Our new roundabouts... a DOT fail? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: construction, school, college)

[riceme]

I know that roundabouts are supposed to be the latest and greatest in traffic safety. Mythbusters even tested it. And if Mythbusters says it, it must be true, right?

Since they've had College Rd closed off between the Steese and the Old Steese, I have found myself on the two new roundabouts more than normal... the one at Illinois, Bentley Trust, & Helmericks and the brand new one at Helmericks and Merhar, in front of Cold Spot.



Last weekend when I was going around the one in front of Cold Spot. In about 10 seconds I saw three near misses. I never counted before, but I've seen a lot of near misses on both of those. The one in front of Cold Spot is particularly bad, I think because they f'ed the back entrance to the mall, and people are looking ahead, anticipating their next move when they suddenly realize that their next move is now blocked off by concrete.

So, I was not surprised to see this headline this morning, although this particular whack-job was set off by someone who didn't yield to him, but it reminded me of my irritation with the new roundabouts.

Road-rage standoff ends peacefully in Fairbanks | Local News | newsminer.com

Personally, I am not a fan of roundabouts. I'd rather take my chances at an old school intersection. They've been talking about putting one at the Steese and CHSR because visibility is so poor. I don't really see how a roundabout is going to increase visibility.

What do you all think?

[Music_Man]

There a lot of roundabouts in Anchorage now and more to come, so every one better learn how to use them or there will be some shootings over the people that stop for no reason when there is no other traffic in the roundabout! They are cheaper to build than a traffic light intersection so you will see more in the future. I drove for 3 years in England and believe be you me you haven't seen a roundabout until you get in one that is 5 lanes wide and has 8 exits!

[riceme]

Originally Posted by Music_Man

There a lot of roundabouts in Anchorage now and more to come, so every one better learn how to use them or there will be some shootings over the people that stop for no reason when there is no other traffic in the roundabout! They are cheaper to build than a traffic light intersection so you will see more in the future. I drove for 3 years in England and believe be you me you haven't seen a roundabout until you get in one that is 5 lanes wide and has 8 exits!

Yeah, I've driven in Europe a lot... they love 'em over there.

I can negotiate them just fine, I simply don't like them.

[Frostnip]

The one over by Cold Spot isn't inherently bad, IMO, but the signage is confusing, and it doesn't help that they keep doing more construction and changing up where the lanes and entrances are. Also, Fairbanks drivers just don't understand how yielding works even under ideal circumstances, lol.

[riceme]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

The one over by Cold Spot isn't inherently bad, IMO, but the signage is confusing, and it doesn't help that they keep doing more construction and changing up where the lanes and entrances are. Also, Fairbanks drivers just don't understand how yielding works even under ideal circumstances, lol.

lol, that is true. Wait til winter when no one can see where that concrete divider is. Bunches of folks are going to be ticked off after they try to hang a lucy into that back entrance and run that thing over.

[RayinAK]

Lots of near misses in the North Pole one. Not only that, but there is a small traffic jamb during the AM rush hour (between 7:00 and 8:00). You can see a long line of automobiles from the roundabout to the gas station at the corner of Hurst.

The one at UAF works well, because it's very large (a very wide circle).

[riceme]

I call the ones in NP "the double helix" even though there's really three of them. I always forget about the last one. It's kind of like bumper cars in the winter.

[akpls]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

Lots of near misses in the North Pole one. Not only that, but there is a small traffic jamb during the AM rush hour (between 7:00 and 8:00). You can see a long line of automobiles from the roundabout to the gas station at the corner of Hurst.

There were more near misses of the t-bone kind when that stretch of Santa Claus Lane was uncontrolled. There were four driveways all trying to make left turns across traffic at the same time. The roundabouts are way better than what existed prior. If people can't navigate something as simple as a single lane roundabout maybe they should just walk.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by Music_Man

.. so every one better learn how to use them or there will be some shootings over the people that stop for no reason when there is no other traffic in the roundabout!..

LOL. Probably so.

I like them because they slow down traffic, yet keep it flowing. (Usually)

[Unsettomati]

Roundabouts are becoming more common where I am, too.

Countless studies have indicated that not only do they result in fewer accidents, they are more fuel efficient as well. Of course, they may be more dangerous in the short-term as people are not initially familiar with them. But it would be myopic to only consider the short-term.

Frankly, I don't take my own experience into consideration with things like this because I understand that the data-set of my experiences is far, far too small to be worth anything.

Do I like them? Not particularly. But I don't expect road design to revolve around my likes and dislikes, especially when - as in this case - it is borne not out of any objective assessment of the utility of the design but of a general unfamiliarity with them.