page_title: Roundabout (play)
hierarchical_section_title: Roundabout (play)
caption_attribution_description: English: A simplified drawing of some types of roundabout to be found in British playgrounds, along with a brief description of each type.
context_page_description: A playground roundabout is a flat disk, frequently about 2 to 3 metres in diameter, with bars on it that act as both hand-holds and something to lean against while riding. The disk can be made to spin by pushing or pulling on its handles, either by running around the outside, or by pulling and re-grabbing as it spins, from a stationary stance. Often found in school playgrounds and public parks, they offer riders a dizzying ride when either others spin the wheel, or by spinning it themselves by running around it, and then jumping on. People may take turns between riding and spinning. One type of roundabout which differs significantly in terms of how the rotary motion is provided is a Swedish device called the HAGS Pedal Roundabout, which resembles four small exercise bikes attached to a tubular steel ring, which travel on a circular steel rail on the ground. The ring is attached to a vertical pole in the center by four spokes. There is a driving wheel hidden under the casing of each of the "exercise bikes" and the roundabout is turned by the pedaling action of the riders.
  Both "roundabout" and "merry-go-round" are also often synonyms for carousel.
context_section_description: A playground roundabout (or merry-go-round) is a flat disk, frequently about 2 to 3 metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) in diameter, with bars on it that act as both hand-holds and something to lean against while riding. The disk can be made to spin by pushing or pulling on its handles, either by running around the outside, or by pulling and re-grabbing as it spins, from a stationary stance.  Often found in school playgrounds and public parks, they offer riders (typically children) a dizzying ride when either others spin the wheel, or by spinning it themselves by running around it, and then jumping on. People may take turns between riding and spinning. One type of roundabout which differs significantly in terms of how the rotary motion is provided is a Swedish device called the HAGS Pedal Roundabout, which resembles four small exercise bikes attached to a tubular steel ring, which travel on a circular steel rail on the ground. The ring is attached to a vertical pole in the center by four spokes. There is a driving wheel hidden under the casing of each of the "exercise bikes" (the casings prevent toes being run over) and the roundabout is turned by the pedaling action of the riders.
  Both "roundabout" and "merry-go-round" are also often synonyms for carousel.
  The playground roundabout is a simplified version of a fairground carousel.
  The roundabout uses rotary motion, which means it spins around in a circle either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
caption: A simplified drawing of various older types of roundabout to be found in British playgrounds
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