With typical Teutonic thoroughness, Germans actually learn how to drive before they are permitted to get behind the wheel. The problem in America is not the circles, its the ditzes.
Posted on 07/01/2011 9:59:00 AM PDT by the scotsman
'A roundabout revolution is slowly sweeping the US. The land of the car, where the stop sign and traffic light have ruled for decades, has started to embrace the free-flowing British circular.
A few moments after entering Carmel, it's clear why the city has been described as the Milton Keynes of the US.
As the sat-nav loudly and regularly points out, there's often a roundabout up ahead.
But unlike in the English town famous for them, driving into this pretty city on the outskirts of Indianapolis also involves passing several more under construction.
The city is at the forefront of a dizzying expansion, across several American states, of the circular traffic intersection redesigned in 1960s Britain and then exported globally. About 3,000 have been built in the US in the last 20 years.'
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Just pretend you’re a NASCAR driver on a really tiny track.
They are great as long as there’s no traffic!
Dunno about Iowa, but in Wisc., I think the signs say “Traffic circle ahead”.
I hate those damn things.
Roundabouts work if you drive a small car like a Honda Civic or smaller, but try that with something the size of the current Ford Fusion/Honda Accord/Toyota Camry/Nissan Altima (the so-called D-Class automobile)—no wonder accidents galore!
With typical Teutonic thoroughness, Germans actually learn how to drive before they are permitted to get behind the wheel. The problem in America is not the circles, its the ditzes.
"Damn roundabouts are a communist plot".....
LOL! Here too - I live in TimBuckEight, way up in NW Montana... It may not be wilderness, but i can see wilderness from here... and we have recently acquired two of these absurdities.
More "We need to be like Europe" bullcrap. Liberalism has invaded civil engineering schools, it seems.
Is that you Barack?
The ones in Carmel are doing alright. If a Carmel housewife/soccer mom can handle it, anyone can.
I like em myself. And they do help keep traffic moving. It’s either those or widening roads and intersections, adding lights, etc.
The first time I ever encountered one, well, except for Indy’s “Circle” downtown, was in Grand Cayman, in a right hand drive vehicle. No sweat.
They claim it encourages “sustainabilty”, “livability”,”walkability” and all the other favortite leftard code words.
I was thinking about this after I drove through a new roundabout a couple of weeks ago. How does a pedestrian cross an intersection where traffic flow is constant?
If they build any down here in Alabama they better make them about two blocks around to accomodate pick-up trucks. :-)
I was going to say, “rotaries” have been common in New England for at least 50 years.
I wouldn’t want to be eating popcorn while doing that — even if Diaz were feeding it to me....
I remember a few of them in the Newark area when I was a kid.
Down in Mexico City the main drag is called the Reforma it has eight or nine of them. You talk about pure fear, that was my sense.
What are being mis-labeled as a “Roundabout” in the U.S. are a bad JOKE!
I call them circular stops, as it is nearly certain some one has to stop every time.
If you have to stop anyway, there might as well be a sign and regular intersection.
To have a genuine roundabout you need a LOT more land, a MUCH bigger traffic circle, and the additional paving that entails.
European roundabouts are often large enough to hold a small park or rest stop in their center.
They may have several entrances/exits and multiple lanes, but are easy to use as there is plenty of space.
I have yet to see a decent roundabout ANYWHERE in the U.S., a true roundabout is great fun, adds a bit of twisty to otherwise boring strait roads, and does not require you to slow down to navigate it!
“I grew up in a small town in Virginia with no stoplights...but one traffic circle smack in the center of town.”
I know that circle! Used to go ‘round it on my way to the courthouse.
Top Gear is the best show on TV!!! (not the american version)
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