I hate roundabouts -- but maybe I am wrong

azdryheat wrote:
We have lots of family in Michigan and we've travelled Michigan a lot and have never seen or heard of a Michigan Left in Michigan.

I encountered them northwest of Detroit, out near a little town called Milford.

As for roundabouts, I've always thought that the majority of their success is from orcing drivers to pay attention.

JKJavelin wrote:
...
We have bike trails near our house. Many drivers stop for an approaching bike on the trail. Bikes are not pedestrians. If a driver stops for a bike on a 4 lane road while drivers in the other lane fly by, that causes confusion for everybody.
...
JK

Multilane trail crossings are a bad idea. A trail that I use regularly has a couple like that, though fortunately the cross traffic isn't too heavy. But they are gradually being converted to single lane crossings, with islands or peninsulas, and warning lights. Busy crossing should have full stop lights, or better be grade separated.

Few 'bike' trails are exclusively for bikes. Pedestrians, including parents with kids, strollers, and dogs are as common as bikes.

Many of us have been driving for over 50 years and took a thorough driving class. Things have changed and my state's DOT has done a terrible job of educating the public about new road landscape, roundabout confusion included.
We have bike trails near our house. Many drivers stop for an approaching bike on the trail. Bikes are not pedestrians. If a driver stops for a bike on a 4 lane road while drivers in the other lane fly by, that causes confusion for everybody.
Technology is changing but education is ignored.
JK

JRscooby wrote:

A1ARealtorRick wrote:

I fully agree. Not many horse women around here. Just a bunch of young gals giving it their best to try to operate these huge pieces of machinery in the proper way. Funny, yet dangerous.

Over a lifetime I have seen danger from inexperienced and untrained people operating machines of all kinds and sizes. Never saw where indoor/outdoor plumbing made a difference.

This has been quoted, but nobody acts like they catch my point; A1ARealtorRick stated there is humor and danger form young/inexperienced women driving large pickups. I'm trying to point out it is the young/inexperienced, not the woman part that is the issue.

Thermoguy wrote:

I also don't like that they are very unsafe for pedestrians. People are looking for cars in the circle and not for pedestrians crossing the legs...

The WSDOT design guide that I linked on the first page discusses pedestrian and bicycle design issues - where to put the cross walks, how to mark them, etc.

It says that crossings on entry legs should should be acar length away from the entrance. That way the pedestrian can cross behind the driver that's focused on cars in the circle. That reminds me of a T intersection I frequently cross as pedestrian. Right turning drivers tend to focus on traffic from their left, and might not see a pedestrian (or bike) coming from their right).

A well designed roundabout shouldn't be any worse than a 4 way stop or lights for pedestrians.

A1ARealtorRick wrote:

JRscooby wrote:

A1ARealtorRick wrote:

I fully agree. Not many horse women around here. Just a bunch of young gals giving it their best to try to operate these huge pieces of machinery in the proper way. Funny, yet dangerous.

Over a lifetime I have seen danger from inexperienced and untrained people operating machines of all kinds and sizes. Never saw where indoor/outdoor plumbing made a difference.

At least around here, many more women piloting large trucks to the grocery store than men. Just an observation. Your results may vary...:C

Same up here, but it seems that the reason is that folks are buying a large truck, too large for commuting, and leaving it home as ‘Mom’s Taxi’ while hubby commutes to work in something more fuel efficient.

Wait till they start putting signals - like ramp meters, on roundabouts... It's coming if people continue to not know how to use them.

I also don't like that they are very unsafe for pedestrians. People are looking for cars in the circle and not for pedestrians crossing the legs...

JRscooby wrote:

A1ARealtorRick wrote:

I fully agree. Not many horse women around here. Just a bunch of young gals giving it their best to try to operate these huge pieces of machinery in the proper way. Funny, yet dangerous.

Over a lifetime I have seen danger from inexperienced and untrained people operating machines of all kinds and sizes. Never saw where indoor/outdoor plumbing made a difference.

At least around here, many more women piloting large trucks to the grocery store than men. Just an observation. Your results may vary...:C

DarkSkySeeker wrote:
>> Traffic circles often gave right of
>> way to vehicles entering, so they
>> would lock up at high volumes. Roundabouts
>> have entering vehicles yeild so they
>> can always clear vehicles in the circle.

Most people would not understand that.

Having traffic already in the roundy round yielding right of way to traffic entering the intersection from the blind side makes sense to somebody I guess…

Did the designer go on to add straight through lanes for transport trucks?

>> Traffic circles often gave right of
>> way to vehicles entering, so they
>> would lock up at high volumes. Roundabouts
>> have entering vehicles yeild so they
>> can always clear vehicles in the circle.

Most people would not understand that.