Magic Roundabout Swindon

[Donnywolf]

.... ffs


I've never seen anything like that


Did they give some Planner a blank piece of Paper and a remit to confuse as many people as they could in half an.hour


https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/swindon-magic-roundabout

[glosterred]

Been round it, cross it, over it many times when I lived down that way, the first time is daunting but after that it’s quite easy to navigate around

[wilts rover]

There was actually quite a lot of thought put into it. Whether it works or not...

https://www.roads.org.uk/articles/the-magic-roundabout

[Janso]

Not as bad as I expected in the daytime. Chaos at night.

[Donnywolf]

I knew of it of course but amazed that it was 50 years old . 1972

I can't get my head round going anti clockwise round the middle bit.

Apparently only 17 " serious" accidents in all that time and I'd like to know the minor accident average per week.

[IDM]

Try going over it in the fog.!

I found the only way to navigate it was to point my car at the exit I wanted and head straight for it.!

[danumdon]

Those 70's town planners have a great deal of crap to answer for, saying that though its understandable when you've done it a few times and everyone's going slow!

There's another crappy junction that comes to mind in Grantham, near the railway station, the amount of mini crashes i've seen on that junction beggars belief. and its got traffic lights to boot!

[roversdude]

Went round it or whatever yesterday as young un wanted to see it. Actually did it twice as had to get back to the ground then

[Donnywolf]

Thought you looked dizzy when I waved to you in Ground lol

[Donnywolf]

There was actually quite a lot of thought put into it. Whether it works or not...

https://www.roads.org.uk/articles/the-magic-roundabout

I laugh at the thought of Americans using it. I've driven maybe 30 to 35000 miles over there but only rarely found any "Rotaries" as they call Roundbouts

I was over one time and it was a Public Holiday and we were off Whale watching on Cape Cod. I think at entry to this peninsula was USAs first ever Rotary and they actually spent the whole week telling people to be careful there and be prepared for long delays because people usually took a long time to get round it by being cautious.

On the day we had no problems with traffic , just the freaky feeling of going "the wrong way round" the Roundabout but God knows what they would make of the Magic Rotary

[IDM]

“Bedtime” said Florence..

“Boing.!!” said Zebedee..

[BobG]

I cross the Magic Roundabout very regularly. So of course I do know the thing. To me, it's an absolutely brilliant bit of design. 5 roads entering a relatively confined space, all needing access to all the others. No matter which way you enter the thing, you can get to where you want to go. If one route is full it's easy as pie to go a different way around. It;s efficient, effective and downright amazing.

The only other 'roundabout' I can think of that has as much originality and as much effectiveness as the Magic Roundabout is that beast in Hemel Hempstead with mini roundabouts all the way around a massive great one. If I remember right you go the wrong way around the mini ones!

BobG

[Donnywolf]

Great bit of intel Bob. I stood there aghast at the seeming "danger" as I watched them wondering how they all knew what the other cars were up to

(A bit like any road I suppose , in that you have to trust the others and watch them like hawks)

So thanks for the local knowledge. I figured it must work otherwise there would be sets of Traffic lights at the end of the 5 roads like Netherhall Rd Silver St East Laith Gate etc

[BobG]

I've never counted but there must be at least 4 different ways you can get from anywhere to anywhere on the Magic Roundabout. When you develop some confidence it's easy to have a butchers as you approach and pick the least congested route through. You can change your mind half way across too to go a different way for the last bit.

I've never seen an accident there... though it must scare the shits out of learners. I've always wondered if driving test examiners use it on their test routes....

BobG

PS. The rule is, just like any other roundabout, always give way to traffic from the right.

[Donnywolf]

I thought if driving test too.

Those who lived in and around Donny area could pick Donny or Goole and a lot picked Goole as there were certain advantages.

Hardly a place for Hill start was one , can't remember others and it took me back as I thought I wonder if people can apply to other Centres to avoid that R/bout ?

[BillyStubbsTears]

I've driven over it twice and found it terrifying.

I get the give way to the right bit. Problem I had was positioning yourself in the right lane ascyou go round each mini roundabout without cutting other people up.

I can see it works if you're used to it, but it's absolutely crazy to expect people who rarely use it to compute that much information while driving.

[BobG]

Yep. I'll buy that Billy. Frightened me to death the first few times too.

BobG

[Donnywolf]

I think it's equivalent in Doncaster is St Georges Bridge

There are still so many ways to get it wrong even when you have done it hundreds of times   and there is always the other drivers ability to screw it and you up

Always breathe out when getting through there