'n folks're prone to jest flyin' 'round the danged thingy. they've'd more wrecks since its installation than prior :(
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
22 May 16
@norcal the one here's got a 5' retainin' wall all 'round 'n then the "purties" planted 'bove that. there's no way to see more'n 1 cars length from any direction. most diff'cult to maneuver when pullin' a big trailer. i'm glad he moved his practice jest so's i can avoid that thingy.
1 person likes this
@suziecat7 (3349)
• Asheville, North Carolina
18 May 16
Asheville actually does have a roundabout in the downtown area. It took some getting used to. I guess it's helping to ease some of the traffic problems there.
1 person likes this
@norcal (4889)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
18 May 16
Many Americans seem to find them quite confusing. Did you ever see this scene in National Lampoons European Vacation?
Skip navigation UploadSign inSearch Loading... Close Yeah, keep it Undo Close Watch QueueQueueWatch QueueQueue Loading... Watch Queue Queue __count__/__total__ Loading... Find out whyClose David Darst SubscribeSubscribedUnsubscribe132132 Loading... Loadin
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
18 May 16
We have two roundabouts in Manitou.
1 person likes this
