Roundabouts Are Safer. So Why Does The U.S. Have So Few Of Them? - CNBC

[viva la]

29. I can see roundabouts like many in the UK--

... where 6 ancient "pikes" meet in some rural area, and traffic lights would not work.

But wherever there are a lot of pedestrians and cyclists-- how will it work?

I was in a smallish (12K pop maybe) midwestern town, and the main street (as is common) is a state highway. The town was trying to highlight its cute downtown (along Main Street) and bring in antique shoppers. There were 4 antique shops in one block just past the city hall, 2 on the north side of the street, and 2 on the south.

There was a roundabout a block from where the little downtown started (east of town) and another on the west side of downtown. So there were about 4 blocks, all cute little town Main Street, between the roundabouts.

We were on the north side of the street, antique shopping. Went to the two shoppes (of course, they were shoppes) there on that side of the street. Went to the corner to cross to go to the other 2 shoppes.

Waited 10 minutes. No joke. A state highway has constant traffic, often including semis. Without stoplights, there was no break in traffic. You have a stoplight (or even stop sign) on either side of downtown, every minute or so there's enough of a break that you can walk across the street.

But with the roundabouts never stopping traffic, there was no break. It wasn't safe even to start across the street. Semis can't just stop on a dime, after all.
I can just imagine what it was like to live there. You live north of downtown? You can't plan to walk to the cafe on the south side of the street.

Even for drivers-- if you're coming in to an intersection without a roundabout, there's no break for you to turn left or drive through.

Roundabouts are designed to limit the emissions of cars (good), and to make travel more efficient for drivers. In car-heavy suburban arteries, and in rural areas, they help with that.
They really aren't good for walkers or bikers. To put them in an area where you want foot traffic is going to cause major problems.