[gps-talkusers] Roundabouts for Charles
- From: Peter Bosher <peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: gps-talkusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:37:55 +0000
Hi Charles,
I sent this message to the list a few weeks back, perhaps while you
were on vacation. There were a few replies in support of my
suggestion, and without meaning to pester you, I'd really appreciate
your take on this. I've added one or two clarifications to my
original message, but when you get a moment, please do let us know
what you think.
Original message:
As I was one of those who asked for Sendero to handle roundabouts in
a more usable way, I'd first like to thank Charles and the team for a
terrific job in version 5. I have now done some long car journeys
running Sendero alongside Wayfinder in order to compare how they
dealt with roundabouts, with the emphasis on how useful the
instructions are for the driver, but also taking into account
pedestrian use. Sendero is now definitely usable for this kind of
journey and I know how much work went into this, so a huge thank you.
I do have one suggestion which I think would make for even better results.
At present, for any roundabout at all, besides the message about
which exit to take, (which is working perfectly) you will hear,
either when browsing or with "Approaching ..." either left turn, ten
o'clock turn, or eleven-o'clock turn. This refers to the actual
turn onto the roundabout, and is entirely unhelpful. It's unhelpful
to the driver who does not think of the turn onto the roundabout as a
left turn, and unhelpful to a pedestrian who does not walk on the
roundabout, but rather needs to work out which intervening roads to
cross. Similarly, when on the roundabout, the exit road will be
classed as a left-turn, which is equally unhelpful.
What I am suggesting is what I have always suggested, but it's hard
to put over in an Email, so let me try just once more.
The information about the turning should refer only to the road you
are to take, in relation to the road you are on before you enter the
roundabout. The roundabout itself should not be treated as a
road. For example, let's say you have a simple four-way
roundabout. You are on road A, and the roundabout joins roads A, B,
C and D, going in order clockwise around the roundabout. If I am to
take road B, then that is the first exit, and a left-turn. If I am
to take road C, then that is the second exit, and an ahead-turn. If
I am to take road D, then that is the third exit, and a right-turn.
This approach could equally well cope with more than four roads,
since, for example, the fourth exit might be a two-o'clock turn, the
fifth exit a four-o'clock turn and so-on, so in this case, it would
say "approaching four-o'clock turn ..." and "turn four-o'clock taking
fifth exit." . The crucial point is to give information about the
road you are to take relative to the road you're on, and never to
count the roundabout itself as a road.
Charles: if you don't agree with this as a possible improvement,
please could you say why not because it seems such a clear-cut
simplification for both vehicle and pedestrian use, but maybe I still
haven't managed to explain it, or am missing something important.
In any case, I'm still absolutely delighted with version 5 so this is
a refinement request, albeit an important one for those countries
where roundabouts really are a big deal.
All the best,
Peter
--
*******
Peter Bosher,
Email: peter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.soundlinks.com/
Tel': (+44) (0) 1494 794 797
Fax: (+44) (0) 1494 583 146
snail://
SoundLinks Limited,
43 Broadlands Avenue,
Chesham,
Bucks.
HP5 1AL
England.
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