Thanks for everyone's feedback on roundabouts. I'd like to add that I've seen roundabouts of all sizes used. Roundabouts work less well the faster the traffic is coming into them. For example a roundabout on 35W wouldn't work. :) I've also seen some, like in Seattle's Capital Hill neighborhood, that are very small and used to force traffic to slow down in residential areas.
The major problem I see with roundabouts has to do with the footprint they require and that they are something drivers are not familiar with in this area. One would assume that they some people would become used to them, still they're not common. Also, there may be situations where the planners don't want to keep traffic flowing. Overall, I would like to see them incorporated into the city. It would have to be a commitment over a long period of time though given the change in the right-a-ways that would be needed. Allen Graetz Lowry Hill, MPLS -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chris Johnson Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 9:45 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Mpls] Lake Street lane vote [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Traffic circles or roundabouts with modern non-tangential yield upon entry rules seem to work well where ever they are used. I can only personally testify to the one in Minneapolis at Minnehaha Parkway and Minnehaha Avenue, the several in Washington D.C. and the too numerous to count in Great Britain, France, Austria and Germany -- and they all worked well, although I have to admit the drivers here in Minneapolis appear to be the most confused of the bunch as to what to do. The rules are simple. Learn them once and why they are they way they are, and they should stick with you forever. However, there are places they work better than others, and places where they don't work so well. Traffic engineers who keep up with, or bone up on, the latest in professional writings on the subject would have the quantitative tools to calculate which intersections on Lake Street, if any, would benefit. In general, yes, they work in large cities. London and Washington D.C. are both quite a bit larger than the Twin Cities. Here's some general information about traffic circles and usage in the U.S. and Canada: http://www.drivers.com/article/334 http://www.city.hamilton.on.ca/public-works/Roads-And-Traffic/roundabout.asp http://www.roundaboutsusa.com/ Chris Johnson, Fulton REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
