Intersection Roundabouts.

[Zeke]

From the Idiot drivers thread, roundabouts were mentioned. Long Beach has gone nucking futz with these things. No 2 are alike. They are constantly being damaged by errant drivers and things like moving trucks that encounter them and can't back up to an alternate route.

This not to mention emergency vehicles, but they have rerouted as much as possible. The general census is that they are not good. Does our city listen to citizens? Of course not. BTW, with on exception of a large traffic circle (that's what they have called it forever) that was built in 1930 on Highway 1 or PCH, all the new ones are in residential neighborhoods where the posted highest speed is 30 MPH.

They do slow people down, I can attest to that. Designed with bike paths in mind, I avoid them on my bike because cars actually come closer.

The newest one was placed for one reason and one reason only. A big lazy intersection that is never busy but is a great place for doing donuts.

Who else suffers these?

[gregpark]

They're awesome once people get used to them. Not having to stop or worse yet, waiting for a light to turn is a good thing

[Eric Hahl]

Not what you want to hear but I love roundabouts.

[1990C4S]

They work very well, once people are 'educated', and as long as the traffic is light or moderate. In heavy traffic they are a mess.

[stevej37]

The worst example of RA's that I've seen is in Sarasota, FL
There were 3 intersections on the 'Trail' spaced a block apart that had traffic lights and were very busy. The traffic would sometimes back up into the light before.

So, to remedy this, they built 3 RA's in a row...each one a two-laner.
Sometimes it helps...other times it's chaos.

[Ayles]

I have learned to love them as well. They are being put in all over the place in my area.

I was reading about them the other day and it appears they have a huge positive impact in reducing fatality accidents by something like 90%.

[fastfredracing]

Oddly enough, yesterday on my way out to a tow, had to take a 20 minute delay because there was an accident at the one near me .
The local one ,really alleviated traffic at a weird intersection that was always backed up, but there are wrecks here constantly .
My good autocross buddy, who knows how to drive, spun out and took a sign down the side of his honda, and I am always hearing of accidents there . I know when I am travelling , it can be unnerving if you do not know the intersection, trying to merge, watch for merging traffic all while getting the right exit .
You just gotta know how to do it properly .

[908/930]

I like them as well, much better then a four way stop. The problem is people don't understand the rules, most of them here have a yield to traffic sign prior to entering it to make it obvious to people who can't figure it out, at least here the people already in the circle have right of way. I had one lady lay on the horn on me, I was already in the circle and she was to my right trying to enter, she was probably British.

[pwd72s]

Milt, I don't like 'em either...maybe it's an age thing?

[Seahawk]

They are now a staple here in Southern Maryland.

I absolutely love them...may be that we are fairly rural, but it works perfectly.

[rwest]

Now that I am used to them, I really like most of them.

They hit hard here and some very complicated ones got put in early. I would think that if they put in single lane individual ones for a few years ahead of multiple lane with several in a row, people would be better at navigating them.

I seem to remember being told that there are more accidents at a roundabout than a 4 way stop. but they are minor, rather than high speed deadly accidents.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

They are now a staple here in Southern Maryland.

I absolutely love them...may be that we are fairly rural, but it works perfectly.

[Bill Douglas]

Here in Wellington we have the biggest roundabout in the Sothern Hemisphere.

Gotta have something to be proud of

There is a turning lane with less traffic, so you enter the roundabout in that lane passing about 50 cars, hit the gas and do a lane change as some out-of-towner slows down from confusion. Pass the slow lane. Indicate you are going to exit to show you are a resonsible driver and hit the gas again to try to make the next light.

[varmint]

Originally Posted by gregpark

They're awesome once people get used to them. Not having to stop or worse yet, waiting for a light to turn is a good thing

There are two in town. Don’t like them but got used to them. In summer we a flooded with tourists who **** everything up.
And early winter when ice and centrifugal force make them scarey.

[David]

I like them. If there are multiple lanes, they provide a good opportunity to pass people who don't know what they're doing

I must admit, I've missed my turn on a unfamiliar round about especially when there are more than 4 options. But then I just go around again and exit.

[gregpark]

Varmint, you're in napa? Another much needed RA coming to 3rd and Silverado trail hopefully sooner than later. CalTrans has one on the books for the Shellville 4 way intersection in Sonoma which will be a blessing

[masraum]

I like them (better than a stop light or stop sign) as long as a moron doesn't stop in front of me that is then indecisive about pulling out.

[Seahawk]

The first roundabout I remember driving was in Manama, Bahrain...1990/91: Multiple lanes in and out, a convergence that threw me off the first few times and then the light came on.

Love them.

Here in Southern Maryland, easy as Sunday morning:

[varmint]

Small town Alaska. Someone in the local dot has a hard on for roundabouts. Couple four way intersections the stop signs have been replaced with traffic circles.

They function but I don’t see how they are an improvement.

[Tobra]

People in the USA do not understand yield and merge, that is why they don't work that well here.