Would you expect anything different from a state that keeps Mitch McConnell in office?

[Baitball Blogger]

Roundabout installed in Kentucky. What happened is what you would have expected.

[msfiddlestix]

1. Personally, I really hate them.

with few exceptions... i just don't see the benefit, particularly in high traffic areas. City Council in my tiny town with a high traffic thorough fare wants to install one at the most trafficked intersection. Fortunately it's been voted down.

[Freddie]

2. My town has 2

Fortunately they’re not at extremely busy intersections but after about 15 years the people here are still confused or the concept of “yield to the cars in the circle” is foreign. I’ve had to slam on my brakes in the middle of the circle more than once. Yield does NOT mean “get the f*** out of my way I’m coming.”

[msfiddlestix]

9. Right?

There is one in a neighboring town, but it's on a less traveled road. And it was constructed to save an important Oak tree, when the area was developed a couple of decades ago.

That one alone is so confusing. However, everyone approaching whenever I've come through it drives very cautiously and with just the right amount of hesitancy to wait their turn through, yielding and continuing on cautiously.

I still drive through with trepidation. But I'm experiencing a dramatically changed dynamic with my vision, so driving under various conditions give me trepidation. I'm going to have to accept the fact that I will need to give it up sooner than I was planning to.

[Mickju]

10. When I lived in Australia in the 70s they were common.

I hated them also. It was hard enough to get used to driving on the left. I did, however, get used to it eventually, then had to adjust back to driving on the right when I moved back here.

[msfiddlestix]

11. Driving on the Left is a mystery to me

Through the years I have often wondered why it became a thing with the British since way before the beginning of time. Why didn't that transfer here during Colonial times? it's just one of things seem sort of curious to me.

[Casady1]

13. They are way more efficient

and if used correctly traffic is more efficient.

[Phoenix61]

20. This. I think the problem is they aren't used correctly.

However, streets and roadways are abysmal in many areas. I had the opportunity to be involved in a community level with an excellent traffic engineer. Fascinating what happens when things are done correctly.

[Generic Brad]

30. Idiots like me don't use them correctly

We try, but only succeed with luck.

[exboyfil]

3. My town has gone crazy with them

We have added about six of them including down our major commercial stretch. We don't go that way anymore to give you an idea what we think of them. Unfortunately they plan even more which will cut off our access to the library and recycling without going through them.

Time to move.

[msfiddlestix]

12. Didn't these plans have community imput either on the ballot or at town halls?

It never made it to the ballot here because the minute the plans were being considered and made public, was met with swift response by residents. City Council and Planning Commission heard from the citizen residents at town halls and regular City Council meetings.

They got the message, and it ain't gonna happen. At least not now.

[exboyfil]

14. The only ones opposing it got marginalized

There is a large segment like my in laws that actually like them even though they are more expensive than the alternative. That is the beauty of democracy - the elected representatives made the decision. I don't like it, but apparently the majority do. I made my voice known and it impacted how I voted and how I vote in the future.

[msfiddlestix]

27. It's good to know it was put forward to the public to decide

and Bravo to you for trying, and participating in civic discussion/debate on the matter.

Who knows, it might be a sort of buyers remorse in the minds of those who approved and will at least listen to you on other matters that come up.

[central scrutinizer]

4. We've got two in a row

Check out this spaghetti

[link:|

[Phoenix61]

24. It's a great plan. Love the bike and pedestrian lanes

separated from traffic with green space. Stormwater swales are a great way to deal with roadway runoff. Pullout for the bus is especially nice. Crosswalks one car length from the round about is a great pedestrian safety feature. Cars waiting to pull out are looking left not straight ahead where a person would be. The driver behind them is looking straight ahead so safer for a pedestrian crosswalk to be there. The island is another pedestrian safety feature. No red lights to run or green lights to jump decrease traffic accidents for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycle riders.

[central scrutinizer]

28. From a bird's eye view it makes sense

When you’re approaching it on ground level for the first time, it’s a little scary. Lots of signs and arrows, on posts and painted on the lanes. It’s a pretty busy three way intersection.

[Phoenix61]

29. Yeah, it's hard to get used to changes like that.

You get used to knowing where to look and have to learn it all over again. It’s like driving on vacation. (Why I love Uber and Lyft) Part of why traffic circles are good is they inherently calm traffic making it safer for everyone. I’m in Florida which leads the nation in pedestrian deaths so I’m really interested in anything that increases safety. Putting the crosswalk one car back from the yield/stop sign seemed weird but when the traffic engineer explained the logic behind it, it made perfect sense.

[mwooldri]

5. It's obvious. They can't drive.

Lord help them if they ever flew to Europe and rented a car. Or worse the British Isles (driving on other side plus a plethora of roundabouts). The UK is also home to the mini roundabout (similar to a three/four way yield junction).

[PJMcK]

6. Well, that explains a lot (n/t)

[MuseRider]

7. I hate them.

My little city went nuts and they are everywhere, at least they are marked better than this one must be.

I had a Doctors appointment in Kansas City in a clinic of the main hospital in a rapidly growing part of the city. I got off the Interstate and went through 17 of those in a row to get to my destination. The good thing about it was I never had to stop and start but the bad part is I would have rather done that because there are still a whole lot of people confused by them. I have to say, I get confused when I get to a 2 lane and have to go really slow and think....being an older person.

[Arthur_Frain]

8. I absolutely love roundabouts

They have cut so much time off my commutes!

No more waiting at a stop light for the weight sensor to cycle when there’s no traffic, just proceed when it’s safe.

Greatest thing since sliced bead.

[abqtommy]

15. What goes roundabout comes roundabout. Just for fun I looked up notable names in

Kentucky history. The sound we hear is all of them turning over in their graves when
they hear the name Mitch McConnell mentioned...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Kentucky#Explorers,_pioneers,_and_military_personnel

[Biophilic]

16. I kind of find them fun and challenging. You really have to be thinking and alert.

But god help those poor people in Kentucky. They just don't seem to get it.

[smirkymonkey]

17. They are quite common here in New England.

Except we call them "Rotaries"?

[Bev54]

18. We have several where I live, many are two lanes going in and around the roundabout

I don't mind them but I do get frustrated with those who do not seem to understand their use, being in the wrong lane when you are trying to turn off. Too many people do not understand them.

[GulfCoast66]

19. They are much superior to stop signs or light.

And way, way safer as they eliminate t-bone wrecks which kill a lot of people. And it slows down traffic where a light speeds it up as people try to beat the light.

Saves time on a drive too. I love them.

[Baitball Blogger]

21. It looks like they needed these kind of signs at the start of the island of each entrance:

And you would think that the GOP in Kentucky would approve of "keep right" signs.

[Ka-Dinh Oy]

22. I absolutely loath roundabouts.

They rely on curtacy and who in the hell has that while driving?

I have had situations that it is extremely obvious that I can't enter the circle but I have assholes behind me honking for me to go. They are going to be there a lot longer if I plow into the car in the roundabout like they want me to.

All of the places they put them had never had traffic problems so why was money wasted on them when it could have been used to repair roads?

I yet have to see roundabouts that are pedestrian friendly. Pedestrians have to walk 2-3 extra blocks to safely get where they need to go.

Did I mention that I loath these damn things?

[jonstl08]

23. Love them

I like them. Probably from my time in England while I was in the military. Have a few in my area. Easy to navigate if you know how. Most of the people in this video absolutely have no clue. Going in the wrong lane and no going through properly.

[Paladin]

25. Hate them. (nt)

[Blue_Adept]

26. It's fun to mock this but the reality is that the roundabout was not ready

No road markings set up

No signage set up

If you've never seen one before, you have no idea what to do.

I've grown up with them here in New England so they're fine and work well in the right areas. My town alone has like six of them. It keeps the traffic flowing well.