Am I the only one who had never heard of a "roundabout" (used for drivers)

[Iceman]

Are these around other areas? I have never seen one before that I can recall. Heard on the radio there are only a handful in Michigan (not sure how true that is but that is what the guy said). I think I seen Homer Simpson drive in one before and that is the only time I have seen one, LOL.

For those of you like myself that dont know what it is, here is a diagram with one and how they work. Basically an intersection without traffic lights.

 

[Iceman]

Seems different but I read where it is more safe than traditional intersections.

 

[billsfan]

There are several in Florida near where I live, including Clearwater Beach and one right near Tropicana Field

 

[KeithRichard]

I think we call them rotaries in the States. They are called roundabouts in Great Britain I believe.What country are you from Iceman?

 

[Santo]

Yup we have hundreds of them in each town ;o)

 

[Iceman]

I think we call them rotaries in the States. They are called roundabouts in Great Britain I believe.What country are you from Iceman?

I am from the United States.

I just heard the word the other day on the radio and they kept refering back to it as a "roundabout". I just checked out the wikipedia page and it says it is called a "modern roundabout" I didnt see anything that says rotaries. Also read where it is called a traffic circle".

 

[bigtendominator]

They are very popular in Europe.

I have only seen 1 here in Dallas.

 

[Iceman]

I should add we call pepsi and coca cola "pop" here in Michigan. EVERYONE calls it that here.

 

[8ate]

New England has a lotta rotaries; and New Jersey has one on the back route from Delaware Bridge to Atlantic City.

 

[stolidog]

It's the exact opposite. Rotaries are European. Traffic circles are most associated with New Jersey as they began using large traffic circles in the 1960's. MD has more than 250 roundabouts, which are much smaller than traffic circles, slow traffic to about 10-15 mph and are being widely used as an alternative to the traditional four-way intersection. As an engineer, I deal with roundabouts every day.

 

[bilbal]

I cannot get left!!

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yFsDjmceuDo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yFsDjmceuDo&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[celticGreen+]

Here in the Boston area, we call them rotaries... There are quite a few of them.

They do seem to puzzle folks who aren't from this area.

 

[Objection]

there are a couple in Vegas on a street north of Red Rock hotel
forgot the name of the street
also have one in the NW suburbs of Chicago on a major street

 

[Cusipz]

Lots in NJ...

Fairly famous one in Long Beach, CA..One way leads to a nice part of town, another leads to the airport, and the third leads to the ghetto and Long Beach Poly....

 

[barman]

They are very popular in Europe.

I have only seen 1 here in Dallas.

For many years until about 1974, I believe, there was a major roundabout at the intersection of Belt Line Rd and Coit Rd on the border of Richardson and Dallas.

By the time I hit junior high at West JH (Mimosa Dr, north of Richardson High) they had rebuilt it into a normal intersection and started building commercial businesses starting with the Promenade Theater (and shopping center) on the northeast corner.

 

[Enfuego]

You guys can't be serious. Roundabouts are used everywhere in Europe and the goal is to keep traffic flowing although that doesn't always work like planned.

If in the UK you yield to the right. If driving in the right lane you yield to the left.

If you are going right at a roundabout you must be in the outside lane. If you don't turn from the outside lane you risk a serious car accident.

 

[bigtendominator]

For many years until about 1974, I believe, there was a major roundabout at the intersection of Belt Line Rd and Coit Rd on the border of Richardson and Dallas.

By the time I hit junior high at West JH (Mimosa Dr, north of Richardson High) they had rebuilt it into a normal intersection and started building commercial businesses starting with the Promenade Theater (and shopping center) on the northeast corner.

Barman,

Going old school on me. Yes, now Coit and Belt Line are regular intersection. Only been here since '02.

 

[joeyfitzclick]

In Ireland the some roundabouts have traffic lights !!!

Whats the point ?

 

[KeithRichard]

Here in the Boston area, we call them rotaries... There are quite a few of them.

They do seem to puzzle folks who aren't from this area.

Yup I have never heard them called anything else in this area and naturally assumed they were spread all over the U.S. When my foreign relatives mention roundabouts the kids think it's a riot.

 

[JohnnyB]

Around here they're called roundabouts. They've been in Europe for a long time but apparently they're getting more and more popular in the states. My buddy and roommate all 4 years of college is a civil engineer who works for the Wisconsin DOT and his entire job is to design and oversee the implementation of roundabouts.