Should placing a geocache inside a roundabout be banned?

[-cheeto-]

With modern roundabout intersections seeming to multiply around Wisconsin, I think it’s time to discuss whether these should be banned.

Today a cache was published that appears to be in the College Avenue bridge roundabout intersection. A new 4 lane roundabout intersection at the east end of the new College Avenue bridge. This is the 4th or 5th cache like this in the Appleton area. Several are in intersections of county highways.

Is putting a cache inside and around high traffic pattern roundabout intersections a good idea?

I will give my opinion later.

[-cheeto-]

In case you’ve never had the joy of navigating a modern roundabout intersection, here is a link with a diagram of the 4 lane roundabout on College avenue in Appleton: http://www.appleton.org/departments/public/traffic/roundabouts/files/CJW%20Brochure.pdf

[JimandLinda]

I voted “Yes”, they should be banned. Not as a cacher or pedestrian, but as a driver. There are enough places to look, and cars to watch, without having to wonder what that person with 2 little kids is doing in the roundabout! Are they watching ALL the cars and lanes as they scurry back across?
We enjoy the roundabout hides as cachers, but for the safety of everyone, especially cachers and there families, putting a hide in the middle of 2 streets (which is where you will find a roundabout) is risky.

If you should be 150 feet from a RR, which a train passes on occassionally, staying out of a roundabout makes even more sense!

Just my 2 cents worth…

[CodeJunkie]

In my typical management style I must say “It depends”. My vote would generally be “Yes (Ban them)” because all of these that I’ve seen so far don’t have pedestrian access to the center. If there was pedestrian access, then my answer would be a definate “No (Allow)”.

My concern is strictly safety and here it’s not cacher beware because you’re dependent on others. I would rank this similar to placing a cache in the median of a highway. From a DOT (uh-oh here’s that ugly organization we’re going to try and work with) perspective it’s probably “off limits”. In attempt to nudge the DOT I would say it’s probably best not to put them in the roundabout as tempting as it is.

[Lostby7]

The one in Oconomowoc is very dangerous for pedestrians. It’s two lanes in the circle with traffic coming from 4 directions….a cache placed there would be very irresponsible…you just can’t see people as they are on your left and you are goin in a circle…Add to that cars next to you or trying to merge while you spot a person in the cross walk and try to stop….forget it. The cars can’t even manage to get in the correct lane to travel through it half the time (without additional distractions).

[Trekkin and Birdin]

We’ve done a couple of these, but they were on quiet sleepy little residential areas. Still, there does seem to be a safety issue. Honestly, the ones located in busy spots pose far more danger than ones I’d like to place along the LaCrosse River Bike trail, but can’t, due to railroad proximity. (although I’m told I can try with the right combination of elements).

If we have to get little sheets along with our auto license stickers to explain how to negotiate these as drivers, it would seem that as Jim said, drivers have enough to worry about as we become familiar with these wonderful innovations, LOL.

[zoesbrother]

@-cheeto- wrote:

With modern roudabout intersections seeming to multiply around Wisconsin, I think it’s time to discuss whether these should be banned.

Today a cache was published that appears to be in the College Avenue bridge roundabout intersection. A new 4 lane roundabout intersection at the east end of the new College Avenue bridge. This is the 4th or 5th cache like this in the Appleton area. Several are in intersections of county highways.

Is putting a cache inside and around high traffic pattern roundabout intersections a good idea?

I will give my opinion later.

Just wait until the bridge opens back up and then try to get that cache.
Yes they should be banned from the inner circle.

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

Not only should they be banned for safety reasons. But they should just because who would want to find one in an intersection like that? Yah theres a place I wanna see.

[labrat_wr]

@JimandLinda wrote:

I voted “Yes”, they should be banned. Not as a cacher or pedestrian, but as a driver. There are enough places to look, and cars to watch, without having to wonder what that person with 2 little kids is doing in the roundabout! Are they watching ALL the cars and lanes as they scurry back across?
We enjoy the roundabout hides as cachers, but for the safety of everyone, especially cachers and there families, putting a hide in the middle of 2 streets (which is where you will find a roundabout) is risky.

If you should be 150 feet from a RR, which a train passes on occassionally, staying out of a roundabout makes even more sense!

Just my 2 cents worth…

Ditto! make that 4 cents!

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[hogrod]

Love roundabout intersections, never have to wait for more than a second when driving. With stoplights if you hit them all wrong you can get stuck in an area forever.
For caching I say no. I’d say 1/3 of people can’t even figure out how to flow into a roundabout when driving, I can’t imagine with having pedestrians in the area they would be just more distractions for everyone.

[Mister Greenthumb]

I’m going to vote yes even though I have a “roundabout” cache of sorts GC1X54P. I vote yes for safety reasons both to drivers and geocachers. Mine (Historic Okauchee) may not actully qualify as a true roundabout hide. It’s in a sitting area by a monument along the outer sidewalk circle of the roundabout. If anyone knows sleepy little Okauchee they would probably be surprised to find a rounabout here. I still think they’re waiting for the day when there are two cars inside of it at the same time. Roundabouts pose not only a potential hazard if a cache is hidden there, but could also hurt the name of geocaching.

[Team Black-Cat]

I think roundabouts should be banned…

[Captain and Mate]

Mate loves roundabouts-Captain hates them, but we agree that they’re no place for a cache.

[LDove]

What is there interesting to see on a roundabout? Nope, not worth the risk of somebody – either a driver or cacher getting hurt.

[marc_54140]

@labrat_wr wrote:

@JimandLinda wrote:

I voted “Yes”, they should be banned. Not as a cacher or pedestrian, but as a driver. There are enough places to look, and cars to watch, without having to wonder what that person with 2 little kids is doing in the roundabout! Are they watching ALL the cars and lanes as they scurry back across?
We enjoy the roundabout hides as cachers, but for the safety of everyone, especially cachers and there families, putting a hide in the middle of 2 streets (which is where you will find a roundabout) is risky.

If you should be 150 feet from a RR, which a train passes on occassionally, staying out of a roundabout makes even more sense!

Just my 2 cents worth…

Ditto! make that 4 cents!

6 Cents!

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