Comments on: Sound off….Is Kingston Ready for Roundabouts?

By: GeoffWessex

GeoffWessex — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:59:45 +0000

I'm also from the UK and I'm 100% with Peter GB, above….. in theory. One problem is that Canadian driving standards are quite appalling (particularly in Quebec) and as I drive around I see examples of really bad driving – if I followed just about any car for two miles I'd witness at least four errors which, in the UK, would have meant a driving exam failure. Seems that the Canadian driving exam is very tough – after all, nobody appears to have passed it….. which is part of the reason why Canadian driving insurance is astronomical in comparison to the UK. I shudder when I hear TV commercials from Motor Insurance companies who quote "Save $300 with our policy, compared to ****". The 'saving' here was all I was actually paying for insurance in the UK three years ago….. so what the actual premiums are is anybody's guess.

If Kingston drivers step up to the plate and learn to use roundabouts wisely, they could be used in many places along Princess Street and Bath Road, right out past Gardiners Road.

However, let's not get too clever with them……. I think you'd have to have a fire truck and two ambulances permanently posted beside the road if Kingston ever got one of these….. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Magic_Roundabou…

By: Harvey Kirkpatrick

Harvey Kirkpatrick — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 23:41:46 +0000

Agreed. While roundabouts may be "safer" than intersections, if Kingston were to get one, I think a lot of drivers would have a painful, and expensive learning curve. Great for body shops and insurance companies though!

By: Dave T

Dave T — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 14:29:58 +0000

I had the pleasure of becoming familiar with roundabouts during four years living and working in Germany, and have to say they are a FAR more efficient way of controlling traffic – for the simple reason that the traffic flow almost never has to actually STOP. In all that time, I don't ever recall seeing an accident on one. Unlike Kingston, where I saw at least 3 intersection collisions in my first two months back here…
Unfortunately, you will never see them in Kingston, since our car-hating city council prefers to punish us for driving with more speed bumps, more and more stop signs, and deliberately mistimed traffic lights (Queen Street, anyone?). 30-plus minutes to get from CFB Kingston to Portsmouth Avenue, regardless of the route you take, in a city of 112,000 is ludicrous…
I notice the latest fad seems to be useless, empty bus lanes, that can only be used by (empty) buses. It seems the powers in this city can't seem to separate their anti-car ideology, from the average citizen's reality…

By: chris

chris — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:38:10 +0000

The old Traffic Circle in Kingston was squashed for a reason.

Montreal has the wildest driving next to Kingston I have ever experienced; half the people would be poking along below the speed limit while the other half would feel it’s a Formula 1 race. In principle roundabouts work but I can only vision one within the city limits and it would become a daily sh*t show until the poor drivers learn to stay away from it.

Just observing the confusion of traffic going in and coming out of the Princess Street Giant Tiger is frightening; it’s common sense what to do but watching some of these people behind the wheel of motor vehicles is disturbing.

If a roundabout must go in Kingston for “Keeping up with the Jonese” install cushy, rubber tires on the inside and outside of the street.

By: 4jeg

4jeg — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:53:15 +0000

Actually, it has been shown that roundabouts can decrease delays at intersections by 20% and accidents by 75%

See here: http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/07/07/the-daily-dig-embrace-the-roundabout-edition/

I just drove to Ottawa and in Maitland (I believe) they were putting in about 5 or 6. I found it quite convenient!

By: ryant67

ryant67 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:18:55 +0000

Roundabouts in the UK are a standard, they have been around for quite some time and people know how to use them. Over here they are quite rare though, and may be confusing to many in a larger implementation.

Perhaps the city would do well to start using them in lieu of traffic lights in a few quieter intersections. In the UK they often serve as a stopgap between a full out traffic lighted intersection, and a stop sign. They do work well when done right, and really improve traffic flow. But when incorrectly implemented, they merely serve to confuse drivers and potentially cause accidents.

There is a town called Livingston near Edinburgh in Scotland, and it has more roundabouts than stoplights and it’s a bloody nightmare to drive around. You need to stop at lights sometimes, when you are in a place you don’t know too well, to get you bearings and such.

By: Peter GB

Peter GB — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:48:12 +0000

Anyone who has driven in the UK will be familiar with roundabouts. They reduce the number and duration of stops due to traffic lights and stop signs, and they also help moderate road speed. Both are worthwhile qualities.

Where traffic is especially heavy on some road junctions, and it’s difficult for drivers to enter, roundabouts controlled by traffic lights can be an asset, especially at rush hour.

By: barbj8

barbj8 — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:21:19 +0000

At the risk of aging myself, I remember the traffic circle at Princess and Bath Roads near Canadian Tire. We used to drive around and around and around until someone almost puked. It was usually me. This is what we did for fun before the Internet!

By: Rhiannon

Rhiannon — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:55:53 +0000

Tons of room at Hwy 2 and 15. However, I agree with Harvey, way too much traffic. Getting over the bridge at peak hours is a pain as it it now, this might just jam things up more.

The Midland and Walmart idea might work!

By: Hiero

Hiero — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:22:41 +0000

I think a great spot would be on West Street, either the intersection at Court St. or Bagot. That area is always a pain for 4way stops where no one really knows who as the right of way.
I know it won’t happen due to the park and its associated challenges.