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

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

So now there is a 3-page document explaining how to use the modified roundabout instead of 2 simple rules:

- Traffic already in the circle has the right of way over that entering it.
- The inside lane has the right of way over the outside lane.

And just like anywhere else on the road, if you don't have the right of way, then YIELD. These things couldn't be any easier, and shouldn't require a lengthy document explaining the "improvements".

They shouldn't but the changes were such that it really wasn't clear what was supposed to happen, especially when the road marking have been covered with snow since shortly after they were changed.

[Madman]

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by allicat

Even in my own community we have 'traffic circles' (they are small ones with only one lane and a yield sign at the entrances to them) in place of 4 way stop intersections. The amount of people who don't look when approaching the circle is shocking. I can count off the top of my head 4-5 times that I have nearly t-boned someone who failed to glance to their left to ensure no one else was coming (and often I would get the 'what the hell are you doing?!?' look even though they had a yield sign ).

You can't fix stupid!

Except that is exactly what they are trying to fix in McKenzie towne.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Wow are traffic circles a gongshow. Not at all intuitive based on the normal yielding patterns of traffic.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

They have to slap up a couple of these round-abouts in NE Calgary, then sit back and watch the hilarity ensue.

Speaking of, who the hell designed Saddletowne Circle?

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Except that is exactly what they are trying to fix in McKenzie towne.

I think that is only half of it. There was a Calgary Herald story on the changes to the traffic circle a few days ago, and it seems that not only are they trying to make it easier for dumb drivers, but they are also trying to alleviate backups on McKenzie Towne Blvd from people queueing up in the left lane to go around the right way.

The biggeset change is that both lanes are now available and expected to connect between both ends of the road without the need to yield.

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The biggeset change is that both lanes are now available and expected to connect between both ends of the road without the need to yield.

So it is more important for people to cut through the community than it is for the people in the community to move around it or get out of the community. The next snow day is going to be a pain for elgin and inverness people to get through onto deerfoot.

[Otsy]

Originally Posted by Tiger

So it is more important for people to cut through the community than it is for the people in the community to move around it or get out of the community. The next snow day is going to be a pain for elgin and inverness people to get through onto deerfoot.

This isn't McKenzie Towne's traffic circle. No one is cutting through your community. It's designed to get traffic to all areas including Copperfield and New Brighton. Imagine if all that traffic took 130th. It's bad enough as it is now.

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by Tiger

So it is more important for people to cut through the community than it is for the people in the community to move around it or get out of the community. The next snow day is going to be a pain for elgin and inverness people to get through onto deerfoot.

I haven't noticed anyone cutting through the community. Even if they did, I doubt they'd save any time. And we've already had a snow day with the new lines - it wasn't any worse than usual coming out of Elgin. If anything - with the snow covering the lines, people just used the traffic circle as they used to! It was nice.

[topfiverecords]

Should have just made it one lane. Super stupid proof (or at least as you can get). Yield in, and exit as you wish.

[Captain Chuckles]

Yeah it doesnt work

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Wow are traffic circles a gongshow. Not at all intuitive based on the normal yielding patterns of traffic.

Ask someone who lives in Europe if they agree with that.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Wow are traffic circles a gongshow. Not at all intuitive based on the normal yielding patterns of traffic.

Regular traffic circles are awesome.

Mutated traffic circles, like what this one has turned into, I am not sold on.

[Ironhorse]

Sounds like they're switching it back. Nothing like an ill-informed decision to waste some tax payer's money.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...334/story.html

[Rathji]

I don't think it was a waste of money to implement it.

The study I have no problem with, since that's the only way you are going to get traffic improvments. Its not like I trust anyone working for the city to just randomly decide to make changes like this without spending time and money on it.

It took them 2 or so hours to do the painting and the article says it will be 2 more to remove it. Obviously that is only on the surface, but in the big scheme of things, even if 200 man hours were put into it, it really is just a drop in the bucket.

[Northendzone]

Wow, 30,000 cars per day using the traffic circle, seems like.a crazy number...

[Jimmy Stang]

Does anyone know if this is a current photo of the sign (from the Herald article):



I remember the "gap" being on the wrong side years and years ago (as seen here), but figured that they would have fixed it by now. I live on the opposite corner of the city, so I don't drive it as frequently as many of you. I know that it isn't a big deal, but it seems that some people can use all of the help that they can get with this thing and the gap should be after the last exit.

I am pleased that they have come to their senses and turned it back into an actual traffic circle. Road markings don't work well in this climate, and the efforts and money spent on modifying and educating people about the "new" traffic circle would have been better spent educating them on how to use the existing one properly.

[Nyah]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Sounds like they're switching it back. Nothing like an ill-informed decision to waste some tax payer's money.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/ca...334/story.html

They'll have an easy time of it as the paint on the inside is almost worn off anyway due to residence driving the circle like they normally would. Hopefully they'll take those signs down that signal the right lane can go 'straight' through, even though there isn't really a 'straight' through.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Does anyone know if this is a current photo of the sign (from the Herald article):



I remember the "gap" being on the wrong side years and years ago (as seen here), but figured that they would have fixed it by now. I live on the opposite corner of the city, so I don't drive it as frequently as many of you. I know that it isn't a big deal, but it seems that some people can use all of the help that they can get with this thing and the gap should be after the last exit.

The gap doesn't mean anything, as there is no difference to any entrance or exit, other than to better show the direction of travel around the circle indicated by the arrow.

Taking that into account, there is no wrong, or right, place for the gap.

[Jimmy Stang]

^ In other places, however, the gap always comes after the last exit. It just makes more sense to have the gap after all of the available exits instead of before them. But you're right, it shouldn't make much difference, but I'm not sure why this roundabout is so tricky for some people anyway.

Australia (keeping in mind the direction is clockwise there):


England:


USA:



And while we're talking signs, maybe something a little more detailed as people approach the McKenzie Towne roundabout would be helpful. Something like this, perhaps, except adding in the 5th arm obviously:

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Does anyone know if this is a current photo of the sign (from the Herald article):



I remember the "gap" being on the wrong side years and years ago (as seen here), but figured that they would have fixed it by now. I live on the opposite corner of the city, so I don't drive it as frequently as many of you. I know that it isn't a big deal, but it seems that some people can use all of the help that they can get with this thing and the gap should be after the last exit.

I am pleased that they have come to their senses and turned it back into an actual traffic circle. Road markings don't work well in this climate, and the efforts and money spent on modifying and educating people about the "new" traffic circle would have been better spent educating them on how to use the existing one properly.

They have the gap there so that they can have an arrow pointing out the direction around the circle that you are supposed to go.