[Newsbot]

Title: Distracting Miss Daisy
Category: Law & Order
Posted By: hurley_108
Date: 2008-06-11 12:59:38

[hurley_108]

A fascinating, well written article. I can't help but agree in light of recent traffic news in Edmonton. Here, we've got a few roundabouts, but one of them is one of the worst intersections in the city. I can't help but wonder in light of this article if that's because it's near impossible to describe the workings of a roundabout in one or two signs. At the 142st 107ave roundabout here, they recently installed more signs, and over the years they've been slowly removing roundabouts and replacing them with lighted intersections, despite the fact that when you know how to drive a roundabout, they're vastly more efficient.

[Chumley]

I don't see near as many accidents at the traffic circles as I do at regular intersections.
All the signs perhaps do get people in zombie mode. Just follow the signs, don't think.
Sort of reminds me of when they started the daytime running lights.
Before that, I could see a car no problem because I was used to looking for them.
Now, if a car down the road doesn't have his lights on, I find I don't see them as readily. Too used to picking up on the headlights and thats it.

[bootlegga]

I like traffic circles. Instead of being forced to stop every few blocks, traffic moves much more smoothly. Compare the traffic circle at 142st - 107ave with the modified one with lights at 118 ave - St. Albert trail. There is always traffic sitting at the 118 ave, even late at night. The other is only congested during rush hour. They take up a lot of space, but traffic flow is far better. As the author pointed out, cars burn less gas using traffic circles than they do at regular lit intersections.

[hurley_108]

bootlegga wrote:

I like traffic circles. Instead of being forced to stop every few blocks, traffic moves much more smoothly. Compare the traffic circle at 142st - 107ave with the modified one with lights at 118 ave - St. Albert trail. There is always traffic sitting at the 118 ave, even late at night. The other is only congested during rush hour. They take up a lot of space, but traffic flow is far better. As the author pointed out, cars burn less gas using traffic circles than they do at regular lit intersections.

But the author also said that as people grow more accustomed to traffic circles, the smaller they can be made, eventually becoming nothing more than a painted circle in an otherwise normally sized intersection.

It's interesting that the only collision I witnessed where I provided a statement of what I saw was in the 118 ave, St. Albert Trail traffic circle.

[mtbr]

traffic circle are great. I always laugh at the idiots who honk at you when you use the outside lane. The problem is that no one can find their signal lights anymore so you have to guess what the hell their intentions are.

[hurley_108]

mtbr wrote:

traffic circle are great. I always laugh at the idiots who honk at you when you use the outside lane.

What do you mean? The outside lane must yield to the inside lane.

[bootlegga]

hurley_108 wrote:

bootlegga wrote:

I like traffic circles. Instead of being forced to stop every few blocks, traffic moves much more smoothly. Compare the traffic circle at 142st - 107ave with the modified one with lights at 118 ave - St. Albert trail. There is always traffic sitting at the 118 ave, even late at night. The other is only congested during rush hour. They take up a lot of space, but traffic flow is far better. As the author pointed out, cars burn less gas using traffic circles than they do at regular lit intersections.

But the author also said that as people grow more accustomed to traffic circles, the smaller they can be made, eventually becoming nothing more than a painted circle in an otherwise normally sized intersection.

It's interesting that the only collision I witnessed where I provided a statement of what I saw was in the 118 ave, St. Albert Trail traffic circle.

Before or after they put the lights in? I avoid that intersection like the plague now that it has lights.

[mtbr]

hurley_108 wrote:

mtbr wrote:

traffic circle are great. I always laugh at the idiots who honk at you when you use the outside lane.

What do you mean? The outside lane must yield to the inside lane.

exactly..but they panic when they see you in the outside lane.

[hurley_108]

mtbr wrote:

hurley_108 wrote:

mtbr wrote:

traffic circle are great. I always laugh at the idiots who honk at you when you use the outside lane.

What do you mean? The outside lane must yield to the inside lane.

exactly..but they panic when they see you in the outside lane.

Are you ahead of them and therefore not in the way of them getting out or exiting at the same point they are? Or are you carrying on where they want to exit, thus blocking their way?

If the former, then yea, a honk is excessive. If the latter, then a hink is appropriate.

[mtbr]

hurley_108 wrote:

Are you ahead of them and therefore not in the way of them getting out or exiting at the same point they are? Or are you carrying on where they want to exit, thus blocking their way?

If the former, then yea, a honk is excessive. If the latter, then a hink is appropriate.

ahead all the time, always yielding to them...I have had experiences where a vehicle is on the inside lane and I'm on the outside we both exit at the same exit , they pull up beside you at the next light and yell because they think you should never be in the outside lane..idiots . There is one in SE calgary where everyone lines up in the left lane to enter the circle when the right(outside) is left open. The wait in the inside lane is so long they might as well put up a traffic light instead.

[hurley_108]

mtbr wrote:

hurley_108 wrote:

Are you ahead of them and therefore not in the way of them getting out or exiting at the same point they are? Or are you carrying on where they want to exit, thus blocking their way?

If the former, then yea, a honk is excessive. If the latter, then a hink is appropriate.

ahead all the time, always yielding to them...I have had experiences where a vehicle is on the inside lane and I'm on the outside we both exit at the same exit , they pull up beside you at the next light and yell because they think you should never be in the outside lane..idiots . There is one in SE calgary where everyone lines up in the left lane to enter the circle when the right(outside) is left open. The wait in the inside lane is so long they might as well put up a traffic light instead.

I understand now. I agree.

[Chumley]

traffic circles are better.
You know what they need?
Figure 8 traffic circles.

[DrCaleb]

Chumley wrote:

traffic circles are better.
You know what they need?
Figure 8 traffic circles.

Then the wouldn't be 'circles' they would be 'smash up derbys'.

[hurley_108]

Chumley wrote:

traffic circles are better.
You know what they need?
Figure 8 traffic circles.

If one traffic circle is good, two right next to each other have to be better!