It’s cost £2million, enraged 1,000 people enough to sign a petition demanding it be halted, and been branded ‘moronic’ and ‘crazy’ – so just what IS the big problem with Britain’s ‘wokest roundabout’?
Hemel Hempstead is the venue for the latest battle between pedestrians, drivers and cyclists for safe road space – and the arena is a controversial ‘Dutch-style’ junction thought so complicated that users are advised to watch a three-minute explainer video before they get anywhere near it.
So, with GoPro camera firmly affixed and cycling helmet safely buckled up, MailOnline took a deep breath and tried it for ourselves.
The new road layout means that pedestrians have priority, and cars and bikes must give way.
Cyclists are next in line and finally cars are at the bottom of the pecking order and must stop for everyone else.
Not only are there new rules for users but the roundabout has a new look too with an outer ring for pedestrians with zebra crossings, an inner bright green circle for cyclists and finally the centre, reserved for cars.
And while cyclists in the local area are overjoyed with the new feature, others are less convinced by the roundabout and some drivers are furious and branded the project a waste of money.
Before even setting wheel on the road I made sure to watch the three-minute long explainer video posted by Hertfordhire County Council which showed an idyllic and polite exchange between pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
MailOnline reporter Poppy Atkinson Gibson turned her hand to venturing around Britain’s ‘wokest’ roundabout
The £2million Dutch-style roundabout in Hemel Hempstead is the fourth of its kind in the UK, where cyclists are prioritised over cars and other motors
Hertfordshire County Council has shared a three-minute explainer video on how to navigate the new roundabout – a video which our reporter diligently watched
In the animation I was told to slow down as I approached the roundabout and let those on foot pass first before being warned to stay alert for other people cycling – and pedestrians, and cars too – and my head was soon spinning.
The video reassured me that cars should always give way to cyclists before warning that I should always be attentive which didn’t boost my confidence.
The whizzing-by of animated cars and bikes made me feel nervous – and I’d not even strapped on my helmet.
The video also explained that cars should slow down and prepare to give way to everyone else and I watched for an age as the car and I patiently waited for the all the animated figures to eventually get from one side of the crossing to the other – I could already anticipate complaints from motorists over the time it might take to get round.
No sooner had the animated car moved beyond the crossing than it was forced to brake immediately to avoid being hit by a lorry and it sat there for another age before driving off and then stopping once again to let someone cross the road.
After watching the clip I gingerly started out on one of the slip roads feeding in to the new roundabout but whatever tips I picked up in the video did nothing to prepare me for the real thing.
All was going well and it seemed like a smooth cycle, until I encountered a fellow vehicle.
A lorry made it’s way on to the roundabout and I carried on cycling smoothly, hopeful it would stop for me.
But Poppy’s head was still left ‘spinning’ by the clip as it urged her to be aware of vehicles whilst also adding they should always give way to cyclists
All was well for our reporter until she came across another vehicle – and both of them nervously slowed down and gave way to one another
But the HGV saw me in my purple helmet and immediately sped up as I made my way round the bright green lane.
In fight-or-flight mode and taken over by panic, I didn’t know whether to pedal harder and hold my ground – as per the video – or stop dead in my tracks to avoid being squashed.
I opted for the latter but the hard braking only added to my nervousness.
Shaken by my near-miss with the lorry, when I later encountered a car I forgot all my video tutorial.
Despite knowing I had right of way I still instinctively slowed down when I got to a passing point to allow the car to pass which irritated it no end since it had slowed down to let me go first.
Their frustration only grew when I continued to sit there before realising it was indeed my right of way and pedaling off.
Aware it was a very new layout I was hypersensitive to potential hazards and was overly cautious as I approached people walking, slowing down even when they didn’t want to cross.
I was nervous going round even in my designated cycle lane and found the whole experience worrisome even without much on the road.
The frustration of the motorist only grew, Poppy said, as it continued to wait for her to take up her right of way
Rather than a smooth sailing journey, our reporter felt it was very much stop and start, as she continuously worried making her way around
With the whipping round of large lorries and only the odd pedestrian it felt like a stop-start journey with more time than normal spent worrying about whether I would hit someone or whether someone would hit me.
And I wasn’t the only one unsure of the new layout.
Local Mev also said he thought the new layout was ridiculous, branding the project a waste of money.
He bemoaned that the roundabout was in the wrong location, tucked away in an industrial estate.
Mev argued it was mainly used by lorries driving back and forth to warehouses and was useless for cyclists and drivers.
‘It’s just a waste. Why is it even here? No one ever drives round here, there’s no one about. It’s cost millions and only lorries drive down it,’ he said.
He revealed he never ventures to the industrial estate on Boundary Way and doubted that anyone who does would cycle or walk.
Mev said he thought the council are hoping that warehouse workers will walk and cycle to work but he was unconvinced.
‘There will be a housing estate but in the future. And maybe they’ll walk but they’ll probably drive – everyone in Hemel Hempstead drives everywhere,’ he said: ‘It’s not like London where you don’t need a car, here everyone has at least one car.’
Local Mev bashed the project as a ‘waste of money’, adding that he believed the council hoped more warehouse workers would cycle or walk to work
Cyclist Dennis Davidson said he was excited to give the new roundabout (pictured) a go, but was nervous, having come to visit the site to ‘get a visual recce’
A taxi driver who wished to remain anonymous echoed these remarks, revealing he fears the roundabout will only cause more crashes, as motorists like himself will be forced to look in all directions as they enter the roundabout.
‘There are only so many ways people’s attentions can be diverted,’ he said: ‘People will have to look left, right, for pedestrians, for cyclists, for other cars and that’s before they even get on to the roundabout.’
While drivers were unimpressed by the multi-million pound scheme, cyclists hailed the new road fixture.
Dennis Davidson said was excited to try out the new road layout and called it ‘adventurous’ but admitted he had been nervous and so had come down to ‘get a visual recce’ before hopping on his bike and having a go.
He revealed not many people had given the roundabout a try since it had opened on Tuesday.
He explained: ‘This Dutch-style roundabout is great, I think it’s about time we learnt from the Dutch.’
The ‘keen’ cyclist said he hoped the new layout would be safer and confessed he had been in one or two accidents over the years.
He said: ‘I’ve lived here for 40 years and I’m a keen cyclist and I’ve had my fair share of accidents around the lanes of Hemel Hempstead so to see this with a cycle lane in well, we’re way behind [The Netherlands].
‘We’ve got a great industrial estate and a housing estate coming so I think it will be useful in the future’.
Councillor Robin Bromham for Leverstock Green Ward trying out the new roundabout on June 3, 2025
Resident Adam Green was also in agreement that not many pedestrians or cyclists who used the £2million roudabout at the moment
But Mr Davidson admitted that he wasn’t sure how useful the roundabout would be for pedestrians, confessing very few people walked around this area.
‘We’re the only ones walking here today but maybe there’ll be factory workers and people will commute form the new estate on bike and on foot,’ he said.
Adam Green agreed, explaining there weren’t many pedestrians or cyclists in the area who would use the roundabout right now.
However, he believes the council are looking to the future with the move, and was excited to try the new roundabout as a cyclist.
‘For once the council is planning in to the future.’
Tracey Woods, 63, also revealed she was glad of the new fixture although confessed it may take people some time to get used to the changes.
‘I think it’s great, you can just continually get round it, I really like it,’ she said: ‘I expect people on driving lessons will approach it with some trepidation but if everyone follows the arrows it should be fine.’
Although Mr Davidson, Mr Green and Ms Woods were pleased about the changes, many in Hemel Hempstead were indifferent as they didn’t think it would affect them at all.
Several locals confessed they had never been to Boundary Way and didn’t have any need to.
Rudina, 33, said she thought the project was poorly thought out and added she plans to avoid the roundabout altogether.
Since moving to Hemel Hempstead she has never used the roads around Boundary Way and doesn’t think she will in the future, explaining the change won’t affect her
She added: ‘I’ve lived here for one year and I’ve never been there.’
Even some taxi drivers were surprised the roundabout was open and said they’d not heard anything about it or been asked by customers to be taken there.
