Writing about web page http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm
No, not the kids program, or recent film, but today I had the misfortune to be driving through Swindon and came across this:
What the hell?!
Took me by surprise, I can tell you! Apparently it’s been around for 32 years and has seen over 14 serious accidents… and 80 “lesser accidents” whatever that means. There’s whole websites dedicated to it… a bit of warning before you’re on top of the bloody thing would have been nice though.
The funniest thing (!) was that as well as trying to work out what I was supposed to be doing I also had to dodge two cyclists who were just riding diagonally across the whole thing and ignoring any bit of white paint on the road that they could.
Shortened URL: http://go.dave-wood.org/2p
There’s also one of those in Hemel Hempstead too…..
The guy who designed them really wants shooting in my opinion!
Typical cyclists…
I like the way that A&E is prominently signposted!
It’s actually surprisingly easy to use once you get used to it!
But how many of the people that use it are used to it?
Wouldn’t you love to have your driving test there?!
I had heard of this on the local news once or twice, but now, after investigation, this thing is pure genius. How much fun!
Oh and I apologise for those cyclists, like all road users some are good, some are bad. That reminds me though, I was stopped at some traffic lights the other day and some ‘local lads’ shouted: “Oi mate! You’re on a bike, your supposed to be on the pavement, not in the road.”
With a confused look, I said that actually I was riding whats called a road bike, gave them ‘the finger’ and cycled off.
Just consider it a series of mini roundabouts and you’re fine.
”Time” would be measured as the time a car spends inside of the ring road system before leaving towards its exit
The mini roundabouts save time instead of junctions since they allow for
u turns
unobstructed exit taking without need for signals or giving way
The dual directional ‘ring road’ saves time instead of a one way roundabout as it is not a one way lane, and allowing for u turns makes shorter exit time.
Just consider the whole thing as a miniature version of a ‘ring road’ with two way lanes and roundabouts on each exit.
The concept of there being 7 roundabouts is wrong. it’s really just a miniature ‘dual carriageway’ ring road with 5 roundabouts
The concept of there being 7 roundabouts is wrong. it’s really just a miniature ‘dual carriageway’ ring road with 5 roundabouts
the only real benefit is that people can go backwards unobstructed and the mini roundabouts instead of junction are the most efficient way to allow for that.
For larger examples, this is necessary, such as the Coventry ring road. This is literally just a miniature version of that