Modern Roundabout Time Lapse Hamilton Ontario

This is a time lapse of a roundabout in Hamilton, Ontario (thanks to the live cam available at http://www.roundabouts.ca). It went from 16:40-18:01 and is condensed into 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Modern roundabouts, when compared to traffic lights and stop signs, have less delays, higher capacity, safer for cars and pedestrians(up to 90-100% reduction in fatal accidents), no Vegas style lighting from traffic lights all over the place, allows for a much smoother traffic flow where stopping rarely happens because it eliminates the hurry up and wait system (traffic lights promote aggressive driving), much more beautiful to look at, and allow for narrower roads to hold higher volumes of traffic because the intersections are now much more efficient.

Check out my other videos including a slower version of this one!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Roundabout
• Live
• Cam
• Traffic
• Circle
• Modern
• Roundabouts
• Time
• Lapse
• Driving

[TheJoshsam]

modern? America is just discovering these handy intersections... in europe we have them for over more then 20 years...

[sheekeebut]

@vhayes8886 I've been living in Italy for about 5 years now. They've got roundabouts all over the place, big and small. Much better for flow, and I've NEVER seen an accident in or around one. As for pedestrians, I'll admit that they'll have to walk about 5 seconds more to their crosswalk, but cars will always be going slowly enough to give them the right of way they deserve. End of your story - the start of a much better one.

[sheekeebut]

@DENJCA29 You're telling me. In Mississauga, I can even end up in one of those block-by-block stop-and-gos that waste my time, gas and sanity just to go to the supermarket.

Anyway, I also realised that these roundabouts can also be made to look really nice, with some kind of centrepiece like sculptures made by local talent or simply a nice flower arrangement, not to mention the savings in traffic light power consumption and management.

[DENJCA29]

@sheekeebut I'm glad you're concerned with square meters because a road with roundabout intersections like this one take up less space than traffic light or stop sign intersections because the intersection efficiency is improved so the road doesn't need to be widened. So rather than having 2 lanes in each direction on approaches or even the entire road, a roundabout like this can carry the same traffic while only having 1 lane in each direction. Btw, "mindfucking" is waiting at red lights.

[sheekeebut]

@shafty37 I don't quite understand that part. It looks like they've wasted 4 times the square metres just to save the locals 2 seconds of driving, only to give outsiders and foreigners twice as much wasted time in aforementioned mindfucking. Space better used for something else, like petrol stations, convenience stores, advertising, parks, you name it.

[sheekeebut]

I'm not sure if it's the most efficient, but I definitely feel safer crossing a single-lane roundabout. In the area of Italy I live in, crosswalks aren't for the meek and courteous; you really have to be aggressive sometimes and "threaten" to cross as a pedestrian, or they'll just keep on driving as if you don't exist. I usually slip my hand in a pocket as if ready to pull out a brick, rock or something, but I guess the best way is to just point at the crosswalk to indicate your intent.

[DENJCA29]

@mujaku What are you talking about?? "I hope this is not an ad hoc investigation by you or one of your buddies." What does this comment have to do with the subject? Am I the only one confused?

[mujaku]

@sheekeebut Thanks so much for your sane report. I feel much safer crossing at a roundabout here in Atlanta. I love roundabouts.

[mujaku]

@DENJCA29 I hope this is not an ad hoc investigation by you or one of your buddies. In a roundabout there are only 8 collision points, none of which cause the T-bone. In a conventional intersection there are 20 to 30 collision points and T-bones happen not infrequently. Roundabouts cut down on pollution as well and pedestrians are safer—at least it is so in Atlanta where I cross at a roundabout on a daily basis.

[DENJCA29]

@sheekeebut well put sheekeebut. I might add, in pedestrian areas, they should try and stick with single lane roundabouts as that's better for non-vehicles and is the most efficient roundabout.

[shafty37]

try the magic roundabout in swindon uk.....thats a complete mindfuck