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You should visit the UK and get a native to drive you around some city centres. We have the full range of roundabouts from massive, traffic light controlled, mu

You should visit the UK and get a native to drive you around some city centres. We have the full range of roundabouts from massive, traffic light controlled, multi-lain and chain-linked junctions, down to tiny roundabouts that are little more than a circular bump in the road. It's rare that I stop at a junction that requires me to cross a traffic flow, lights or no lights, that I don't wish that a roundabout had been put there instead. Collisions can at times bring a roundabout to a halt, but more often than not, people just use common sense and move around any obstacle, while maintaining as much lain discipline as they can. Cyclists, so long as they behave as if they are cars, also rarely have issues at roundabouts. I'm quite accustomed, in my area, to following a cyclist around a roundabout, paying attention to their hand signals, and giving them plenty of space. Basically, it comes down to training and practice. In the UK, if you can't handle a variety of roundabouts, you'll fail your driving test.

jwdunne 5y ago
Manchester is full of them. Majority of junctions on the M60, the motorway circling the city, have roundabouts after you come off / before you get on. In fact, there are two roundabouts in Worsley/Walkden. Though those cause a huge amount of traffic in rush hour. Pretty much any journey I take in the UK involves at least one and could be upwards of 10 to 20 for longer distance drives.
ygra 5y ago
> I'm quite accustomed, in my area, to following a cyclist around a roundabout, paying attention to their hand signals, and giving them plenty of space. As a cyclist, sometimes in roundabouts, this is something that many drivers need to be more aware of. In particular, depending on the roundabout size, the entry angle, and the car, someone's A pillar may completely obscure a cyclist. Also, while a great solution for cars, in populated areas, roundabouts can be tricky for pedestrians to cross. Also not aided by the fact that at least in Germany many motorists have no clue about the exact rules (yield to crossing pedestrians and cyclists when exiting the roundabout because that's effectively a turn). The best solution in this regard still seems to be to put zebra crossings all around the roundabout, along with traffic islands between the lanes entering and existing the roundabout. That makes it sufficiently safe for people and bikes to cross and sufficiently obvious to drivers how to behave. But that takes even more space.

jwdunne 5y ago

Manchester is full of them. Majority of junctions on the M60, the motorway circling the city, have roundabouts after you come off / before you get on. In fact, there are two roundabouts in Worsley/Walkden. Though those cause a huge amount of traffic in rush hour. Pretty much any journey I take in the UK involves at least one and could be upwards of 10 to 20 for longer distance drives.

ygra 5y ago

> I'm quite accustomed, in my area, to following a cyclist around a roundabout, paying attention to their hand signals, and giving them plenty of space. As a cyclist, sometimes in roundabouts, this is something that many drivers need to be more aware of. In particular, depending on the roundabout size, the entry angle, and the car, someone's A pillar may completely obscure a cyclist. Also, while a great solution for cars, in populated areas, roundabouts can be tricky for pedestrians to cross. Also not aided by the fact that at least in Germany many motorists have no clue about the exact rules (yield to crossing pedestrians and cyclists when exiting the roundabout because that's effectively a turn). The best solution in this regard still seems to be to put zebra crossings all around the roundabout, along with traffic islands between the lanes entering and existing the roundabout. That makes it sufficiently safe for people and bikes to cross and sufficiently obvious to drivers how to behave. But that takes even more space.