tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post3466889224398859917..comments2024-03-28T18:25:51.357+00:00Comments on The Ranty Highwayman: I've seen things you people wouldn't believe: Part 2 - Magic RoundaboutsThe Ranty Highwaymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-45281273577605995012018-06-10T00:26:06.211+01:002018-06-10T00:26:06.211+01:00TRL took a ‘continental’ [Dutch urban] roundabout ...TRL took a ‘continental’ [Dutch urban] roundabout and then ‘interpreted it in the British “context”’, with all the predictable consequences Ranty alludes to of missing the point entirely and ending up with something <a href="http://www.workplaceinsanity.com/2011/06/what-do-your-customers-really-want.html" rel="nofollow">totally motor-centric</a> instead. They also littered the zebra crossings with hundreds of unsynchronised (and <a href="http://beyondthekerb.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/feeling-the-pinch/comment-page-1/#comment-1412" rel="nofollow">pointlessly expensive</a>) flashing distractions. Because; well, that's the way we've always done it and therefore must continue doing it…<br /><br />UK has a load of <a href="https://showmeasignblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/14/improving-cycling-facilities-through-better-signs/comment-page-1/#comment-157" rel="nofollow">Hamburger roundabouts</a> similar to <em>Hugo de Grootplein</em>, but with just carriageways! One could add priority cycle tracks to those on the same pattern, including the straight-through path. I do find cycling around NL trams stressful because my UK brain is hardwired to always try second-guessing what the trams are about to do based on their (unfamiliar) signalling and just cannot get my head around the motor traffic lights being the inverse of that. The Belgian ‘style’ equivalent for that tram line would have it bypass the roundabout in a tunnel/ on a bridge with surprisingly steep ramps, I suspect.<br /><br />That Dutch <a href="https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2018/03/13/testing-cycle-signage-in-a-living-lab/#comment-30346" rel="nofollow">direction signage</a> on roundabouts (e.g. penultimate photo in this post), though 😅.Mark Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-47556194615262569122017-10-30T19:03:18.579+00:002017-10-30T19:03:18.579+00:00Notwithstanding my qualified support for the layou...Notwithstanding my qualified support for the layout, raised tables would be perfectly acceptable - it does play with the levels and so the whole "circle" of the cycle track would have to be raised a bit which makes design a bit more complicated.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-22442310277085106302017-10-30T16:31:02.589+00:002017-10-30T16:31:02.589+00:00Do you think that if a cycle-priority roundabout w...Do you think that if a cycle-priority roundabout were built in the UK, it would be a good idea to have the zebra crossings and cycle tracks on a raised table when they cross the roads entering and leaving the roundabout? Perhaps this would emphasise the priority and reduce speeds? Would this be allowed?SWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03873800887893400254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-11943455732761832872017-10-15T18:57:56.166+01:002017-10-15T18:57:56.166+01:00Are you sure about that? I haven't driven in t...Are you sure about that? I haven't driven in the UK but I can't imagine that UK roundabouts slow you down the way continental ones do. Take <a href="https://www.google.nl/maps/@51.6251613,-0.7353778,3a,33y,290.99h,83.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1saNDH3IFbXcA9IxyiO0y_rA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656" rel="nofollow">this one</a> for example, you can draw a straight line through the roundabout from the entrance to the exit. <a href="https://www.google.nl/maps/@52.1703721,4.4798573,3a,60y,329.1h,93.28t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQRuG-VxodThGtZ0aN3Bl0g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656" rel="nofollow">This continental one</a> on the other hand clearly has the central reservation blocking the way (you really don't want to hit the overrun area, especially at speed). You have to make pretty pronounced turns to the right, left and then right again to navigate that roundabout.bz2https://www.blogger.com/profile/12501944795613124511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-75986930072777458522017-09-09T09:49:34.582+01:002017-09-09T09:49:34.582+01:00I don't know - the "continental" rou...I don't know - the "continental" roundabout is in the design manual for roads and bridges. I suspect the Dutch come at it from safety and we've come at it from capacity.The Ranty Highwaymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17361350433158148025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1828166865647185633.post-91019617730323100682017-09-04T19:35:29.851+01:002017-09-04T19:35:29.851+01:00Slightly, but not entirely, flippant comment. Hav...Slightly, but not entirely, flippant comment. Having, in my nerdy way, superimposed vehicle track trajectories (discolouration on road) for a number of Dutch & UK roundabouts, I'm not wholly convinced by the argument about the angle of approach allowing faster entry of roundabouts in the UK (as in your Hatfield vs Hulst example). Could it be that the offside "straight into the roundabout central roundel" geometry in the Dutch example had to be abandoned in the UK because drivers kept driving into the roundel? ;)<br /><br />(very insightful post btw)<br /><br />Jitensha OniAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com