Dream cars

[gjmalcyon]

Most Americans still have no clue what a roundabout is, even now, 50+ years later.

Yo, cuz, I'm from Jersey, the birthplace of the American traffic circle. Of course I know traffic circles.

Airport Circle, in Pennsauken and built in 1925 where NJ routes 130, 38, and 30 intersect, was the first:



That and the Collingswood Circle were always your "final exam" when you learned how to drive; If you could navigate those then you were good to go.

That also meant you learned the Law Of The Jersey Traffic Circle: Yielding to traffic already in the circle is for wimps.

 

[adorshki]

Yo, cuz, I'm from Jersey, the birthplace of the American traffic circle. Of course I know traffic circles.

I stand humbly corrected, if I ever knew about those early roundabouts, I'd forgotten. But merely in self-defense and re-education, are they known as "roundabouts" as they are in England, and do you think the term's fairly well-known outside of New England?

 

[davismanLV]

We strangely have several here in Las Vegas. I think they're great but when they're not is when stupid people who don't know the rules try to negotiate them. I remember almost getting creamed by someone in one, and then when we landed in happy hour, I was lamenting the rules to some lady, and she said, "Oh i love those because everybody gets to go all the time!! No one ever has to stop!!" She was so excited.....

 

[davismanLV]

The smaller ones are troublesome. But mostly they're great.... until you get a special driver.

 

[adorshki]

The smaller ones are troublesome. But mostly they're great.... until you get a special driver.

"And my chauffeur, Tattoo..."

 

[davismanLV]

In America, we get food to eat.... no, wait... that's a Randy Newman song!! The great thing about them is over here they're all right turns so once you choose your route and yield, you just GO!! No slamming on your brakes or anything just LEAVE THE CIRCLE!!!! So nice. In the UK it's left but same thing. But people don't drive so well these days, and they're on their phones..... FML!!

 

[davismanLV]

DEH PLAAAHNNNE, DE PLAAAHNNE!! Boss....

 

[Opsimath]

Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!

(Who understands the above?)

 

[Cougar]

<serious veer>

In America, we get food to eat.... no, wait... that's a Randy Newman song!!

Won't have to run through the jungle
And scuff up your feet.

I love Randy Newman!

 

[gjmalcyon]

I stand humbly corrected, if I ever knew about those early roundabouts, I'd forgotten. But merely in self-defense and re-education, are they known as "roundabouts" as they are in England, and do you think the term's fairly well-known outside of New England?

New England calls 'em rotaries.

I've had some exciting times navigating rotaries in Massachusetts - interesting that Jersey plates get some deference in Mass. rotaries.

Professional courtesy I guess.

 

[adorshki]

Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!

(Who understands the above?)

Tourists trapped in the roundabout, trying to keep the kids distracted?

 

[GGJaguar]

 

[Guildedagain]

We have a couple recent US-2 highway roundabouts, much to the dismay of locals, and the signage is very clear DO NOT DRIVE BESIDE TRUCKS IN ROUNDABOUT, also with speed limit of 15mph which is about right, and they are challenging, not just as a test of tire adhesion and cornering performance, but in being able to read body language, like a car coming from the casino apparently has more rights than others, cars that have nothing to lose with lots of dented panels get a very wide berth, and semis will run you over with their trailer duals if you missed the sign.

 

[geoguy]

They used to always be called "rotaries" in New England, but the term "traffic circle" is gaining in popularity nowadays.

Particularly for the smaller ones (e.g. a small-diameter traffic circle in place of a typical four-way intersection).

 

[Opsimath]

Tourists trapped in the roundabout, trying to keep the kids distracted?

Chevy Chase, European Vacation.

 

[fronobulax]

Yeah, I've seen studies that show they'd improve traffic flow massively in a lot of places, but retro-fitting would raise so many probs it's traditionally been a non-starter.

The ones I mentioned have all been constructed in the past 10 years. Perhaps because of the way Virginia funds road improvements they are "sold" as cheaper than a traffic light, safer than the status quo and improve traffic flow.

I kind of like them, once I have learned how to use them, but there are always those people who don't know. But in a world where people think the rule is "right on red" and not "right on red after stop" roundabouts are not my biggest source of complaints.

 

[fronobulax]

I stand humbly corrected, if I ever knew about those early roundabouts, I'd forgotten. But merely in self-defense and re-education, are they known as "roundabouts" as they are in England, and do you think the term's fairly well-known outside of New England?

We call them roundabouts in the Virginia countryside but 50 miles away in DC they are traffic circles.

 

[Guildedagain]

Virginia - is it still for lovers? - would be a long distance roundabout for us.

 

[davidbeinct]

New England calls 'em rotaries.

I've had some exciting times navigating rotaries in Massachusetts - interesting that Jersey plates get some deference in Mass. rotaries.

Professional courtesy I guess.

Traffic circles in Connecticut, even the eastern part of the state which is classically more aligned with the Boston sports teams rather than the NYC sports teams.

 

[davismanLV]

Growing up in Southern CA, we always called them roundabouts.