On Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 3:35:31 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Thu, 8 Oct 2015 11:58:51 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03
wrote:

Would you have a roundabout at every intersection?

We have 4 in a row.

There used to be traffic lights at each intersection along a 4 lane, fairly
straight, 55 MPH road. Now it's a curvy 2 lane road with a wide grassy
medium, 45 MPH between roundabouts (but nobody drives that fast), walkways
on both sides and gardens or flags or other design features at each
roundabout.

Traffic through the area is much smoother and quieter. I would never walk
my dogs along the old road, now it's fine. A lot more mellow, prettier,
etc. I still prefer the woods, but for our before bed mile or so walks, it's
fine.

Again, you are repeating what I have been saying all along. This has
nothing to do with making traffic moving more efficiently, it is just
to "calm" it (AKA slow everything down)

The comparison that the Mythbusters were doing was 4-ways vs. roundabouts.

That's what you asked about before when you said you didn't know what the
Mythbusters were proving. They were proving that one method to calm
traffic was more efficient than the other.

Let's try another example. The purpose of insulation is to "calm" the
transfer of heat through walls and ceilings. Is it wrong for someone to
test one type of insulation vs. another to see which is more "efficient".

The initial purpose is served by both types, but one type does it with
greater benefit than the other.


Great for the neighbors but they suck for drivers who are trying to
pass through.

Roundabouts are basically flat speed bumps.

It seems like you are talking about going from nothing to roundabouts.
That is not what I am talking about and not what the Mythbusters tested.

If they replace a 4-way stops with a roundabout, then roundabouts are an
upgrade because they are more efficient. i.e. *great* for drivers who are
trying to pass through.

If they are replacing traffic signals (like in my neighborhood) they are
once again an upgrade because they are more efficient (at least in my
neighborhood). i.e. *great* for drivers who are trying to pass through.

There is no way to get in or out of my neighborhood without using at least
1 of 3 out of the 4 intersections that used to have signals. (There are
three roads that enter my neighborhood, one each at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
roundabout as you head north.) In the old days you would often get stuck
at at least one of the traffic signals, sometimes more than one. Yep, they
sure slowed you down. Now, the vast majority of the time, you can cruise
right through, especially during non-rush minute periods.

Once again, my point is that roundabouts are more efficient than 4 way stops
and sometimes more efficient than traffic signals.