What's the deal with the Mckenzie Towne traffic circle?

[Rathji]

Few weeks back they changed the markings on the traffic circle. I don't take it that much, but in the last few days I have had to take it a bit, and I really am at a loss why they did it.

Anyone have any ideas about what problem it is suppose to solve?

Apparently at te Mckenzie Towne AGM last week, there was a lot of time spent on this an they are suggesting that many calls to 311 would get it put back the way it was.

[jeffh]

They always put the Driver's Handbook rules for traffic circles in the 'community pages' every couple of issues. I think the problem stems from the one line that says if you are in the outside lane entering the circle...only exit at the 1st or 2nd exits, and not the 3rd, 4th or 5th(U-turn). If you want to exit at the 2nd-5th, you should enter in the inside lane. Also a couple other infractions I see commonly are failing to signal when about to exit, and changing lanes when exiting the circle. I'm really surprised there aren't more collisions at this location. I'm fine with the new signs and markings, it may help some people get it.

[Rathji]

The problem is, they changed the entire way the traffic circle works, and it isn't consistent for every entrance/exit point.

For example, the west side is 2 lanes, the south side is 2 lane, but you can't exit at all onto the 2nd exit (towards high street) coming from Deerfoot. The east side is one lane only, so there is only one lane in the circle that 2 lanes of traffic coming from New Brighton can enter into, even if thy wanted to go north into Prestwick.

Maybe seeing the markings without snow on them would help ease my confusion, but as it stands now, I fail to see what this new set up has accomplished.

Edit: it is totally possible I am misunderstanding the new markings, so I would welcome any clarifications.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Rathji

The problem is, they changed the entire way the traffic circle works, and it isn't consistent for every entrance/exit point.

They also changed the rules regarding how every other traffic circle on the planet works. Not only that- the timing of this sucks as with snow cover you could have somebody treating it like how traffic circles are supposed to work; and others who know where the lines are under the snow treating it another way.

Sounds like a few more of us should call 311 to complain. If the city was finding there were too many accidents due to drivers not knowing the rules of the road, maybe police enforcement is needed. That, and the city should perhaps pressure the province to introduce maditory license re-testing every so many years.

This just looks like a knee-jerk reaction. I know I have been honked at for going directly east to west (2 exits) in the outside lane. I wasn't honked at because I failed to yield to somebody on the inside wanting to exit; it was either somebody coming from Prestwick expecting to not have to yield to traffic inside the circle, or somebody who I had followed beside trying to change lanes immediately as they went towards Deerfoot. (Lane change without shoulder checking first.)

[zarrell]

I always thought it was pretty straight forward. Inside lane must exit at the next turnoff, taking the right lane. While the outside may exit at any turnoff, taking the far left lane

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by zarrell

I always thought it was pretty straight forward. Inside lane must exit at the next turnoff, taking the right lane. While the outside may exit at any turnoff, taking the far left lane

I guess that answers why they felt the need to put lines on the traffic circle.

Edit- in case anybody else isn't sure how a traffic circle works:
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...oundabout.aspx

[firebug]

IMHO here's what they were trying to do...

Its been designed to make it easy for people coming off of deerfoot to make it to the 3rd exit (that heads to 52nd street) because now, rather that everyone going there trying to get into the Left lane (and backing up the road), both lanes can enter and drive 60% the way around.

Unfortunately, as a Mckenzie towne resident, the last thing I want is to make it easier for people to cut through the community. Instead, the changes should've been designed to make it easier for our residents to enter and exit the community.

(also, for clarity sake, the discussion regarding the traffic circle was held at the community association's meeting on Wednesday, not at the Council's AGM on Tuesday)

[KTrain]

I'm fine with the instructions they've provided. The only thing I don't get is the yellow markings they've placed on two sides of the inside lanes. Why are they pushing the inside lane into the outside lane?

[Thor]

Its so simple, inside lane has right of way. If you enter the outside lane and take your 2nd, 3rd left you can do that, its just kind of rude to be that guy, just make sure you yield to inside lane drivers who signal to turn out, that means STOP if you have to let them through, inside lane should never have to wait for you to drive past to pull out.

http://www.calgaryarea.com/se/mckenz...le/traffic.htm



Traffic Circle

In a traffic circle , the vehicle on the right must yield to the vehicle on the left. The driver on the left must signal and use caution when leaving the circle and crossing through the outside lane.

In this diagram:

B and C must yield to A.

E must yield to D while F and D proceed together.

H must yield to G.

Traffic in the lanes indicated in red , must yield to traffic in the lanes indicated in yellow. Traffic entering into the circle must yield to traffic already in the circle. when you are leaving the traffic circle use your right turning signal to warn other drivers of your intention.

[Thor]

The H must yield to G from my time living there was the #1, #2, #3 problem that I saw daily.

[Thor]

Also does anyone have pictures of this, kinda curious to see what they did

[burn_this_city]

I thought it was pretty dumb to change the lines a week before it snowed. If they wanted to change it, why not in the summer when you can see the lines all the time.

[zarrell]

Originally Posted by Thor

Its so simple, inside lane has right of way. If you enter the outside lane and take your 2nd, 3rd left you can do that, its just kind of rude to be that guy, just make sure you yield to inside lane drivers who signal to turn out, that means STOP if you have to let them through, inside lane should never have to wait for you to drive past to pull out.

http://www.calgaryarea.com/se/mckenz...le/traffic.htm



Traffic Circle

In a traffic circle , the vehicle on the right must yield to the vehicle on the left. The driver on the left must signal and use caution when leaving the circle and crossing through the outside lane.

In this diagram:

B and C must yield to A.

E must yield to D while F and D proceed together.

H must yield to G.

Traffic in the lanes indicated in red , must yield to traffic in the lanes indicated in yellow. Traffic entering into the circle must yield to traffic already in the circle. when you are leaving the traffic circle use your right turning signal to warn other drivers of your intention.

This is in fact what I was trying to say in my previous post. However, I had no idea that the outside lane could travel around the entire circle as long as they yield to the inside lane.

[transplant99]

This traffic circle and the one at 37 st and Glenmore are two of the most curious planning decisions i have ever seen in a large city with heavy traffic volume.

[Thor]

If the outside lane was forced to exit the next turn out, it would be a big problem for bigger traffic circles when there is heavy traffic.

In Iceland I go through 4 traffic circles on the way to work and these things are a life saver compared to my commute in Calgary. When they work they are awesome, but for the life of me I can't get why Mckenzie town decided to plop one down there, since the vast majority of Calgarian drivers have never used one.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Thor

Also does anyone have pictures of this, kinda curious to see what they did

Here's a PDF of the instructions. It has some diagrams of the change.
http://www.mckenzietowneca.com/wp-co...about.docx.pdf

[RedMileDJ]

This entire discussion, and reading the what they they did down there, has me laughing so hard!

I used to live in a condo down in Prestwick, and I would purposely go my place via 52nd street just to avoid the FUBAR that is the traffic circle. No one knows how to use it. You can paint all the lines you want, send out millions of diagrams and examples, post video after video...and people STILL won't get it.

I'm happy not to be living down there and not having to put up with that crap anymore.

[ken0042]

I just called 311 to complain. All I had to say was "I'd like to lodge a complaint about changes to a traffic circle in my neighbourhood." She said "McKenzie Towne?"

Apparently they have been keeping busy with the complaints.

[freakinsaprikin]

I use it every day and have never once had an issue with it.

[BlackArcher101]

I use it and don't really have an issue with the changes anymore. Sure it took a couple of days but I find people are actually behaving better now than with the prior design.