What are the roundabout rules and are they different if you have a yield sign? I heard today that you are supposed to yield to your right, but that makes no sense to me. Is it true? And if so, can someone just simplify it?
I actually asked a French cabbie, while we we in the middle of one of these things. He said that they were fun sometimes. You had to be aggressive and telegraph your moves to the other drivers. "Like a race. We love our racing." And I guess when you cut someone off you have to pick your spots. It's cool when they yell at each other too. Then the cabbie invariable turns over to you and says, "It assholes like that. Ruin the profession." "Putain."
Good times.
Bryan, January 21, 2005 12:29 PM:
You are right, Chocolate Frog Card. They have a lot of fun in them. You can almost see the joy in their eyes as they approach them. You do have to be agressive but I haven't seen anybody get mad in one yet. There are no lane markers in them at all. Just one big circle of automobile racing fun (often on cobblestone).
As a side note, I haven't heard anybody use their horn here at all. I haven't done much travelling in general but every other place I have been the horn has been a huge favorite. I thought France, of all places, would be one big horn-fest.
Wheelson, January 24, 2005 05:20 AM:
They just put a roundabout at an intersection up here in Bellingham. It's loads of fun but not nearly as fun as traffic circles. I learned there is a difference. The thing you're describing is, according to a Bellingham Traffic Engineer, a traffic circle. But they have roundabouts in Europe too. Basically if it has lanes then it's a round about, but without lanes it's a traffic circle.
The old people have a real hard time with the one in Bellingham. Often they'll be in the middle and yield to the people entering, which is so wrong. At least once a week I see people going the wrong way. Yup, the wrong way. Amazing we let them drive and vote.
Good luck with the circles. If you're going the right direction, you're already making America proud.
Chizzy, January 24, 2005 10:28 PM:
Where in B'ham is this roundabout? These are definitely traffic circles that I'm talking about. There are no lanes, just crazy drivers. The most magnificant of all traffic circles has to be the Arc de Triomphe. I was lost once in Paris and almost had to enter that crazy circle. I nearly pooped my pants. Luckily there was a turn off right before.
Chocolate Frog Racing Team, February 1, 2005 04:18 AM:
I remember that one. You can climb to the top of the Arc and look down at the craziness. I commented to a cabbie, as I white-knuckled the panic handle, " Comme un petit les mans." And he laughed, then he told me the above story.
I actually asked a French cabbie, while we we in the middle of one of these things. He said that they were fun sometimes. You had to be aggressive and telegraph your moves to the other drivers. "Like a race. We love our racing." And I guess when you cut someone off you have to pick your spots. It's cool when they yell at each other too. Then the cabbie invariable turns over to you and says, "It assholes like that. Ruin the profession." "Putain."
Good times.
Bryan, January 21, 2005 12:29 PM:You are right, Chocolate Frog Card. They have a lot of fun in them. You can almost see the joy in their eyes as they approach them. You do have to be agressive but I haven't seen anybody get mad in one yet. There are no lane markers in them at all. Just one big circle of automobile racing fun (often on cobblestone).
As a side note, I haven't heard anybody use their horn here at all. I haven't done much travelling in general but every other place I have been the horn has been a huge favorite. I thought France, of all places, would be one big horn-fest.
Wheelson, January 24, 2005 05:20 AM:They just put a roundabout at an intersection up here in Bellingham. It's loads of fun but not nearly as fun as traffic circles. I learned there is a difference. The thing you're describing is, according to a Bellingham Traffic Engineer, a traffic circle. But they have roundabouts in Europe too. Basically if it has lanes then it's a round about, but without lanes it's a traffic circle.
The old people have a real hard time with the one in Bellingham. Often they'll be in the middle and yield to the people entering, which is so wrong. At least once a week I see people going the wrong way. Yup, the wrong way. Amazing we let them drive and vote.
Good luck with the circles. If you're going the right direction, you're already making America proud.
Chizzy, January 24, 2005 10:28 PM:Where in B'ham is this roundabout? These are definitely traffic circles that I'm talking about. There are no lanes, just crazy drivers. The most magnificant of all traffic circles has to be the Arc de Triomphe. I was lost once in Paris and almost had to enter that crazy circle. I nearly pooped my pants. Luckily there was a turn off right before.
Chocolate Frog Racing Team, February 1, 2005 04:18 AM:I remember that one. You can climb to the top of the Arc and look down at the craziness. I commented to a cabbie, as I white-knuckled the panic handle, " Comme un petit les mans." And he laughed, then he told me the above story.