Re: [Phys-l] Historical trivium

["LaMontagne, Bob" <RLAMONT@providence.edu>]

New housing developments here tend to favor use of  roundabouts (one lane rotaries or traffic circles). Not only are they efficient, they slow the overall traffic speed through the development. One cannot speed along in a straight line - the roundabout forces you to slow down and wind around to the right. Yes, there are bushes planted in the center of the roundabout but I don't see how that is germaine to the argument.

A roundabout has just been built in the center of North Providence on a very busy road (Route 44). This intersection has always been a nightmare at commute time and when school lets out in the afternoon. The roundabout has drastically reduced the wait to get through the intersection at peak traffic times. Since it is strictly one lane around the circle, entry and exit is very simple and one doesn't have to encounter "bullies" because the right of way for people on the roundabout is strictly enforced by local police. Please don't deride this as an intersection out in the boondocks. Our population density and traffic rivals the worst in the country.

Bob at PC

________________________________________
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Marty Weiss [martweiss@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2010 9:28 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Historical trivium

Hate to tell you, but the article is incorrect.  Chittenden County... whereever that is...  I don't care who wrote it.  The roundabout is a circle, pure and simple.   They say a true roundabout is in Vermont?   We have more cars here than they have cows.

It's just a fancy name for their regional version of the same thing.  The rules are the same, the configuration is the same, the two entities are the same.   And, by the way,  Bush has nothing to do with the this.

Marty

On Nov 20, 2010, at 11:31 PM, brian whatcott wrote:

> On 11/20/2010 10:03 PM, Marty Weiss wrote:
> > I don't know what piece you read, but roundabouts, rotaries, and circles are just regional names for the same nightmare!
> Perhaps this will help explain the difference between (modern)
> roundabouts, traffic circles, rotaries etc. in the U.S:   [I see the
> safety data is taken from a Bush era report, so it must be correct?]
>
> http://www.ccmpo.org/roundabouts/
>
> Brian W
> _______________________________________________
> Forum for Physics Educators
> Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
> https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l

_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l