The world’s most weird and wonderful roundabouts

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In the UK, we’re familiar with roundabouts – we’ve been using them as junctions for over 100 years now, and we have thousands of them of all sizes. They seem to confuse US visitors who have only recently started to swap their energy-intensive crossroads with traffic lights for slower, safer and more eco-friendly roundabouts.

But what about the rest of the world? Do they have as much of a love for them as we seem to have? This week, we’re taking a look at some of the weird and wonderful roundabouts of the world.

The Magic Roundabout in Swindon

_63126500_msn_magic_roundabout_470x350 from the BBC - Copy

Named the ‘Magic Roundabout’ like so many similar junctions in the UK, Swindon’s version is possibly the most famous. Opened in 1972, it consists of five smaller roundabouts around one big (anti-clockwise) one. A scary prospect for the first-time user, Swindon’s Magic Roundabout is described as easy to use once you know what you’re doing.

You can learn more about its history at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-19726385

The magical floating tap in Ypres, Belgium

Image from https://funsubstance.com/fun/283929/cool-roundabout-in-ypres-belgium/ What European roundabout would be complete without a giant floating tap? This roundabout in Ypres, Belgium certainly knows how to rock the tap look. It’s a show-stopping sight which makes you think. I hope it’s not caused too many traffic mishaps!

Still Life with Stone and Car – Sydney

wnphoto3102112_lg sydney from weekendnotes

More roundabout art in Sydney, Australia. I bet this one would make you look twice. It does make me wonder where the artist found the inspiration for this. I suppose it’s a bit more imaginative than grass and flowers.

Photo from http://www.weekendnotes.com/walsh-bay-sculpture-walk/72286/

L’Etoile, Paris

Arc-de-Triomphe-de-l’Étoile-Paris-Monument

The official name for the junction around the Arc De Triomphe in Paris, L’etoiile is a 12-junction fear-fest. French insurance companies provide insurance for driving here as an optional extra. Unlike other roundabouts, you have to give way to traffic coming on to the roundabout instead of what’s already on there. It gets very crowded and getting off at your chosen exit can be an effort.

Cars in concrete, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Image From: www.clubjed.com Jeddah has lots of weird and wonderful roundabouts but I particularly like this cars one. Who needs one car with a rock in it when you can have several cars in a slab of concrete? Bite that, Sydney!

Glorieta de los Caballos, Mexico

thelocalist.com-glorieta-de-los-caballos

The USA may have a young relationship with roundabout but next door in Mexico, their love is deeper and comes across in its bountiful roundabout art. This one is known as ‘the horse roundabout’ and is in Guadalajara, west-central Mexico. Because if you’re going to do roundabout art, you might as well do it in style! Learn more about it at http://thelocalist.com/mexico/mexican-roundabouts/

And if you’re still confused by roundabouts yourself, here’s a refresher from 2Pass.co.uk

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