General Road and Highway Discussion

[Canard]

Yeah, rode the whole way!

It ends right at the first house, where it goes back to super-narrow road with curbs on both sides.

[DHLawrence]

Fitting bike lanes in there would be a challenge. They'd have to expropriate on both sides, and on the north side it would be a 3D expropriation because of how the land rises - with the added bonus of underground springs.

[clasher]

Yeah, that's a pretty narrow stretch of road looking at it now on the maps... it's been a long while since I've been down that way. Got buzzed the few times I have ridden down that stretch.

[KevinL]

Offramp from 7/8 eastbound to Ottawa South is closed as roundabout construction continues.

[Canard]

I happen to catch them installing some of the spans today on the new Fountain St. Bridge!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Awesome to see new Fountain St. Bridge girders going in! Cc: <a href="https://twitter.com/RegionWaterloo">@RegionWaterloo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WRConnected">@WRConnected</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wrAwesome?src=hash">#wrAwesome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BikeToWorkDay?src=hash">#BikeToWorkDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/gunSymHrdm">pic.twitter.com/gunSymHrdm</a></p>&mdash; iain (@Canardiain) <a href="https://twitter.com/Canardiain/status/864947139566284800">May 17, 2017</a></blockquote>

[clasher]

Hanging iron!

[Canard]

I wondered about my terminology there. Is that the kind of work you do, Clasher?

[clasher]

Ya, I do ironwork. Usually more of the industrial maintenance kind at stel mills, cement plants and occasionally the car plants, more money there. New construction is fun and clean though but weather can really ruin a paycheque.

[MidTowner]

It does seem very common, and I've wondered about the mentality that leads to people not signalling. In some cases, I can see why they might think that there is no one around to make use of the information (but I still think it's best practice), but at other times there is plenty of traffic around them, and they still don't.

The thing that boggles me in particular is when I see a motorist act to change lanes or make a turn without signalling, and then long after it becomes obvious that's what he is going to do, the signal comes on.

[Markster]

When it comes right down too it, failure to signal is an epidemic in our city/province/country.

I've done enough traveling to know we have it fairly good around here in the grand scheme of things.

[Viewfromthe42]

People in the region already fail to signal plenty when turning at normal intersections, preventing anyone from entering from that cross-street to take their place. It's not surprising that if they can't handle this simpler version of the rules of the road, they are going to fail at the more complicated (or more unique/rare) version in roundabouts, similar to the issue of wide left/right turns onto two-lane roads preventing people from confidently turning into their appropriate near-lane.

[panamaniac]

People in the region already fail to signal plenty when turning at normal intersections, preventing anyone from entering from that cross-street to take their place. It's not surprising that if they can't handle this simpler version of the rules of the road, they are going to fail at the more complicated (or more unique/rare) version in roundabouts, similar to the issue of wide left/right turns onto two-lane roads preventing people from confidently turning into their appropriate near-lane.

I do it occasionally, but with extreme caution.   I also never turn right when a car in the cross street is signalling right until I see that they are actually turning - I can't tell you how many times I've seen people signalling their right turn not because they intend to turn at the intersection but rather at the first right AFTER the intersection.  !!!!!

[plam]

In most countries in Europe, you signal your intent to exit the roundabout, but you do not need to signal your intent to continue circulating the roundabout (which is the only other choice anyway if you are not exiting).

I was surprised to see someone signal the left turn at the roundabout in France (like we're also supposed to here).

[KevinL]

Have just noticed that Hall's Lane downtown has had its new top asphalt coat applied - this runs from at least Benton to Water, possibly beyond. Much smoother and more uniform, now.

[tomh009]

In most countries in Europe, you signal your intent to exit the roundabout, but you do not need to signal your intent to continue circulating the roundabout (which is the only other choice anyway if you are not exiting).

I was surprised to see someone signal the left turn at the roundabout in France (like we're also supposed to here).

Tourists!