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08-16-2009, 05:12 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
3,794 posts, read 948,789 times
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Traffic Roundabouts: Do They Work In Your City?
I live in a metropolitan area of approximately 600,000 people; this figure almost doubles during tourist season.
The city of Sarasota wants to take out the traffic lights at most of our major intersections; replacing them with traffic roundabouts. Bureaucrats claim that this will expediate traffic flow and increase safety. Also, they claim it will be more bicycle and pedestrian friendly and safer and easier to cross at these intersections.
I know roundabouts work in Europe but I don't think they will work here; in fact I think the idea will make the intersections worse and is a waste of millions of dollars.
Anyone have an opinion of how roundabouts work in your city? Do they ease traffic congestion? In Sarasota, I can see some person going in circles for hours....LOL.  |
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08-16-2009, 05:18 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Detroit
207 posts, read 71,876 times
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08-16-2009, 05:18 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: A Small Metro In Southeastern Virginia Called Virginia Beach/Norfolk.
1,474 posts, read 458,107 times
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Roundabouts are extrememly complicated to american drivers because they don't use them in american cities. I don't think its' a good idea
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08-16-2009, 05:26 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Detroit
207 posts, read 71,876 times
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I just answered my own question. Not the same thing. I do however know of one place near me that does have a roundabout like the one you talk about. It was extremely confusing to me, because I don't usually use it, but other driver's seemed to handle it alright.
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08-16-2009, 05:27 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeaceChild
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No; literally traffic circles where the right lane can manuever onto another road. |
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08-16-2009, 05:28 PM
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We who are about to snark, salute you!
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oak Park, IL
2,873 posts, read 2,047,680 times
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Lots of them in Boston. They seem to work well.
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08-16-2009, 05:30 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
3,794 posts, read 948,789 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeaceChild
I just answered my own question. Not the same thing. I do however know of one place near me that does have a roundabout like the one you talk about. It was extremely confusing to me, because I don't usually use it, but other driver's seemed to handle it alright.
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The thought of it scares me ...some of these intersections are six lanes each. I think it is a bad idea with the high traffic volumes. |
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08-16-2009, 05:32 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
3,794 posts, read 948,789 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sukwoo
Lots of them in Boston. They seem to work well.
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I hope your right....how many lanes of traffic at the intersections before the roundabouts were installed or were they "always" there? |
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08-16-2009, 05:34 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Detroit
207 posts, read 71,876 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PITTSTON2SARASOTA
The thought of it scares me ...some of these intersections are six lanes each. I think it is a bad idea with the high traffic volumes.
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I think you just have to get used to them. The time I used it, was at night and it was about a year after a significant brain injury I acquired from a car accident, so that probably made a big difference.
I do remember yelling "what the hell is this sh*t?", when I drove up to it. 
Thank God someone was in the car with me to help me navigate through it. |
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