Topic: Traffic Circles

[initial_D]

Like it? Experiences? Do remember a Chevy Chase movie where he and family vacationing in Europe, driving inside the traffic circle for the whole day. 

The town where I live recently build a traffic circle at the intersection of two highways, for the reason to increase traffic flow thru that intersection. Since the town has a good lake with a clean beach front, tons of people pile-up into town when the weather is nice. There used to be a 4-way stop at the corners, and traffic would line up for miles.

The problem is ... not many people have experience with traffic circles here in Alberta, a lot of people will be seeing it for the first time, in heavy traffic, with big trucks towing boats, RVs, ... Over 10 accidents in the first weekend of operation. Personally I like it, but would stay out of it during weekends in the summer.

[safristi]

Summer time & Beach Front.....nothing like watching a BUNCHA BOOBS going round in Circles..........

[dr_spock]

Taffic circles are nice if people know how to use them.   I have a bunch of them in my neighborhood.  Every now and then I have to slam on the brakes while in the circle because some moron ignored the yield signs and didn't yield to traffic in the circle.    

[initial_D]

Summer time & Beach Front.....nothing like watching a BUNCHA BOOBS going round in Circles..........

Better cover them up in wet-Ts before someone goes dizzy.

[safristi]

  geez HOW HARD is it ............ ....schwing..........

[initial_D]

From Spock's post above, some people need professional help.

[PJungnitsch]

I noticed too they are putting new ones in Alberta now. Edmonton had a few for years, I think they all have lights now, the problem IIRC was in rush hour traffic.

When I lived in England they really went crazy with them, putting 'mini' circles pretty much at every small intersection and bigger and bigger versions everywhere else, including huge monsters with circles within circles.

I liked them over there, but when you hit a bunch every morning and evening on the commute you get pretty good at figuring out how they work. Here I'm a bit apprehensive as I don't see them much, not a good thing with circles as you have to be a combination of aggressive (to dart into traffic holes) and aware (to yield at the right time).

[99 Silver]

We have had quite a few of them built here in Kitchener the last few years.  I personally like them but there is definitely a learning curve for drivers.  It's a bit hairy when they are first opened.

Single lane ones are straight forward, but the multi lane ones are trickier.  My understanding is that they are safer than traffic signals and most accidents are of the less serious side swiping variety.

[Cortina]

What are Traffic Circles? Cars that drive around in Circles.

Wait a minute.  Wait a minute. I think you mean Roundabouts.

They called Roundabouts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout 

[initial_D]

They run on the wrong side of the circle.

[Triple Bob]

They are pretty easy to understand. Yield to traffic on the left of you, or just go.

Where's the duh! smiley...

[rrocket]

While not technically a traffic circle, I live on a cul-de-sac with a nice big circle on the end.  It's great for practicing your Formula Drift and supermotard techniques!!

[Ex-airbalancer]

What happens when someone is walking across the street in heavy traffic or can they 

[rrocket]

Are you asking me???

[Triple Bob]

What happens when someone is walking across the street in heavy traffic or can they 

You don't cross the road at a roundabout, especially one with no lights.  They are there to keep the traffic moving.

[gosteelerz]

What happens when someone is walking across the street in heavy traffic or can they 

Where my family is from in England, there are walkways that go under them, especially in the neighbourhoods.  They also have more pedestrian overpasses.

[ovr50]

Like most posters in Canadian cities, it seems that the traffic engineers here have just recently discovered traffic circles. Up to 2 years ago, there were none in Kelowna, now we have 4 of them. I like the way they work and certainly prefer them to 4-way stops. The problem here, like other centres just getting them, is that a certain percentage of drivers do not understand how they work and who has the right-of-way. I always keep a sharp eye using them for some idiot doing something dumb (like I recently saw an older woman STOP inside the circle to let some driver into the circle...!!!!). 

[ArticSteve]

    I don't think Canadian drivers will ever truly get traffic circles.  I hit two in a row in the southwest outskirts of Kitchener a few weeks ago and fortunately they were both empty and it was a hoot.

[vdk]

They're all over the place in Europe.

The only one that I know of in Ontario is somewhere near Niagara.

4-Way stops are annoying... roundabouts on the other hand... 

[random006]

They are known as "rotaries" in New England.  As with the mother country, they are nuts for them in many parts of New England but mainly in Boston and the surrounding areas.  Can't stand 'em myself but we only have one or two in Montreal.