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[edit: for clarity, I am not against roundabouts] I don't have real expertise in civil engineering Traffic lights have a smaller physical footprint and requi
by brudgers 20d ago
[edit: for clarity, I am not against roundabouts]
I don't have real expertise in civil engineering
Traffic lights have a smaller physical footprint and require less construction activity.
Traffic lights fit on a cost spectrum from two stop sighs, to four stop signs, to stop signs plus blinking lights, to non-trivial signaling.
First make it work. Then make it good. Then make it fast.
Engineering is not a one size fits all discipline.
[edit: I have a background in urban planning, architecture, and real-estate development]
- rightnutwingjob 18d agoYou forgot roundabouts with traffic lights. Here’s one in Australia near Perth: https://youtu.be/h8lhX9Q6Z5g?si=eloUWLcH8q3eJiZH https://youtu.be/h8lhX9Q6Z5g?si=eloUWLcH8q3eJiZH And I’m certain I’ve driven through other roundabouts with traffic lights in other states.
- Jarmsy 18d agoIn England we even have roundabouts of roundabouts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)
- rightnutwingjob 18d agoOoo! I like that one!
- markb139 18d agoI’ve driven around the Hemel Hempstead one a few times. Very confusing when I first saw the sign.
- perilunar 18d agoI know of a couple in NSW: one in Albion Park, and another in Bomaderry. They work well when the peak-hour traffic tends to block some of the entrances. You can use the lights to allow the blocked entrances to flow, then turn the lights off out of peak-hour.
- deleted 18d ago[deleted]
- throwawayffffas 18d agoMy honest take roundabouts with traffic lights are just traffic lights with extra steps.
- rightnutwingjob 18d agoEverything is everything else, with extra steps.
- antonvs 18d agoNew Jersey has at least one roundabout, with traffic lights, and a 6-lane divided highway through the middle: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XoctqrtbfYGD7q48 https://maps.app.goo.gl/2XoctqrtbfYGD7q48 I assume the person who designed that was 6 months away from retiring to Florida.
- rightnutwingjob 18d agoThat gives new meaning to “drive straight through the roundabout”. What a legacy. I’m having a vicarious chuck now.
- yatopifo 18d agoI believe it's in Scotland, not Australia's Perth.
- rightnutwingjob 18d agoCould be the Perth in Tasmania. It’s not, I used to live near Perth, Tasmania. How many Perths are there?
- olyjohn 18d agoThe footprint is a cost problem once. They don't need power, computers, or technicians to come out and maintain the equipment constantly.
- gruez 18d ago>The footprint is a cost problem once. Land can approximately be converted to a recurring cost via rents.
- wat10000 18d agoA roundabout can be as simple as a circle painted in the middle of an intersection, plus a bit of signage. It doesn’t have to be a big thing.
- crote 17d agoRoundabouts don't need any expensive control electronics, and have very little upkeep. In the long run they are likely cheaper than traffic lights.