this post was submitted on 04 Jun 2025
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Fuck Cars

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"It has been dubbed Britain's 'most woke' roundabout because drivers must give priority to pedestrians, then cyclists, and then other cars and lorries before continuing on themselves. Locals have pointed out the priority for cyclists and pedestrians is unnecessary as only cars and lorries regularly use the Boundary Way route."

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[–] JeeBaiChow@lemmy.world 96 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Here in Malaysia I always thought it was our third world mentality that caused drivers to speed up when approaching a pedestrian crossing, when in reality it was a leftover notion from our times as a former British colony.

[–] shawn1122@lemm.ee 58 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (4 children)

A lot of so called 'third world mentality' is just Victorian cultural norms that were imposed by the global techno fascists of the time (the British Empire).

[–] 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com 15 points 2 weeks ago

Can confirm (Source: Played Victoria 3)

[–] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (11 children)

Facile and lazy. In reality, the norms and practices in "third world" countries are pretty comparable no matter who, if anyone, colonized them. It's just a question of development. Not everything in the world is the responsibility of big bad white man.

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[–] drkt@scribe.disroot.org 76 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

... priority for cyclists and pedestrians is unnecessary as only cars and lorries regularly use the Boundary Way route.

forgive me if I'm being a little too above-roomtemp-IQ for this, but what's the problem then?

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 63 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The new infrastructure might make the route safer and more pedestrain or cyclists may start using the route, which could delay drivers by entire seconds. A clear and deliberate attack on the drivers freedom of mobility and rights to exclussively have all infrastructure catered to them.

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[–] Localhorst86@feddit.org 76 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Locals have pointed out the priority for cyclists and pedestrians is unnecessary as only cars and lorries regularly use the Boundary Way route.

So, there is so little pedestrian and cyclist travel, that priority is unnecessary? What's the issue having the priority then? Surely, it wont affect you, then?

[–] Acters@lemmy.world 32 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ah but that means they will have to think about driving instead of going on autopilot

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[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 68 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

drivers must give priority to pedestrians, then cyclists, and then other cars and lorries before continuing on themselves.

So, like every crossing everywhere? Because we don't want to harm others in traffic? If that's 'woke' then 'woke' is the only way.

[–] Randelung@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

'woke' is the only way.

Yes, but universally, by the very definition of the word.

[–] then_three_more@lemmy.world 64 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This really shows how shit the DVLA have been at communicating the changes to the highway code that happened in 2022.

You're supposed to give way to pedestrians who want to cross at every roundabout in the UK as it's a it's a junction (you're supposed to at all junctions)

[–] shadowedcross@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, really you should be able to cross without worrying, but you can't. I mean hell, I don't even like using zebra crossing without waiting for them to stop.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 51 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I don’t get it. It’s just a regular roundabout with zebra crossings.

[–] filcuk@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Regular roundabouts don't give pedestrian or cyclist crossings priority.

* I'm talking of the UK, that's what the article is about. People seem confused.

[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 27 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

In Canada pedestrians always have the right of way

Cyclists are seen as vehicles though

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[–] angelmountain@feddit.nl 13 points 2 weeks ago

They do in my country, and i can only recommend it to the rest of the world tbh.

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[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 30 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This is the law even in (much of) the carbrained United States. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way, even if they aren't in a signed or painted crosswalk.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Yes. Even in places where they could get a ticket for jaywalking, cars are supposed to yield and let them mosey/stagger/traipse etc.

This fact will not actually stop a moving vehicle, however. Neither will the painted lines of a crosswalk. So make use of your larger visual field and look out for distracted drivers, e.g. all of them.

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Oh yeah, but what I'm saying is I don't get why this would be "woke" since it's the most basic of motor vehicle laws in even the least pedestrian-friendly places.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago

Oh anything that's not completely selfish for the people who already have all the privileges qualifies as "woke" to them.

I agree it's just basic common sense and humanity.

But then I felt compelled to point out you can't rely on it for safety, because pedestrian deaths are high and on the rise.

[–] NoForwardslashS@sopuli.xyz 29 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Lads, is it woke to follow The Highway Code?

[–] Gsus4@mander.xyz 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That is one of the wokest things out there: both some dude's Toyotta Corolla and the Clarence Thomas' Motor Coach have to share the road and follow the same rules. Everyone is the same before the Highway code. Sounds like communism, can't have that.

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So in other words, a roundabout. At least in the Netherlands, it has nothing to do with this weird woke idea

[–] starman@programming.dev 5 points 2 weeks ago

Exactly. Looks like a regular Polish roundabout to me.

[–] utopiah@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago

Hoping not getting crushed by SUVs while drivers are busy scrolling down their phone is so woke. /s

[–] abbadon420@lemm.ee 19 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It can't be truly woke if the center is filled with concrete instead of flowers or shrubbery

[–] Vinny_93@lemmy.world 16 points 2 weeks ago

Really common in Dutch cities. Not all of them have zebra lanes but the rules are really quite simple.

[–] fuzzyleonardo@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago

This roundabout: "If there's a person walking across the road, don't drive into them."

Drivers: "Blasphemy!!!"

[–] DarkDarkHouse@lemmy.sdf.org 14 points 2 weeks ago

I agree it should not be so inclusive, so let's leave out the cars and lorries and call it a day.

[–] wetbeardhairs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Goes to North Pole.
Tries to go more North.
Is gimbal locked

[–] StarlightDust@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 2 weeks ago

They trialed these particular roundabouts a few years ago elsewhere after spending literal years building it in the middle of a junction. Nobody likes them, they require even more crossing and attention, as a pedestrian and you feel rushed to move.

[–] cynar@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

My issue with this roundabout is that it's the worst of all worlds. It's unusual, and complex for cars. Given how bad the average driver is, I wouldn't want to be a cyclist or pedestrian dealing with this.

While it has its problems, Milton Keynes does non-car traffic quite well. It has "red ways" that cut under or over the main trunk roads. It's possible to reach most of the city without having to cross a major road.

While retrofitting this is harder, surely they could come up with something better, for that sort of money.

Oh and as for the woke comments. I've found describing it/replacing it with empathy/empathetic works well. It seems to really annoy the gammon crowd, while turning those on the fence away from it, hard.

[–] Decq@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I might be daft, but how exactly is this complex? Or rather, how is more complex than any other situation where you have to give way? These kind of roundabouts is all you have over here. Never seemed difficult to grasp imho.

[–] FinalRemix@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (6 children)

More than one "lane" you could turn into or out to. People are idiots, so you gotta remember how ~~had~~ bad things could get.

I lived in a place with a basic circle put in to "smooth" traffic on a small-but-main avenue, and they had a town hall meeting, YouTube tutorial, and a hands-on workshop on how to navigate a regular circle. People still came to the thing, put a left signal on, and pulled straight into oncoming traffic because they wanted to go that way. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

[–] Decq@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Ok ok, so you're saying that basically any roundabout is too difficult. Then it's a case of driver certification and not roundabouts. We really should stop seeing having a driver license as a right, rather than a privilege. Of course that will never happen.

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[–] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

There's a town near me that put in a couple of roundabouts. There's an old lady known to the entire area who will simply treat the roundabout like a standard 4 way stop that has a cone in the middle and just go whatever way she is going, so turn left to turn left, etc.

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[–] angelmountain@feddit.nl 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Just copy Dutch roundabout design, they work great for both car drivers as well as other road users. Not complicated at all when copied properly.

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[–] mtchristo@lemm.ee 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

2m for some asphalt. Landscaping and paint ?? That's very expensive.

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[–] countrypunk@slrpnk.net 4 points 2 weeks ago

c/nottheonion

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Don't let US values infect the UK like that

[–] 5714@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago

Thaddeus is scared of roundabouts.

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