Paved lanes on roundabouts

Paved lanes on roundabouts

Author
Discussion

ukaskew

Original Poster:

10,642 posts

220 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
We've just had a new roundabout installed (only took them a year to construct) and the entire 'inside lane' is paved and then there is a fully raised centre island. There is no transition from the conventional road to the paved area, no white line and it's not raised in any way.

I haven't got a photo, but this from what appears to be across the pond is a good enough example...



Our one is much tighter though but the paved area is still a full cars width or more. Anyone know what the idea behind it is? Some drivers will drive all the way around the 'outside' lane and avoid the paving, others just treat it as a lane. Our local newspaper had a complaint from a local resident that people were 'cutting the roundabout' by using the paving.

The area is now full of quirky design decisions and different paving that doesn't appear to do anything aside from cause confusion.

Doofus

25,732 posts

172 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
That's not a lane. It's the middle of the roundabout.

CoolHands

18,496 posts

194 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
It's the latest thing. Road planners (and councillors) are idiots.

That is all.

here's one near me, which people now park on. And cross the roundabout to go to shops / the station / take a break etc

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5942322,-0.28464...

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
here's one near me.. i just straight line them.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.5862798,-1.98845...


Torquey

1,888 posts

227 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
Call me stupid but I wouldn't know whether to stay off the paving or drive over it.
I definitely wouldn't park on it though!

boyse7en

6,671 posts

164 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
I think you are supposed to keep off the paving area,
Its a clear area to allow articulated lorries to be able to overlap the centre of the roundabout without clobbering something.

Doofus

25,732 posts

172 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
It's to give swing-room for articulated lorries. It's not a lane, and it's not a car park.

CoolHands

18,496 posts

194 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
The amount of space has not increased for articulated or other large lorries. In most cases the roundabout is the same size, they just add this stupid part to it. So there is no additional benefit to articulated lorries.

The reason is obviously cos some bright spark (read: pleb) has worked out it will help to slow traffic speed around the roundabout if cars are travelling further towards the circumference. Cos, you know, speed KILLS. KILLS DONTCHA KNOW

boyse7en

6,671 posts

164 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
The amount of space has not increased for articulated or other large lorries. In most cases the roundabout is the same size, they just add this stupid part to it. So there is no additional benefit to articulated lorries.

The reason is obviously cos some bright spark (read: pleb) has worked out it will help to slow traffic speed around the roundabout if cars are travelling further towards the circumference. Cos, you know, speed KILLS. KILLS DONTCHA KNOW
By changing the roundabout from two lanes to just the one it prevents cars from going up the inside of a turning artic and getting squashed. If they built up the centre to the normal height with kerb/grass/flowers then low-slung artics would ground out on that.

768

13,601 posts

95 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
This is a bit clearer in it's intention. Everyone still straight lines it as you can see from the crud on the road surface off the"racing line".


Sheepshanks

32,528 posts

118 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
768 said:
This is a bit clearer in it's intention. Everyone still straight lines it as you can see from the crud on the road surface off the"racing line".
If everyone did it then there wouldn't be crud on the road surface.

768

13,601 posts

95 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
?!

55palfers

5,892 posts

163 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
There's one by us.

Block paving is more expensive than tarmac I imagine - it must be to burn through the council tax faster.

MorganP104

2,605 posts

129 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
CoolHands said:
here's one near me, which people now park on. And cross the roundabout to go to shops / the station / take a break etc

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5942322,-0.28464...
I suppose the drivers who park there think the double yellow lines don't apply to them. rolleyes

ukaskew

Original Poster:

10,642 posts

220 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
They also like to do this at junctions around here, which again just causes confusion (presumably the idea) as it's 50/50 whether people drive over the vaguely pavement-ish bit or go around it.

The 'pavement extension bit' is completely flush with the road, just a different material.


Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

254 months

Wednesday 14th June 2017
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
If everyone did it then there wouldn't be crud on the road surface.
That makes no sense. Crud accumulates where cars don't drive, so if the crud accumulates on the 'correct' lines through the roundabout, then clearly most people are cutting it.