4-Way stops or Roundabouts?

[staff]

There are quite a lot of those 4-way stops here in Malmö actually, even on some smaller streets in the inner city. Round-abouts are pretty much everywhere though.

[hkskyline]

Roundabouts - much easier to navigate heavy traffic safely

[TooFar]

The problem I find in Quebec is that it appears that the Department of Roads just wack a stop sign in people’s front lawns with little consideration for visibility. Combine that with a sidewalk the starts at the curb and no white line at the intersection and maybe a tree, means you often don’t see the stop sign until the very last moment.

From what I remember in Australia, there was always a stop sign in the middle of the road, between the two lanes, and also a white line. Making it very clear that you had to stop.

[Nexis]

i think the US should have more roundabouts instead of 4-way stops. roundabouts are more safe because you can see whats coming. as opposed to 4 -ways where you can't nomarly can't see whos coming!

[Alex Von Königsberg]

Originally Posted by Republica

I tell you what pisses me off, the mini roundabouts they are putting in everywhere and theres no surprise that they do this kind of thing in march when they realise they have underspent the local transport budget.

Well, at least in the UK those mini roundabouts still have the same regulations as other roundabouts (yield to those already in roundabouts, etc). In the USA, they also put mini "traffic circles" in residential areas for the only purpose to reduce the speed. However, most of the time they don't have yield signs at the entrance, so if I am already in this traffic circle planning to turn left or make a U-turn, I have no idea whether the oncoming traffic will yield to me or not. Should I even mention that a typical American driver has no idea about "yield to the right" rule at uncontrolled intersections?

[scotdaliney]

In Australia we have mainly used roundabouts for most small intersections. Up until about 10 years ago when they started building some rather large dual lane roundabouts on main roads. They work great in my opinion, even if they get pretty busy there is still alot less wait that at lights. Have never seen 4 way stop signs, sounds messy and slow to me.

[Coneslammer]

Originally Posted by scotdaliney

In Australia we have mainly used roundabouts for most small intersections. Up until about 10 years ago when they started building some rather large dual lane roundabouts on main roads. They work great in my opinion, even if they get pretty busy there is still alot less wait that at lights. Have never seen 4 way stop signs, sounds messy and slow to me.

I think there's a couple here in Sydney, around Lane Cove I think.

[jamesinclair]

In california Im used to 4 way stops, at very large intersections.

One near my house has 8 lanes each way.

(south three lanes)||left | ^ | ^ | ^ | right


Meanwhile, Boston is a mix. A bunch of small (2 lane) 4 way stops and roundabouts (called rotarys)

In Brazil, you have neither. Either a stoplight, or a priority. That is, one road has to stop, the other doesnt.

[Billpa]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

In california Im used to 4 way stops, at very large intersections.

One near my house has 8 lanes each way.

(south three lanes)||left | ^ | ^ | ^ | right

That seems a bit ridiculous. How would anyone be able to keep track of who got to the intersection first?

[TheCat]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

In california Im used to 4 way stops, at very large intersections.

One near my house has 8 lanes each way.

(south three lanes)||left | ^ | ^ | ^ | right


Meanwhile, Boston is a mix. A bunch of small (2 lane) 4 way stops and roundabouts (called rotarys)

In Brazil, you have neither. Either a stoplight, or a priority. That is, one road has to stop, the other doesnt.

That's insane!
I consider an intersection with 2x2 roads to be very large and quite confusing if it uses 4-way stops. On a road like you described we would likely have traffic lights with a left turn arrow. That's crazy.

[Jean Luc]

How about a five-road two-way roundabout?

The "Magic Roundabout" in Swindon, west of London, U.K.:







There are five mini-roundabouts, one at each of the roads that meets it. You can either go clockwise around the outside lanes, or anti-clockwise around the inside lanes. Apparently it works quite well at handling the traffic. The locals are of course used to it but visitors who aren't might find themselves literally going around in circles!

[Jean Luc]

A similar thread exists in the OzScrapers (Australia & New Zealand) forum: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=568250 (Traffic Lights or Roundabouts?)

[scotdaliney]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

In california Im used to 4 way stops, at very large intersections.

One near my house has 8 lanes each way.

(south three lanes)||left | ^ | ^ | ^ | right


Meanwhile, Boston is a mix. A bunch of small (2 lane) 4 way stops and roundabouts (called rotarys)

In Brazil, you have neither. Either a stoplight, or a priority. That is, one road has to stop, the other doesnt.

Rotarys and roundabouts are two very different forms of intersections. The former being inefficient and dangerous the second safe and efficient.

[Republica]

Originally Posted by Jean Luc

How about a five-road two-way roundabout?

The "Magic Roundabout" in Swindon, west of London, U.K.:



There are five mini-roundabouts, one at each of the roads that meets it. You can either go clockwise around the outside lanes, or anti-clockwise around the inside lanes. Apparently it works quite well at handling the traffic. The locals are of course used to it but visitors who aren't might find themselves literally going around in circles!

Ahem! http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...7&postcount=39

[sk]

here in nicosia we have dozens of roundabouts,they are the worst thing that could happen to this city.
traffic jams are a daily phenomenon at roundabouts.

[konthaimaitalorkan]

Runabout makes the traffic goes smoothly unless if the traffic are heavy ot the driver don't know how to use it.

Like the Victory Monument in Bangkok.Traffic Lights are installed. Don't worry of pedestrian, they use skywalk above.

[sk]

the problem here is the heavy traffic.
they installed traffic lights in a roundabout in another cypriot city and i think its working better

[urbanfan89]

The regional government here has embarked on a plan to convert congested intersections to roundabouts. A few weeks ago a small scandal occurred when one city council passed a bylaw to restrict adult entertainment facilities. Why? Because the only one in the city was located next to a congested three-way intersection, which the regional government wanted to convert into a roundabout. Thus there were complaints the government was in a conspiracy to force the strip club out of business and enable them to demolish it and pave it over.

[alesmarv]

Round abouts are much safer and efficient, 4 way stop signs are just idiotic because A) their confusing B) You can miss them when their obscured by a tree or something C) You have to come to a complete stop every time you enter one(those who say they dont stop, well they do ticket that in every jurisdiction in north America, though if there is no traffic around then sure lots of people dont come to a complete stop) D) when there is heavy enough traffic then it gets insanely confusing and just stupid because if there is a continual stream of cars from every direction then no one ever really knows who goes next because the pattern is set by the first car too stop even if that car stopped there hours ago. The only benefit of a 4way stop is that it takes up less room and its more direct and safer for pedestrians and bicycles. Though if there is that much traffic to warant a 4 way stop sign then there should be lights, if there isnt then one side should have the right of way and the other a stop sign. To make this safer you designate some roads as primary like in Europe. Residential streets that have no traffic should just fucntion like uncontroled intersections where you yield to the right. Roundabouts dont fit well in to a city because they take up alot of room and arent the best for pedestrians and bicyclists. Though for streets in the suburbs or outside of the city or just a place where they fit in to the sorounding area they are the most efficient for busy intersections.
All in all north america has some stupid traffic rules but in many places people are starting to come to their senses and make changes. Though not enough.

[Jeroen669]

Who has the right of way in American round-abouts anyway? The one who's entering the round-about, of the one who's already on it?