Rotaries, Roundabouts, or whatever you want to call them (interchange, European, Illinois) - Urban Planning -Urban, city, town planning, land use, zoning, transportation and transit, environmental issues, urban design, community development, subdivisions, revitalization - City-Data Forum

AuburnAL · 08-14-2010, 10:31 PM

I hate these things. Give me an honest four way stop or red light any day of the week.

DarkWolf · 08-15-2010, 03:26 AM

I love them , wish we had more. The Roundabout Interchanges are the best.....There called Rotaries in New England. Traffic Circles in most of the Northeast and Roundabouts in the rest of the Country.

claud605 · 08-15-2010, 03:54 AM

yea but they do slow people down, theoretically.

"I just can't seem to get to the left. Big Ben, Parliament."

pvande55 · 08-15-2010, 06:37 AM

They are being introduced in places in Illinois. Some say they move traffic quicker than a four-way stop or signalized intersection.

slowlane · 08-15-2010, 07:10 AM

Maryland has added many rotaries all over the state in recent years.

keeshonder · 08-15-2010, 07:38 AM

After driving in countries that have them all over the place, I love them. Just as long as they aren't like the one in Cambridge Mass.

BigDGeek · 08-15-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AuburnAL

I hate these things. Give me an honest four way stop or red light any day of the week.

I love them; you don't always have to stop at them. Now if Americans knew how to use them properly, we would be in business. We have one near my office and I have given up using it correctly because nobody else does. But roundabouts are terrific. I hate four-way stops.

BigDGeek · 08-15-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by claud605

yea but they do slow people down, theoretically.

"I just can't seem to get to the left. Big Ben, Parliament."

They don't really; they actually keep traffic flowing. I lived in various European countries for several years and I REALLY miss roundabouts.

beachmouse · 08-15-2010, 09:38 AM

There are more and more of them down here, and I've come to appreciate them because they frequently replace intersections that didn't have stop signs at all corners, which always seemed to back up traffic on the side with the stop sign.

Ben Around · 08-15-2010, 10:38 AM

They were just introduced here in the Twin Cities about a decade ago. Lots of grumbling by the locals, but I don't hear much any more. I think they are basically accepted by most drivers. I am not aware of ant being removed. Personally, I am in favor of them, as they seem to keep traffic flowing while avoiding the full stops required by stop lights and 4-way stop signs.