Facilities Assignment #1

This is a roundabout in Delft, the Netherlands.

The roundabout is designed to accommodate a variety of transportation modes, including bicyclists, pedestrians, vehicles, trams, buses, and emergency vehicles. Bicyclists approach the roundabout by cycle track or fietsstraat, a special type of street where space is shared and bicyclists have priority. A cycle track comprises the outer ring of the roundabout, separated from an inner one-way vehicle ring by segments of green space. Vehicles must yield to cyclists when entering and exiting the roundabout. A pedestrian walkway is located on all sides of the roundabout to the outside of the cycle track, with wide pedestrian markings provided on all crossings. Tram lines, a bus lane, and emergency vehicles using the bus lane all pass directly through the center of the roundabout, bisecting the vehicle and cycle track rings at 3 points. Vehicle signals and bicycle signals are located at each point to stop traffic for modes which take priority: trams, buses, and emergency vehicles.

This design separates modes in both space and time to ensure safety. I particularly like how vehicles exiting the roundabout are forced to face bicyclist and pedestrian traffic when exiting, directing attention and encouraging safer outcomes.

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This is a recently completed roundabout in Bend, Oregon.

Bicyclists approach the roundabout from all directions via a bike lane adjacent to vehicular traffic traveling at speeds as high as 45 mph. The bike lanes are separated by paint only; bicyclists are guests among the vehicular traffic. When approaching the roundabout, the cyclists exit the roadway and enter the sidewalk to mix with pedestrians, where they briefly become a guest until they cross the road or turn the corner and re-enter the bike lane on the street. Traffic signals are not present at any cross walk or for any user. Compared to a signalized intersection, this design improves efficiency and safety for vehicles: without requiring a vehicle to stop, it forces vehicles to slow down as they turn into the roundabout. It also changes the type of vehicle-vehicle conflicts. However, it could further provide for pedestrians and bicyclists. The design forces potentially high-speed bicyclists to share space with pedestrians, who travel much slower, and vehicles may not be looking for bicyclists on their approach as they attend to vehicles in the roundabout. Vehicle approach speeds also vary due to lack of signage (and potential user experience with roundabouts), and can be quite high. Designs which attract attention to bicyclists and pedestrians, like raised crossings, dedicated space, advisory signage, and yield markings, are absent beyond the minimum. While the set back crosswalks force vehicles to face bicyclists on their exit, vehicles simultaneously accelerate to relatively high speeds (for mixing with vulnerable road users) on their exit.

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