Editing 2842: Inspiraling Roundabout
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| date = October 16, 2023 | | date = October 16, 2023 | ||
| title = Inspiraling Roundabout | | title = Inspiraling Roundabout | ||
| − | | image = | + | | image = inspiraling_roundabout.png |
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| titletext = Look, I just think we need to stop coddling those hedonistic roundabout hogs who get into the inner lane and circle for hours, wasting valuable capacity. | | titletext = Look, I just think we need to stop coddling those hedonistic roundabout hogs who get into the inner lane and circle for hours, wasting valuable capacity. | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | + | {{incomplete|Created by RUNAROUND SUE}} | |
| − | A {{w|roundabout}}, a form of traffic circle or rotary, is a traffic control device that serves as an alternative to stop signs, instead allowing for mere yields, as all traffic flows in the same counterclockwise direction around a central point (clockwise in left-hand traffic countries). Roundabouts improve safety and the flow of traffic, since they eliminate turns against traffic and full stops are only needed during high-traffic periods | + | A {{w|roundabout}}, a form of traffic circle or rotary, is a traffic control device that serves as an alternative to stop signs, instead allowing for mere yields, as all traffic flows in the same counterclockwise direction around a central point (clockwise in left-hand traffic countries). Roundabouts improve safety and the flow of traffic, since they eliminate turns against traffic and full stops are only needed during high-traffic periods. |
| − | Various roundabout designs have been proposed and used throughout the world. Some use | + | Various roundabout designs have been proposed and used throughout the world. Some use spiraling designs in which a driver wishing to access one of the furthest exits is initially directed into a lane towards the center, which then spirals outwards, guiding them out until they reach the intended exit. Randall, in contrast, proposes an "Inspiraling Roundabout" which spirals each entrance lane inward, eventually leading all three roads to meet in the center and become the exit lanes. |
| − | The caption states that it's "[[Technically|technically]] navigable", but that the Highway Department has vetoed it, presumably because of its deliberate complexity, impracticality, and the high risk of head-on collisions | + | The caption states that it's "[[Technically|technically]] navigable", but that the Highway Department has vetoed it, presumably because of its deliberate complexity, impracticality, and the high risk of head-on collisions |
| − | The system is fairly simple to use. Assuming {{w|Left- and right-hand traffic|left-hand driving / right-hand traffic}}, one | + | The system is "technically navigable" because it's fairly simple to use. Assuming {{w|Left- and right-hand traffic|left-hand driving / right-hand traffic}}, one can get to the next exit without entering the spiral. Getting to the subsequent exit simply requires making a lane change to the right. However, if the driver doesn't like to change lanes -- or the ideal lane change can't be performed at the right spot -- the driver would travel ever deeper into the spiral. |
| − | + | If a driver enters the center and wishes to exit the roundabout at a different exit (as is typical), the lack of signage at the center of which path to take out would make it confusing to choose the right lane. | |
| − | + | Additionally, inward-bound and outward-bound vehicles appear to use the same lanes, risking head-on collisions if even a few vehicles are using the roundabout at the same time. | |
| − | The joke is that such a deliberately challenging and dangerous design would be unlikely to be approved | + | The joke is that such a deliberately challenging and dangerous design would be unlikely to be approved{{Citation needed}}. |
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| + | The '''title text''' justifies this creative design by manufacturing an amusing problem of "coddling hedonistic roundabout hogs who get into the inner lane and circle for hours". Of course, it's unlikely that anyone would deliberately spend more time than necessary (let alone hours) circling a roundabout, so this design proposes to solve a non-issue. | ||
* In street racing culture, doing "donuts" -- circling a single spot at high speed to leave circular tread marks on the pavement -- is a popular pastime, but these drivers circle for a few rotations, not several hours. | * In street racing culture, doing "donuts" -- circling a single spot at high speed to leave circular tread marks on the pavement -- is a popular pastime, but these drivers circle for a few rotations, not several hours. | ||
* The complaint of "coddling" some group was popularized by the title of the 2018 book, "The Coddling of the American Mind," a criticism of modern higher education. | * The complaint of "coddling" some group was popularized by the title of the 2018 book, "The Coddling of the American Mind," a criticism of modern higher education. | ||
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* [[253: Highway Engineer Pranks]] also has a rotary that intentionally collides cars. | * [[253: Highway Engineer Pranks]] also has a rotary that intentionally collides cars. | ||
* [[2728: Lane Change Highway]] has a similar theme of changing lanes because the road is poorly designed -- and it was the first time Randall complained about his ideas getting rejected by traffic engineers. | * [[2728: Lane Change Highway]] has a similar theme of changing lanes because the road is poorly designed -- and it was the first time Randall complained about his ideas getting rejected by traffic engineers. | ||
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| + | ==Trivia== | ||
| + | * Unlike inspiraling roundabouts, outspiraling roundabouts are a real thing, common across western Europe. They are known as "[https://html.duckduckgo.com/html/?q=turbo+roundabout Turbo Roundabouts]", though the design usually features at least 4 entrances/exits. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:[Caption below the panel:] | :[Caption below the panel:] | ||
:Even though it '''''was''''' technically navigable, the highway department vetoed my inspiraling roundabout design. | :Even though it '''''was''''' technically navigable, the highway department vetoed my inspiraling roundabout design. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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