Understanding Engineers

[bakken]

Originally Posted by bodzcampers

I once asked, "Who decided Roundabouts were a good idea?"...OMG! It's like closing your eyes and hoping you survive. The answer was, "An Engineer". 'Nough said.

Attachment 35306

Actually, roundabouts are a great idea, and function very well when people know how to use them. Trouble is, most drivers are too dumb and discourteous for them to function properly.
The same goes for 4-way stop signs. Traffic flows really well until you inject idiot drivers into the mix.

[Great Horned Owl]

Originally Posted by bakken

Actually, roundabouts are a great idea, and function very well when people know how to use them. Trouble is, most drivers are too dumb and discourteous for them to function properly.
The same goes for 4-way stop signs. Traffic flows really well until you inject idiot drivers into the mix.

Good engineering practice requires that the abilities of the reasonably anticipated user be taken into account.

Joel

[sandkreese]

Originally Posted by bakken

Actually, roundabouts are a great idea, and function very well when people know how to use them. Trouble is, most drivers are too dumb and discourteous for them to function properly.
The same goes for 4-way stop signs. Traffic flows really well until you inject idiot drivers into the mix.

I agree! Spend some time in Spain. After spending 10 days there I never wanted to see another red-light!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Great Horned Owl

Good engineering practice requires that the abilities of the reasonably anticipated user be taken into account.

Joel

AMEN Joel! A total nightmare that serves no good purpose other than create confusion for most folks. I'll take a 4 way stop to a round about any day.

[bakken]

Originally Posted by Great Horned Owl

Good engineering practice requires that the abilities of the reasonably anticipated user be taken into account.

Joel

But you can't engineer something for the ignorant or stubborn.
As sandkreese said, look to Europe. They have been using roundabouts for years, and if they work in such heavy traffic, they would work anywhere.
When I drove in Mexico City a few years back, among some of the craziest drivers on the planet, I felt safe in the knowledge that everyone knew what they were doing, and I never had any close calls.

[B47]

Originally Posted by bodzcampers

I once asked, "Who decided Roundabouts were a good idea?"...OMG! It's like closing your eyes and hoping you survive. The answer was, "An Engineer". 'Nough said.

Attachment 35306

Roundabouts are getting more popular/ common here on the Fort Worth side of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex ( can't speak for the Dallas side) it seems, I noticed in the smaller cities.

We first encountered them in England and after getting used to them, they seemed to move traffic in an timely manner. We haven't encountered any problems with them in non rush hours.

[bakken]

Originally Posted by B47

Roundabouts are getting more popular/ common here on the Fort Worth side of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex ( can't speak for the Dallas side) it seems, I noticed in the smaller cities.

We first encountered them in England and after getting used to them, they seemed to move traffic in an timely manner. We haven't encountered any problems with them in non rush hours.

The simple fact is they save driving time and gas, one doesn't have to be Einstein to figure that out.
We are also seeing more of them in Canada.
People whined about them at first, but you don't hear much complaining anymore.

[Palm Breeze]

They're all great! My favorite is the golf one. Makes TOTAL sense.

[rockfordroo]

Three engineers and 3 doctors are going to a convention on the train. The doctors all queue up to the ticket window and each buys a ticket. The engineers send up one guy and he buys one ticket. The doctors say, "Hey, you can't all ride on one ticket!" The engineers say, "You just watch us."

When the train pulls out, all the engineers pile into one of the restrooms. When the conductor knocks on the door and says "Tickets, please," one hand comes out and hands him the ticket. The doctors are impressed.

After the convention is over, and they're ready to come home, the doctors only send one guy up to get a ticket. The engineers don't send anyone. The doctors say, "Hey, you can't all ride on NO ticket." The engineers say, "You just watch us."

When the train pulls out, the doctors all pile into the restroom and close the door. As soon as the doctors close their door, all the engineers pile into the restroom across the hall, and just before they close their door, they knock on the doctor's door and say "Ticket, please!"

[rockfordroo]

How can you tell the extroverted engineer? He's the one who looks at YOUR shoes when he talks to you.

[rockfordroo]

Seriously, with respect to "roundabouts:" Back when I was a kid, they were called "circles." I grew up in Philly, near "Pennypack Circle." Although I was only about 4 years old, I can remember when they REMOVED it. When I asked my mother later why there wasn't a "circle" at Pennypack Circle anymore, she said they removed it because it was too dangerous, there were too many accidents. This was in 1956!!!

We've come full circle (pun intended). I don't like them either!

[dalford]

If you make it so easy an idiot can use it, then only idiots will use it.

The thing with round abouts is that they are all a little different and it takes at least one pass to understand the lane structure. Some are one lane, some are multiple lane. We tend to pull up on one, trying to read the lane map and it can be confusing, especially for an out of towner. I love roundabouts that I know and they do move traffic.

[dalford]

Speaking of roundabouts there is one on St. Simons Island and right off of it is a great BBQ place. Southern Soul. Diners, drive-ins and dives place. Went there and food was great. So spin the circle and give it a try if your in that neck of the woods.

[Capt. Mike]

Now that's funny stuff

We were doing a renovation on our building at work about 10 years ago, and the engineers - electrical, mechanical and especially environmental - were dealing us fits. The on-site foreman for the general contractor was fond of saying "there are only two places for engineers: on tains or under them."

[F and E Damp]

I have one problem with roundabouts. Having originally learned to drive in the UK, I still have a tendency to expect to go round them clockwise, even though we've lived in the US for 45 years!

[bakken]

Originally Posted by F and E Damp

I have one problem with roundabouts. Having originally learned to drive in the UK, I still have a tendency to expect to go round them clockwise, even though we've lived in the US for 45 years!

I hope you don't have a tendency to drive on the left side of the road!

[Taylorgso]

Originally Posted by bakken

Actually, roundabouts are a great idea, and function very well when people know how to use them. Trouble is, most drivers are too dumb and discourteous for them to function properly.
The same goes for 4-way stop signs. Traffic flows really well until you inject idiot drivers into the mix.

Our daughter lives overseas. We travel extensively in areas where roundabouts are common. Rarely see traffic jams even on heavily traveled thoroughfares, and I attribute this to the roundabouts - theres just no traffic backing up at those intersections. Of course, they are used to them. When they installed one here in my hometown, there were angry letters to the editor!!!

[Arefbee]

Originally Posted by F and E Damp

I have one problem with roundabouts. Having originally learned to drive in the UK, I still have a tendency to expect to go round them clockwise, even though we've lived in the US for 45 years!

So you have gottten used to going anti-clockwise then?

[F and E Damp]

Yeah, we have. It didn't take long to get used to driving on the opposite side of the road. You have a pretty solid cue in that you're sitting on the other side of the car!

Even though I was an experienced motorcycle rider, having worked in the experimental department at Norton-Villiers for a couple of years, I decided not to try it on the opposite side of the road, and haven't ridden on the street in the US.

[N9ID]

I might be offended if I wasn't laughing so much.

Mike - Retired Electronics Engineer