Tips/Techniques Urban and traffic planning

[trlvn]

Why is everyone calling them "traffic circles? What's wrong with roundabout?

Anyway, for my driver's ed, back in the dim mists of time, there were no roundabouts within any reasonable distance. Except one. The Square at Goderich.

For those unfamiliar, the Goderich Square is a Large roundabout with 8 streets connecting in a spoked wheel fashion. Traffic goes around counter-clockwise. There is angle parking on the outside (always fun to back out when you're leaving) and parallel parking on the interior. It used to be the Courthouse in the centre but is now a park. There is room for 4 unmarked lanes of traffic going around the Square but it was very rare to be more than 3 wide. Plus, the Lake Huron shoreline is a wonderful set of sandy beaches so you get quite a few tourists coming into Goderich for their very first time. (Some may still be circling the Square.)

BTW, it is not easy to pick up street signs to get on your intended road off the Square. Most people memorize landmark businesses to know where to turn. "Turn after the hotel to get to Highway 21 going south." "Turn after the Park Theatre to go to the Harbour and beach." Good times!

Craig

 

[Ironman]

My take on traffic circles is they are just fantastic as soon as people learn to use them. For the most part they are new to most Canadians so half the drivers do all kinds of weird things, on the other hand traffic circles during rush hour in big European cities looks like a well conducted symphony of efficiency.

They replaced the traffic lights with a circle on the main highway near our cottage and flow has noticeably improved. Red light was about a minute wait, delay entering circle rarely more than 5-10 seconds and usually no delay.

I like the roundabouts. They deprive police of income, and de-stress drivers. It also saves fuel and wear and tear on your "3 ton machine" (wonder what he drives) I was reading in a truck magazine about using a concrete section of the road to weigh trucks, and only call in the trucks to the scale that needed to be checked. Michigan, I believe, saved 1.8 million gallons of fuel in a year making this one change.
So coming to a stop light or sign is costly in many ways.

 

[Susquatch]

For those unfamiliar, the Goderich Square is a Large roundabout with 8 streets connecting in a spoked wheel fashion. Traffic goes around counter-clockwise. There is angle parking on the outside (always fun to back out when you're leaving) and parallel parking on the interior. It used to be the Courthouse in the centre but is now a park. There is room for 4 unmarked lanes of traffic going around the Square but it was very rare to be more than 3 wide.

We were just there on Thursday Craig! Such an amazing array of girl toy stores all around the circle and also on every spoke of the wheel!

Getting off that wheel to head north was no piece of cake. At the end of the chosen spoke, I had to make a 270 - 320 degree turn. It felt more like a U-Turn! And it had traffic lights! I really don't know how you were supposed to use the lights with so many angles. But it worked, and we were quickly headed north on the 21 again.

That circle in Goderich reminded me of the circle in Paris, except far more interesting and useful - especially all the girl toy shops.

Which reminds me of one store full of cooking stuff. No idea why I chose to go in too, but I did. It didn't take my bride long to be embarrassed by my comments and questions. At one point, another woman came in and announced that she was looking for a man toy...... My wife instantly announced that she could have me! I think I'd have preferred to have the lady laugh, but instead she said how much do you want for him...... My wife's response was even worse - I'll give you a deal - I'll give you 50 bucks to take him right now, but there are no returns on clearance sales.