Can American Drivers Learn to Love Roundabouts? | Hacker News Reader

Can American Drivers Learn to Love Roundabouts?

bloomberg.com

6 pointstoomuchtodo17 comments

Anecdotally, yes, but only if it's a single lane, like ones used to replace 4-way stops.

In contrast, every single one with multiple concentric lanes is a source of merge/blind-spot anxiety. Even if you gain familiarity with how one of the variants near you works, I have to worry about the other cars.

My insurance went up when I moved 2 miles down the road which happens to be at the intersection of a 2 lane round about.

I can't stand the people that keep going around the outside. I won't drive around it side by side with anyone anymore.

Accident every week there.

+1 to single lane. Yielding becomes complicated when it’s multiple lanes.

Especially when a BMW shoots into it at 57mph.

> Especially when a BMW shoots into it at 57mph.

Yes, this is the problem with multiple lane rundabouts. There is always one pilot flying low which disrupts the traffic.

Imaginary Jeopardy: "I'll take Road Changes That Justify My Dash-cam for $100, Alex."

Don't we already love them? I mean as a replacement for 4-way stops, not as a pet rejuvenate downtown project. TIL that "roundabout" is not a synonym for traffic circle or rotary.

Not when the roundabouts are placed within the bounds of a 4 way stop. Not sure if those are called roundabouts, but I don’t like them.

We've had them for about a decade, and I'm getting used to them. Going straight, they're faster than a 4-way stop and more fair than a 2-way.

The 270-degree left turns are awkward though

Exactly. Talk about defeating the purpose of a traffic circle.

Just to be clear, you're talking about ones where they've tried to shrink a one-lane-circle down too far?

Americans can't even grasp the passing lane.

Sure we can. There's one on either side of the car in front of me.

what is a passing lane?

I've seen successful-looking roundabouts in the Pacific Northwest, and even a few in Fresno. Then there's Pasadena which has a roundabout with stop signs at each entrance.

https://archive.today/j2fnf

U mean the Circle - o - Death like the Arc de Triomphe? Pass

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