Highways in Canada

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by jamincan

This is an example of one of our larger, more complex roundabouts where I think the lane markings make it very clear what the intentions are. https://goo.gl/maps/ecXvQCkvV8H93FxB9

You think that's bad?
I'll raise you an Armdale Rotory.

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Armdale...7f495e85b!8m2!3d44.6417577!4d-63.6200369

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

You think that's bad?
I'll raise you an Armdale Rotory.

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Armdale...7f495e85b!8m2!3d44.6417577!4d-63.6200369

Is this the only example that you can think of?
It’s probably an extreme example, to say the least.

[jamincan]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

You forgot this one:
0. Everyone not already in the roundabout must wait.
This one has very low compliance rate too, yet it’s foundational to a roundabout working properly.
I’m myself guilty of this too. One time, at the infamous Ira Needles Boulevard & Erb Street roundabout, people weren’t moving in the roundabout*. Knowing how bad it could get, I decided to slip in with a car already in the roundabout to my left.
Now, I was intending to proceed straight afterwards (to stay on Erb), so I was really hoping that the said car wasn’t proceeding straight on Ira Needles. Otherwise, we would have crossed path.
Well… that car did exactly what I was hoping not to happen. Thankfully the worst thing that happened was a honk.
* Okay I remember why now. There was already a fender bender on one of the approaches at that time.

Using the left turn signal helps identify those situations when you can safely enter the right lane in the roundabout with a vehicle already in the left lane. Most times drivers don't use it though.

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

You think that's bad?
I'll raise you an Armdale Rotory.

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Armdale...7f495e85b!8m2!3d44.6417577!4d-63.6200369

I wasn't highlighting it as bad, just as an example of how the lane markings are and that traffic in the centre lanes exits from those lanes.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by jamincan

Using the left turn signal helps identify those situations when you can safely enter the right lane in the roundabout with a vehicle already in the left lane. Most times drivers don't use it though.

Ah yes that was exactly what happened. (Now that I think of it, there would have been less ambiguity if we were both in the same lane. That helped me realize that the car was indeed in the other lane.)

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Dengler Avenue

Is this the only example that you can think of?
It’s probably an extreme example, to say the least.

No, but it is one of the worst I have seen in Canada. Maley Dr, here in Sudbury has 3 roundabouts. I wish the police would just sit at them and start handing warnings and tickets.

Originally Posted by jamincan

Using the left turn signal helps identify those situations when you can safely enter the right lane in the roundabout with a vehicle already in the left lane. Most times drivers don't use it though.



I wasn't highlighting it as bad, just as an example of how the lane markings are and that traffic in the centre lanes exits from those lanes.

If you look at the Armdale Rotory, you will see that it too is the same. Get in the correct lane before entering it and you should have no issues.

[sonysnob]

Fall colours along Route 175 south of Saguenay:


http://www.asphaltplanet.ca/PQ/R/175/R175_cl_DSC03231_north_Oct21_24x16.jpg

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

If you look at the Armdale Rotory, you will see that it too is the same. Get in the correct lane before entering it and you should have no issues.

Tell that to an out-of-towner who rarely (or never before) has navigated that roundabout.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

Tell that to an out-of-towner who rarely (or never before) has navigated that roundabout.

You mean like me? When I first saw it, I was able to figure out how to use it. The problem is that once someone gets their license, they aren't expected to keep improving. Imagine if you had to do a written and road test every time your license was up for renewal. Would you pass?

[MonctonRad]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

You mean like me? When I first saw it, I was able to figure out how to use it. The problem is that once someone gets their license, they aren't expected to keep improving. Imagine if you had to do a written and road test every time your license was up for renewal. Would you pass?

There are a number of new roundabouts in Moncton. I generally like them, especially the five point roundabout at Killam/Collishaw/Purdy/Russ Howard - traffic flow is much more efficient than the old signalized intersection.

We have another interesting (dogbone) roundabout at the Harrisville/Dieppe Blvd intersection with Highway 11/15 which is multilane and rather unique, but again, I like this one too. It only took me a couple of times through it to figure out which lane I should be in to enter the roundabout in order to exit efficiently.

But, don't underestimate the natural stupidity of some (mostly older) drivers who have no idea how a roundabout works. I have witnessed on more than one occasion people attempting to navigate a roundabout clockwise rather than counterclockwise in order to try and make a left hand turn.

[Dmajackson]

Originally Posted by swimmer_spe

No, but it is one of the worst I have seen in Canada. Maley Dr, here in Sudbury has 3 roundabouts. I wish the police would just sit at them and start handing warnings and tickets.



If you look at the Armdale Rotory, you will see that it too is the same. Get in the correct lane before entering it and you should have no issues.

Armdale is actually quite efficient and effective for moving such an insanely high traffic volume. The main issue with it is traffic can queue when the approaches don't have similar volumes. This is most apparent in the afternoon rush on Chebucto because there is not enough traffic from SMB or HCR to provide gaps in the flow from Quinpool. Joe Howe has a shorter queue but just as a long of a wait for the same reason.

NS roundabouts are quite well designed. I use Armdale daily, the North Park ones regularly and enjoy going through the Larry Uteck and Sackville ones on occasion.

[JHikka]

Armdale is the place that every boomer Maritimer will tell you is the scariest, most intimidating, most avoid-at-all-costs roundabout in the world. A lot of people are ill-equipped for it because it actually requires you to be alert and knowledgable of where you're going. Not that difficult.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by MonctonRad

But, don't underestimate the natural stupidity of some (mostly older) drivers who have no idea how a roundabout works. I have witnessed on more than one occasion people attempting to navigate a roundabout clockwise rather than counterclockwise in order to try and make a left hand turn.

I haven't seen anything like that (yet!) What frustrates me are the number of people who come to a stop at the merge, usually with no oncoming traffic or cars that are far enough away not to prevent a smooth entry to the roundabout. Not treating it like a merge, unless you have no choice, defeats their whole purpose.

[q12]

• Video Link

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[jamincan]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

I haven't seen anything like that (yet!) What frustrates me are the number of people who come to a stop at the merge, usually with no oncoming traffic or cars that are far enough away not to prevent a smooth entry to the roundabout. Not treating it like a merge, unless you have no choice, defeats their whole purpose.

On the other hand, there is the driver who seems to think that the lack of a stop sign means they can fly through the roundabout without slowing down.

[niwell]

Despite the complaints when installed I've generally found roundabouts fimefor driving, but they generally terrify me as a pedestrian or cyclist. The smaller, local ones aren't too bad but something the examples posted above seem pretty hostile.

[q12]

Anybody remember this as you approached the old Armdale "Rotary".









Total gridlock as the rotary would come to a stop and traffic already in the circle would let cars enter one for one.

[jamincan]

Originally Posted by niwell

Despite the complaints when installed I've generally found roundabouts fimefor driving, but they generally terrify me as a pedestrian or cyclist. The smaller, local ones aren't too bad but something the examples posted above seem pretty hostile.

I recall a while ago the City of Kitchener was planning to replace an intersection with a Dutch-style roundabout, but I'm not entirely sure what became of it as it's not an area that I visit by car or bike all that often.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by jamincan

On the other hand, there is the driver who seems to think that the lack of a stop sign means they can fly through the roundabout without slowing down.

True! I've seen this as well.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by q12

Anybody remember this as you approached the old Armdale "Rotary".









Total gridlock as the rotary would come to a stop and traffic already in the circle would let cars enter one for one.

Armdale has to be one of the oldest rotary roundabout implantations in Canada. I remember as a kid in the 70s and 80s it was already giving headaches to drivers.

[swimmer_spe]

Originally Posted by Dmajackson

Armdale is actually quite efficient and effective for moving such an insanely high traffic volume. The main issue with it is traffic can queue when the approaches don't have similar volumes. This is most apparent in the afternoon rush on Chebucto because there is not enough traffic from SMB or HCR to provide gaps in the flow from Quinpool. Joe Howe has a shorter queue but just as a long of a wait for the same reason.

NS roundabouts are quite well designed. I use Armdale daily, the North Park ones regularly and enjoy going through the Larry Uteck and Sackville ones on occasion.

It is surprising how good they work to clear traffic. If that was an actual signalized intersection, I doubt it would be as fast to get through there.

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

I haven't seen anything like that (yet!) What frustrates me are the number of people who come to a stop at the merge, usually with no oncoming traffic or cars that are far enough away not to prevent a smooth entry to the roundabout. Not treating it like a merge, unless you have no choice, defeats their whole purpose.

People don't know how to merge to begin with. Ad a rotory to the mix and it is a recipe for their demise.

Originally Posted by q12

Anybody remember this as you approached the old Armdale "Rotary".









Total gridlock as the rotary would come to a stop and traffic already in the circle would let cars enter one for one.

I remember when it was "stop then go"