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Jolted by HOT Lanes' Start

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by Lee, Jun 24, 2008.

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  1. nutria

    nutria New Member

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    To get back on track with roundabouts...

    As a Brit I grew up with these. I also lived in Swindon for years and while the "magic roundabout" looks daunting at first it's actually very simple to negotiate.

    It's always surprised me that there aren't more of them here. Pretty much any 4-way stop could be effectively replaced by one and keep the traffic moving more freely and safely. If you obey "give way to traffic coming from your left/right" (counter/clockwise rotation) you're basically good to go. And having the 'island' in the centre of the road - even if it's a mini-one - makes it virtually impossible to blow through the junction.

    With roundabouts people drive the junction the same way from day one, so there is no 'acclimatising period' when it switches from 2-way stop to 4-way stop to junction with lights. And less money needed for lights too!

    My 2c. Now I'm off to see if the guy has posted back about cricket tomorrow again!
     
    nutria, Jun 27, 2008
    #21
  2. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    What would be fun is a field tour of these roundabout's, perhaps with one of our English or Brit's here to give the tour and end up at some English pub. :)
     
    Lee, Jun 27, 2008
    #22
  3. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Roundabouts are fine and dandy but the issue, especially in this area, is that they require more real estate.
     
    T8erman, Jun 27, 2008
    #23
  4. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    That is why they are being built further west in the county.:happygrin:

    Although I dare say they take no more land and perhaps less then a full blown interchange and far cheaper.
     
    Lee, Jun 27, 2008
    #24
  5. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    read the articles Lee linked to. you can see a roundabout can take less space because you reduce the # of lanes entering and exiting the interchange. You no longer need 4 lanes entering an intersection to accommodate turn lanes, straight lanes, etc.

    I'm sure the reason people don't do it here is because of

    a) stubbornness
    b) the idea that they don't think idiot drivers can figure it out
     
    flynnibus, Jun 27, 2008
    #25
  6. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Ok, this would work in the West as Lee said due to less traffic. Even in NJ they are going to traffic lights (similar to VA) where traffic is much heavier.

    Heavier the traffic, the larger the roundabout.
     
    T8erman, Jun 27, 2008
    #26
  7. LKelly

    LKelly New Member

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    I think this is the biggest stumbling block in terms of functionality, since the majority of drivers in this area don't seem to remember the 4-way stop rules from driver's ed!
     
    LKelly, Jun 27, 2008
    #27
  8. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Most of the interchanges around here that could benefit from one are not sustained, capacity traffic in every direction.. its simply that the stupid too many roads going the same place need to intersect. Place like all along waxpool, the ramps at the greedway, etc.

    No one would care one bit about the space of the roundabout if they didn't have to sit at a light for 10 minutes every day. Look at the interchange at ashvillage and shellhorn... MASSIVE interchange - never sustained capacity volume of traffic.
     
    flynnibus, Jun 28, 2008
    #28
  9. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    I agree and have seen some large roundabouts in NJ and overseas that work very well even in heavy traffic.

    But a problem in Loudoun is that just about every inch of land is owned by someone and the state would have to pay big $$$ to acquire the land.
     
    T8erman, Jun 28, 2008
    #29
  10. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Again - look at the space and lanes required for interchanges... I think you are overstating the problem.
     
    flynnibus, Jun 28, 2008
    #30
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