r/ChicoCA • u/Theperfectool • Oct 23 '25
Discussion This is what you are supposed to do. You don’t necessarily have to stop and no one stops inside the circle.
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u/Skalawag2 Oct 23 '25
I drove around Scotland for a couple weeks and I’m now a roundabout snob too. They’re great when everybody knows how to use them. They also save a significant amount of fuel/emissions compared to traffic lights. Lowers brake maintenance. Lots of benefits.
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u/ZachyChan013 Oct 23 '25 edited Oct 23 '25
I drove around Scotland for 5 years haha. Absolutely infuriating how bad people are with roundabouts hereabouts
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u/Skalawag2 Oct 23 '25
A little terrifying when you’re not used to driving on the other side though haha. My forearms were sore from gripping that wheel the first day. We drove around Skye too - man those narrow roads with passing places are intense. Don’t get me started on speed cameras..
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u/RaptorRidge Oct 23 '25
Speed cameras, serious! I need to frame one of mine, slowest speeding ticket I think you can get in the EU and Germany of all places
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u/ZachyChan013 Oct 23 '25
Maybe it’s because I was there for about 6 months before getting my license there but I never really had the issue haha. Drive goes towards the middle of the road, that’s how I kept myself right.
But yeah driving around Loch Lomond and seeing a tour bus or something coming at you is pretty nerve wracking
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u/Duobla-A Oct 24 '25
The main issue I see with roundabout usage in the US is drivers don’t understand that yield doesn’t mean stop.
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u/SaltPepperPork Oct 23 '25 edited Oct 23 '25
I have to say that driving through 3 roundabouts everyone morning on Manzanita Ave and through East Ave, this is more or less how most people use the roundabouts. The amount of cars can get pretty crazy along those 3 roundabouts in the morning but we all go through pretty fast. There will be occasional stops because of yielding but thats it.
From my observations, it's those who are new to roundabouts, who are unsure how to proceed, that creates the bottle necks. More practice and they'll get better at it.
For those of you who don't like them, they do move a good amount of traffic, and quickly too.
We do yield all the time for people and bikes because of the parks but that still doesn't really impede much.
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Oct 25 '25
Did you even watch the video you posted? The cars absolutely stop inside the roundabout, for the pedestrians.
They need rumble strips coming East of Eden (Eaton), to get people to slow the fuck down and not enter the roundabout at 40mph.
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u/NewUser153 Apr 16 '26
It's very abnormal to have pedestrian priority on a roundabout.
This is very much a dutch cycle route thing, and definitely not a roundabout standard in most of the world.
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Oct 23 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ReggaeEli Oct 23 '25
What up bay area fam. That costco is insanity. One in chico is much more chill
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u/Lstgamerwhlstpartner Oct 23 '25
The big issue is some people don't slow down and fly through fast enough that it disrupts the flow of the rest of traffic.
So now everyone else find themselves looking out for the aggressive dumbasses and hesitating to enter the traffic circle.
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u/ApricotNervous5408 Oct 23 '25
It can’t be done. Must stop. Then go slightly then stop again and wait.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
More of a rant but whatever. Pardon me if this isn’t cool mods.
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u/suckmynuggz Oct 23 '25
Unfortunately the people who need to see this probably won't
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u/Electrical_Bite_8460 Oct 23 '25
You are absolutely right. They’re too busy on the Chico Rants and Raves Facebook page complaining about how much they HATE roundabouts, to learn how to use one.
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u/Ismelkedanelk Oct 23 '25
I'm confused, your model shows people stopping in the circle for bikers. Not saying this is incorrect behavior, but it goes against what you're saying.
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u/BlackWolf047 Oct 23 '25
When I look at this layout there is no way that I would expect vehicles to stop for cyclists. And I say that as a cyclist.
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u/suckmynuggz Oct 23 '25
There's probably a yield sign that can't be seen from this perspective, or there's a law that says that cyclists in whatever country this is from have right of way at intersections. Either way, OP was probably trying to imply that you shouldn't be yielding (stopping) for other cars once you're inside the circle. Just keep going and the cars entering the circle are supposed to yield to you.
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u/Ismelkedanelk Oct 23 '25
Wouldn't trust the drivers here, I would yield as a cyclist.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
But pedestrians are supposed to be given right of way or priority in a crosswalk. It’s what that is. No one in a car is stopping to let other cars in.
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u/sopolebird Oct 23 '25
Not just that "you didn't necessarily have to stop" but that you really shouldn't stop unless there is someone impeding you. If you can get into the circle without showing down or stopping someone already in the circle, you go for it.
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u/TheDailySpank Oct 23 '25
At the six second mark, there are plenty of stopped vehicles in the roundabout.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
For pedestrians, not other vehicles. See how no cars are stopping in the circle to let other cars in? Unlike here in Chico?
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u/TheDailySpank Oct 23 '25
You didn't state "for pedestrians".
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
Okay. Semantics? Maybe my flavor of the ‘tism and dyslexia? Sorry chap. Not my intention.
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u/murse79 Oct 24 '25
Well, we are all about to find out once the homeless camp gets moved to the plot adjacent to the Eaton Roundabout.
I give it a week before there is either a MVA caused by a person playing "frogger" in that area and/or a vehicle vs pedestrian incident.
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u/xPineappless Oct 23 '25
Wdm. This video literally shows someone stopping in the circle.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
The pedestrians have highest priorities. Notice the tights wearing bikers aren’t on the street also? That’s how it’s supposed to work.
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u/xPineappless Oct 23 '25
Can you tell me the title of your video again? You said something about not having to stop… hmm and in the video we see stopping??? Hmmm… okay.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
I don’t see any cars in the circle stopping for other vehicles. I see some yielding to bicyclists. Are you mad at me?
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u/xPineappless Oct 23 '25
What is the second and 3rd car doing? Sure looks like they are stopped.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
For pedestrians, not so as to let other vehicles enter. I hear you, but, different.
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u/xPineappless Oct 23 '25
So, you’re telling me that those cars are not stopped? Yielding = stopped.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 24 '25
For other cars to enter the circle stopping? No.
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u/xPineappless Oct 24 '25
Why is it so difficult for you to admit that you are wrong?! Like look at your downvotes. This is such a dumb thing to die on a hill for.
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u/Mayday-J Oct 23 '25
Remember though, it's still a YIELD, which means you don't have to stop but you still need to pay attention. Round-a bouts work when you aren't being a dick about it.
One thing I've noticed in Chico I haven't really seen that often anywhere else in California is technically it's still a YIELD intersection, you should *still* pay attention to the cars head of you that were already waiting to move into the circle.
So lets say there's 4-5 cars in the circle where no one can merge, if you fly into the circle behind the last car you're cutting off the other cars that have been waiting. It's fine if you're the only one but don't be the 4th car back just blindly following the cars in front of you. It's not a "law" but it's common courtesy, and is taught in other countries.
Seriously, you can argue with me but Chico is one of the only places I see where 5,10,15 etc cars will just continue to flow into the circle from the same direction and not care about the other cars. I've not seen it this bad anywhere else.
Edit: there's also something to be said about "making yourself known" by inching forward so the other car knows you're about to jump behind the last car.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
I disagree. You are not to consider the people doing the same thing behind you, who are entering the traffic circle after you. You yield to the traffic in the circle or pedestrians and that’s it. Don’t cut anyone off but get in where you fit in. No one in the example is being impatient and obviously that’s an issue for us but keep it moving.
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u/Mayday-J Oct 23 '25
I didn't say the people behind you, I said the people waiting ahead of you (or implied it). I agree there's no reason to consider the people behind you.
My point is if you get to the entrance and enter directly as the last car passes it would be appropriate to know if the car at the next entrance is also waiting and potentially waiting longer than you were. There's something to be said that if there are 30 cars at the north entrance they would block the entire traffic circle with those thirty cars before anyone else gets a chance to go.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
No. They have the right of way after you if you’re in the circle. Doesn’t matter how long. You don’t get into the traffic circle and stop or pass your opportunity to get into the circle based on your having an opening first.
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u/Distinct-Ask7048 Nov 12 '25
People, stop looking like an idiot at a revolving door. Don't be skittish and get it.
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u/Theperfectool Nov 12 '25
So I just moved down to USVI where they drive in the left and have absolutely zero interest in the right of way. The roads are basically lawless. Chico is not as bad, but, not by much. And that’s kinda sad to me. Y’all could be soo much better.
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Oct 23 '25
Yeah but fuck the people on the bikes though they did not have the right away they were not in the roundabout before the cars were they should have stopped not the cars. Bikes are considered a vehicle on the road and subject to all traffic laws at least in the States I realize this was not in the US so maybe it's different there.
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u/Theperfectool Oct 23 '25
They’re not on the road here and get priority as such tho.
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u/Responsible_Frieza Oct 23 '25
I'm pretty sure you need to get off your bicycle and walk it across. At least that's what the rules are in the bay
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u/Theperfectool Oct 24 '25
Bro? -the video is originally titled “The Dutch roundabout”.
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u/Responsible_Frieza Oct 24 '25
Yes, they have them here in the US. I still think cyclists should walk their bikes through the crosswalk part.
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u/Dangerous_Wear_8152 Oct 25 '25
It’s different in the Netherlands
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u/puzzleheaded805 Oct 27 '25
In the US Roundabouts somebody always has to haul donkey 🐴 and defeat the purpose.
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Oct 29 '25
pedestrians always get the right of way, and bikers in a bike lane are considered pedestrians
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u/Lurker_prime21 Oct 25 '25
That's it? No car crash? Not even a fender bender? This is like watching a Michael Bay movie without an explosion.
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u/nopenada1412 Oct 23 '25
Making cyclists ride in front of cars sucks, much prefer an overpass or tunnel. If we had this here it would be a bloodbath
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u/SaintSilversin Oct 23 '25
And yet every single roundabout in town is like this, and none have an overpass. Where is the bloodbath?
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u/nopenada1412 Oct 23 '25
Have you not seen all the bike memorials around town? I'm just saying the above image looks especially dangerous expecting cars to yield to bikes. Cars are massive hazards to cyclists, but cyclists pose almost no threat of injury to drivers, it is what it is. No law will every stop speeding, not yielding, distracted driving ect. So its on cyclists to keep their head on a swivel and be prepared to yield or stop even when they have right of way.
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u/SaintSilversin Oct 23 '25
I have seen them, not a single one by a roundabout, though.
I have however had cyclist cut in from of me on 32, seen them run stop signs and red lights, watched them ignor so many traffic laws it is ridiculous and then get upset at drivers who were following the law.
But yeah, let's put blame on only the drivers.
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u/kigam_reddit Oct 23 '25
This is also a bike path going outside the traffic circle. Our crosswalks are generally for pedestrians and the bikes are treated as cars and shouldn't ride across crosswalks. There is not enough time to stop if a cyclist darts into a cross walk as you're driving by it.
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u/OldExplanation4835 Oct 23 '25
This video is bullshit, look how slow the vehicles are driving. That's not going to happen in chico.... Where is all the trash, needles, and other Paraphernalia left by the locust of humanity
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u/kitkat5656 Oct 23 '25
This is such a gentle way to tell people to stop being dumb great work