On 16 Jan 2013 at 7:59pm RuthR wrote:
The chairman of the British Roundabout Appreciation Society, Kevin Beresford - or as he calls himself, "Lord of the Rings" - is coming down to Lewes at the end of the month to inspect and appreciate some of the Lewes roundabouts. This is for a programme for German Radio on the British Roundabout Appreciation Society.
Important question: how many roundabouts are there in Lewes? And : which ones do you think he should experience?
On 16 Jan 2013 at 8:50pm expat two wrote:
My favourite, albeit not in Lewes, was the one on the A23/A27 junction, with its colony of black rabbits.
On 16 Jan 2013 at 9:03pm Ducatipete wrote:
WTF.
On 16 Jan 2013 at 9:59pm RuthR wrote:
Black rabbits?! Roundabouts as wildlife sanctuaries? Kevin is particularly interested in a roundabout in Otford, Kent, which has a fine duck pond in its centre..
On 16 Jan 2013 at 10:10pm Expat Two wrote:
Yeah, keep an eye out next time, you can't miss them once you know they're there.
On 16 Jan 2013 at 10:15pm Webbo wrote:
I grew up in Otford and used to walk on that pond when it froze over
On 16 Jan 2013 at 10:15pm Blip wrote:
There is a roundabout in Suffolk - I think near either Beccles or Bungay, which is inhabited by chickens. But as far as Lewes goes, I think "Brian's" roundabout, near the tunnel, is about the only one of interest.
On 16 Jan 2013 at 10:31pm the old mayor wrote:
What about the little triangle of entangled and overgrown shrubs and defunct electricity sub station at the entrance of Houndean Rise. Its very attractive at night, now the street lights go out.
On 16 Jan 2013 at 10:48pm Dave wrote:
What about the one at the end of Friars Walk that's quite funny
On 16 Jan 2013 at 11:36pm Lewes lady wrote:
I'd say there are five!
He should visit all of them, if he's a pro.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 1:16am SHS wrote:
The Lewes folk heading south (car full with Waitrose bargains or on a bike with no brakes) take this roundabout at 30 to 40mph, leaving it to the left as if avoiding a raised drain cover. The foreigners (i.e. non-Lewes) slow down to a crawl and dutifully go clockwise around this hump as if on a ring road around a city in rush-hour.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 6:59am Around and about. wrote:
I count at least 10 roundabouts in Lewes....
On 17 Jan 2013 at 8:36am Turner wrote:
I've counted 11 including the 2 bypass ones.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 8:38am Pete wrote:
Takes a lot to beat the roundabout next to Hatton Cross tube station as you travel north to Heathrow Airport. It has 5 mini roundabouts around a larger single one. Quite fun.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 9:14am innerstrings wrote:
I wonder if he'll break the Lewes tradition by indicating?
On 17 Jan 2013 at 9:55am Matt Kent wrote:
The 'Magic' Roundabout in Hemel Hempstead, next to the former Kodak Building used to be great fun in my yoof. 5 mini roundabouts round 1 big roundabout. Not fun for taking your driving lessons and test on! My favourite in Lewes (if I were to have one) is on the Malling side of the Cuilfail Tunnel. The roundabout next to The Swan is good too. The worst has got to be the one that drivers fly over in Priory Walk. It might as well not be there given that most cars drive over it. I'll get my coat. (BTW. Why are they called 'Islands' in the Midlands?)
On 17 Jan 2013 at 10:20am Southover Queen wrote:
Newhaven. Or more specifically, Newhaven Old town which is, as I'm sure everyone has realised, one giant roundabout.
I know it's not Lewes but I'm afraid I'm failing to raise much interest in Lewes roundabouts. And it's only 8 miles away.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 10:25am Lewes lady wrote:
Still can't get beyond five (the bypass ones don't count as they're not in Lewes itself). Please enlighten me.
Swindon has the mother of magic roundabouts - I think there's 7 or 8 round a central one. I had a collision there years back!
On 17 Jan 2013 at 10:34am Spartacus wrote:
11 - Excluding the 2 on the bypass.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 10:38am Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
Tesco on its own has 3 (the one on the Causeway, the one on Brooks Road and the one where you turn into the petrol station) so the Snail makes 4 and bottom of Mayhew Way makes 5. Then there are at least 3 mini roundabouts (Offham Road, Friars Walk and Mountfield Road/Priory Street) and the one at Houndean Rise, making 9.
That's all that I can think of, but there may be others tucked away.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 10:45am Southover Queen wrote:
There are three just between The Swan and Mountfield road, so that's another two, ACT. (Southover High St by the Kings Head, and Bell Lane, to be precise)
On 17 Jan 2013 at 11:16am Taff wrote:
Southerham is only a roundabout outside rush hour traffic. During rush hour it is a car park so probably should not qualify.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 11:26am Lewes lady wrote:
Of course! I had The Avenue one, but missed some of the near-Tesco ones. I never knew the Houndean Rise island is a roundabout, and I pass it nearly every day!
On 17 Jan 2013 at 11:37am Ed Can Do wrote:
Cuilfail
Phoenix Causeway
Tesco
Tesco again
Southdows Road/Brooks Road
Fujitsu Building
Friar's Walk
Station
King's Head
Swan
The Avenue
Houdean Rise
I make that 12 not counting the bypass ones. Also Old Malling Way is one big roundabout, as is East Street/Little East Street and there's one outside the front entrance of both Wallands and Priory Schools and Nevill Crescent is half a roundabout too.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 12:25pm Spartacus wrote:
Are we saying there's a cheeky little one on Houdean Rise or the whole of Houdean Rise is one? If its the former the 12 it is. If it's the latter, then I cry foul and its 11.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 2:03pm Ex Leweser wrote:
Its an island in Houndean Rise - its triangular and definitely not round!
@ the old Mayor - we used this as a den when we were kids....
Houndean Rise itself is round - but surely it has to be one way to count?
On 17 Jan 2013 at 2:32pm Jane S wrote:
Oh, I wish all the threads on this forum were like this - wacky, informative, non-offensive and properly local. More, please
On 17 Jan 2013 at 3:35pm Blip wrote:
I've enjoyed it too. Is there a prize, by any chance?I
On 17 Jan 2013 at 3:36pm Blip wrote:
I've enjoyed it too. Is there a prize, by any chance?I
On 17 Jan 2013 at 4:52pm Lord of the Rings wrote:
To qualify as a roundabout, it has to be a one way gyratory.
Kevin Beresford president of UKRAS
On 17 Jan 2013 at 7:39pm Sussex Jim wrote:
They do not have roundabouts in the USA. They also cruise along city streets at 25 mph, and pedestrians know their place.
Food for thought.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 7:55pm Expat Two wrote:
So do the old people. Food for thought.
On 17 Jan 2013 at 11:56pm Henry the Navigator wrote:
Sussex Jim, they DO have roundabouts in the US, though they're uncommon. They call them traffic circles. There are several around the Boston area and in Washington DC, for example. Food for thought.
On 18 Jan 2013 at 10:07am Ed Can Do wrote:
Also the USA is increasingly adopting the roundabout in favour of junctions with traffic lights as they quite rightly realise that they're significantly safer and allow a smoother flow of traffic. It takes most 'Merkins a while to get their head round it (Pardon the pun) but it's a far, far better option than the box junctions they're so fond of over there.
On 18 Jan 2013 at 10:29am RuthR wrote:
Great discussion. Thank you so much for this multitude of funny, quirky and informative comments. As I understand it, the first roundabout was actually created in New York - but all will be clear when Chairman Kevin comes down. I am now working on a sightseeing route ...
On 18 Jan 2013 at 2:36pm brixtonbelle wrote:
I thought you are legitimately allowed to drive over the mini-roundabouts. Some of them are so tight it would be impossible for a lorry to actually go round them. Have to admit I tend to go over them if safe to do so.
On 18 Jan 2013 at 5:48pm bastian wrote:
Is there seriously a roundabout appreciation society?, it sounds very Belgian to me,like vertical archery and that thing where they listen to their song birds and keep a tally on a stick if it sings. I mean, if we actually planted pretty things on our roundabouts or made something of them I would understand but here they are just painted on the road. Except the snail.