Topic: Come with me for a ride on my 350F!

[Jonesy]

Not intending to turn this into a roundabout thread, but we go counter-clockwise (in Michigan, anyway...). Here's one of the newest ones built near the capitol:



Loonymoon, are "double roundabouts" (such as this one shown below) common in the UK? I personally don't like them, as I find the single ones confusing enough! 

[Bob Wessner]

Dan,

Funny you would post this right now. I had the 'thrill' of riding through a series of 3 new roundabouts just constructed in Ann Arbor in front of the new high school. I've gone through them several times on the way to Huron River Dr. via Maple Rd. Not once, have the folks IN the roundabout indicated they knew what to do. Every time I approach, with the yield sign to me, the traffic in the roundabout stops as though they should let me in. I can't wait to see how this works when the school finally opens for the first time in Sept.

[Jonesy]

Every time I approach, with the yield sign to me, the traffic in the roundabout stops as though they should let me in.

I hope those folks never drive in a New Jersey "traffic circle"... they'd be killed!

With me, half the time I end up on the wrong road. 

[loonymoon]

Double roundabouts are reasonably common, but mosly they're small "mini" roundabouts which aren't much more than painted circles on the ground. I like roundabouts as they keep the traffic flowing well (most of the time).

In Hemel Hempsted theres what's known as a "magic roundabout"... try this for size..



It's basically a series of mini roundabouts round what looks like a big main roundabout - very confusing if you first get to it... but all you do is look at the main exit you want to take and then treat the mini roundabouts as individuals until you get there... nightmarish at first but not too bad when you're used to it!! You basically ignore that the big inner roundabout exists... so you can turn right at the first mini roundabout then turn right again to get to the far right exit on the  main roundabout......

In the UK we're totally used to the way roundabouts work so it's not such a big deal but I can imagine what it'd be like for some poor foreigner used to driving on the other side of the road and unused to roundabouts to come across something like that!!

[Bob Wessner]

Ohmygod! The average American would be lost for days in that one. I agree though, I think, in general, they are a good idea. New to us over here and folks just need to get use to them. It might help to include their proper use in driver education classes.

[Ecosse]

Strangely, when I add the link I get a video saying it's not currently available but when I link it the old way up pops a viewable video. Friggin' computers are a fad. Try playing the first, and then the second; meanwhile I'm going back to drawing on cave walls.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4009607133092988870&q=national+lampoon%27s+european+vacation&ei=xvRFSOTOO4OgrwLGrI2xDA&hl=eN

[loonymoon]

I think you just need to put the link in now, no tags or anything.

BUT good video. And sometimes it is like that when idiots don't move out on the roundabout like they're supposed to!

[Steve_NZ]

I left the soundtrack "natural" on this one so you can hear the sounds of the baby four (and my maniacal giggling etc  ). There's a bit of wind noise though!

 
Brilliant! Your video brought back some memories... I left the UK almost 20 years ago and had just about forgotten what it's like to ride British roads! 
 
Cheers!
 

[malcolmgb]

Sorry I'm a bit late on this one, I did once attempt the 'Swindon Magic Roundabout' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon) probably similar to Hemel one, take a look at Wikipedia link for detailed explanation, there is also a mirror image for those who drive on the right.