Readers discuss how to navigate a roundabout; Vintage baseball team forming in Dexter
Roundabouts or traffic circles have been more widely used in Washtenaw County and surrounding areas in recent years.
From a reader discussing how to navigate a traffic circle to the formation of a vintage baseball club in Dexter, here’s a roundup of some of the stories posted on AnnArbor.com’s Community Wall over the last few days:
By: David Fugenschuh: Three things to do, to successfully negotiate a traffic circle
The proliferation of traffic circles in the US, as bridges and exit ramps are being rebuilt, has brough a bit of Great Britain to the US. However, since the majority of US drivers have never had the experience of a British traffic circle, they can be a little intimidating to negotiate.
By: unionbbc: A Vintage Base Ball Club Is Being Formed
Vintage base ball has been around for around two decades and is quickly spreading throughout this area. With 25+ teams in Michigan alone there is plenty of competition and we are looking to bring it to this area.
By: Careers Through Faith: Career Workshop - Finding Your Next Job With Faith NOT Fear
By: Go LIke the Wind Montessori: Montessori Middle School Open House
By: St Francis Church: 7am Fri, Feb 3 - 5th Annual Business Breakfast Forum at St. Francis
By: Dawn Farm Education Series: Spirituality and Recovery From Addiction
By: David Dye: Dexter Road- bureaucratic leg lifting has left it covered with snow.
By: Mariella Macozzi: 2012 Wolverine Health Explorers Summer Camp: Registration Now Open!
By: Lisa Vickers: Alzheimer's Association Support Group Offers Hope to Caregivers
By: Karen Lewis: “Feet and Friends Fighting Colon Cancer” Kick Off Event
By: Sarah Nicoli: Enter the Huron H.S. Raffle to Win a 2012 Ford Escape XLT!
By: Denise Walter: ‘Dreams By Design’ Mardi Gras Event to Support Disabled Veterans
Arbor.com’s Community Wall is a spot for local people to post local stories, news and announcements. To post a story, sign in to AnnArbor.com, then go to www.annarbor.com/community and use the Got News? Tell Us function at the top to submit your news. If you have a photo to add, e-mail it to us at community@annarbor.com and we’ll insert it into your story.
Comments
chucklk
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 6:22 a.m.
popular with whom? not me.
abcdefg
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 4:55 a.m.
If you are confused by a roundabout then take the bus please.
Brad
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 12:19 a.m.
Two rules for roundabouts: 1) Watch out for all drivers worse than you are 2) All other drivers are worse than you are It's worked for me.
u812
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:30 p.m.
seems like there has been a bank robbery every time I'm near a round about.
Sallyxyz
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 10:30 p.m.
The roundabouts in the A2 area are WAY too small. I've seen large trucks and buses have a hard time going around these circles. Roundabouts are useful if they are large enough, but the toy-versions of these in A2 are a hazard. I've seen many close calls with cars pulling in front of drivers already in the circles. There was no reason to build one at Geddes and 23, for example. I purposely avoid the one in Brighton near Costco and the 2 that are close to Skyline High School are outright dangerous.
a2citizen
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
Actually, in England roundabouts are frequently nothing more than a small hump or a dot painted in the middle of an intersection.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
In towns? Sometimes--and then only with streets that have low traffic volume and low speeds. In the countryside? Never. Good Night and Good Luck
justcurious
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:26 p.m.
Absolutely, as Ignatz said! In England they are much larger and, as you said, people have more time and room to maneuver into position while checking where the other traffic is. I am all for properly constructed roundabouts, but these fail imo.
treetowncartel
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:02 p.m.
"Look kids, Big Ben! Parliament!"
Peregrine
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 6:33 p.m.
The size of the circles, that many here believe too small, is a decision feature that help define the "modern roundabout". The smaller radius helps to keep speeds down, and that increases safety. The chances of an accident are lower and the damage caused by accidents is less. Another safety feature of the modern roundabout is the deflection at entry. That too helps to slow traffic and increase safety. If you look at the picture that goes with the story, look at the asymmetry of the entry and exit heading upwards from the middle roundabout (with the "horseshoe"-looking landscaping).
Mick52
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
I like them because they make traffic flow a quicker but almost every time I approach one, there are other cars approaching at an unsafe speed. And when they are small like Ed says, they are nasty to navigate. Those three in Brighton are a nightmare.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
1) Agree with Ignatz above. Not certain what the engineers were thinking with these small circles. The ultimate purpose of a traffic circle is to keep traffic constantly moving through an intersection. Small circles defeat that purpose. 2) The circles pictured above in Brighton are not only too small, but they a FAR too close together and are VERY confusing even for those of us who have navigate traffic circles in and out of the US (and, in my case, while driving on the left-hand side of the road in Great Britain. 3) By comparison, the new circles at the US23-Geddes interchange are much further apart (good), but still much too small (bad). Overall, however, traffic circles are a good thing. The trick is that the driver needs to be smarter than the asphalt and concrete used to build the cricles. Unfortunately, far too many drivers don't pass that basic requirement. Good Night and Good Luck
treetowncartel
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.
And then go throw some pedestrians approaching the asphalt and concrete into the mix .
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 7:46 p.m.
I think those engineers were thinking "I wish I had more space to make these circles larger". But I agree that I wish they were bigger.
RuralMom
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 4:32 p.m.
Simple yield only to traffic coming from your left! Everyone else fall in line, and for the love of pete do not stop!!!!
Ignatz
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 4:25 p.m.
I think part of the problem with folks manouvering in these is that most are so small. Larger circles have entrances to the circle farther apart, leaving more decision making time. The one in Marshall seems to have enough room.
JimB
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 4:10 p.m.
If you are on the outside right lane, you are turning right ONLY. If you are in the insde lane, you are going around the circle to branch off at the spot you want. YOU have the right of way at this point, other who are entering the circle must yield until they can 'jump in' to go around.
grimmk
Tue, Jan 24, 2012 : 3:58 p.m.
More people need to know how to navigate a round about. I can't tell you how many times I've been in one and people just think you'll stop while your IN ONE. NO. I have the right of way. YOU YEILD/STOP. And it confuses the hell out of people when people DO stop while in one to let people in!! No, no, no!