Paul Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Look where I went yesterday border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" />Ok, so I went to Swindon, but for some reason I've always wanted to drive the magic roundabout. I can tick that one off my list now style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Just leaves the Nürburgring to go style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shades:" border="0" alt="shades.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I was reading about that on Wikipedia (Sadly). The one with the traffic that goes the wrong way around the inside... style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" />And it gets a bit confusing style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":wacko:" border="0" alt="wacko.gif" /> I'd read that the thing to do is to treat each roundabout as a single entity and then progress as normal. It's good advice and I went from Drove Road to the car-park directly opposite, as shown on the third image style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardaft Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":o" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" /> that looks confusing, i bets theres a few accidents there a day style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":swerve:" border="0" alt="swerve.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_273 Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 What a bizarre roundabout that is, I remember someone trying to describe it to me but I didnt know what they were on about. Perhaps we should go there for the next North east meet if the weather is bad at Holy Island style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max69vk Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 How bloody stupid is that! Surely 1 large roundabout would be safer style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blink:" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":confused:" border="0" alt="confused.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiiMo Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 It's not as hard to go around as you would think style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />Plus you can always just go around the main outside bit lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam K Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 we have a magic roundabout in hemel that u can go either way round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMon Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Does Wikipedia say what the point of it is then? Can't be bothered to look. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMon Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Dunno. I couldn't be bothered to pay attention! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> I walked right into that didn't I. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramirez Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":o" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" /> that looks confusing, i bets theres a few accidents there a day style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":swerve:" border="0" alt="swerve.gif" />Suprisingly few (because everyone sh¡ts themselves style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> )Does Wikipedia say what the point of it is then? Can't be bothered to look. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />It was designed by enginners and was supposed to be easier to navigate style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":o" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" />What a bizarre roundabout that is, I remember someone trying to describe it to me but I didnt know what they were on about. Perhaps we should go there for the next North east meet if the weather is bad at Holy Island style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> !How bads your geography! The MR is in Swindon, last time I cheaked thats not the north east style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunalupi Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Scary roundabout - luckily I've never had to navigate it, but I have always wanted to have a go style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 omg im scared style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blink:" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> did you make it round?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putney Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I think they should take learner drivers there on test day! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":coffee:" border="0" alt="coffee.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunalupi Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 (edited) I've heard they do if you take your test near Swindon....Very glad mine was miles away in nice easy Trowbridge style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":sweating:" border="0" alt="sweating.gif" /> Edited October 25, 2006 by lunalupi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMon Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 It was designed by enginners and was supposed to be easier to navigate style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":o" border="0" alt="ohmy.gif" />I take it they were all sacked later? style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Does Wikipedia say what the point of it is then? Can't be bothered to look. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />According to Wikipedia....The Magic Roundabout in Swindon, England, was constructed in 1972 and consists of one large roundabout containing five mini-roundabouts. It is located near the County Ground, home of Swindon Town F.C. Its name comes from the popular children's television series, The Magic Roundabout.It is an innovative system which was constructed after consultation with the British Road Research Laboratory. Traffic flow around the larger, inner roundabout is actually anti-clockwise, whereas traffic flows in the usual clockwise manner around the five mini-roundabouts and the outer loop.Although the complex comes as a shock to the newcomer it is simple enough to traverse if each mini-roundabout is approached as a separate entity in turn. Local and regular users are proficient at traversing the complex which offers multiple paths between feeder roads. The flow rate of the complex is still highly impressive and is reckoned to be better than a modern junction could offer. Virtually the same overall configuration has been in place for over 30 years.When the roundabout complex was first opened the mini-roundabouts were not permanently marked out and could be re-configured whilst the layout was fine tuned. A Police Officer was stationed at each mini roundabout during this pilot phase to oversee how drivers coped with the unique arrangement.Such was the success of the Magic Roundabout that plans were mooted to build a similar complex just a short distance away to replace the traditional Greenbridge roundabout. The plan was not developed.Whilst The Magic Roundabout occupies an important part of modern Swindon history the site itself has an interesting past. It is built over a section of the old Wilts and Berks canal. A narrow, stone built bridge of 1803 carried the old Saxon way known as Drove Road over the canal half a mile east of the town centre. Its site became covered by Drove Roundabout which was later redeveloped as the Magic Roundabout. A wharf occupied one edge and the area was known as The Marsh. The Wilts and Berks Canal Trust are currently in negotiations with Swindon Council to include plans to restore the canal through the town centre as part of the New Swindon Regeneration Framework. The restoration would utilise the route of the North Wilts Canal and not the main West Vale route that the Magic Roundabout sits over. The North Wilts canal was a separate branch which exited the town northwards through Moredon.The Magic Roundabout is the crowning glory of Swindon's plethora of roundabouts of all sizes. Swindon is generally regarded by aficionados as the UK capital of roundabouts alongside rivals Basingstoke and Milton Keynes. A calendar is produced each year by The UK Roundabout Appreciation Society depicting the town's finest examples.The official name of this roundabout used to be County Islands, although hardly anyone other than officials called it by this name. The official name was changed in the late 1990s to match its popular name. It is the subject of a pop song by local band XTC.T-shirts are produced with a slogan regarding the magic roundabout.Local people sometimes refer to it as the Tragic RoundaboutI think they should take learner drivers there on test day! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":coffee:" border="0" alt="coffee.gif" />Funnily enough, I saw a learner driver on one of the roundabouts. He was looking very pale! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> I've heard they do if you take your test near Swindon....Very glad mine was miles away in nice easy Trowbridge style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":sweating:" border="0" alt="sweating.gif" />What's the test route in Trowbridge? I live a few minutes from the test centre and there's loads of learner drivers around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lunalupi Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 I have no idea - I was concentrating on stopping my left leg shaking so I could use the clutch style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfbr Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Haha thats mint ! i want a go style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_273 Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 How bads your geography! The MR is in Swindon, last time I cheaked thats not the north east style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />I got an A* in geography style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigMon Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Maybe they weren't sacked after all then. Wonder why it was never adopted elsewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr ColinG Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Looks a wee bit complicated border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Largest roundabout in Europe? I need to add that one to my ever-growing list! -Mounthooly roundabout-Nürburgring style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shades:" border="0" alt="shades.gif" /> -Lap of the M25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapo Posted October 26, 2006 Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Why dont u do a mpg test whilst doing a lap of the m25, that would be fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted October 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2006 Why dont u do a mpg test whilst doing a lap of the m25, that would be funTop Gear stylee you mean? Sounds like a plan style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csi_bha Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 what about this monster in sheffield? border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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