Paved lanes on roundabouts

[ukaskew]

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.

[ukaskew]

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.