Traffic circles, or roundabouts, are BIG lately in urban planning circles. Particularly in residential neighbor-hoods, they are being touted as “traffic calming tools,” slowing traffic and allowing pedestrians to cross streets more safely.
Of course, they've been in use in many other countries for quite a while -- very successfully, too. Especially in locations where several roads intersect, round-abouts can efficiently move the traffic without making cars actually stop. Sure, it may take a while to learn how to operate while driving in one, but what new skill doesn’t take a while to learn? Those major traffic circles aren’t made for people, and pedestrians cross only at the peripheries of the roundabouts. The centers usually contain some sort of monument, statue or decorative fountain.
Here in SD, there used to be a small round-about at a ‘T’ intersection in a place called Harbor Island. It worked well, allowing traffic to move efficiently without having to come to a complete stop.
That, however, wasn’t good enough for our local traffic planners. They tore-up the circle and replaced it with a traffic signal. Now, even cars going straight on the top of the ‘T’ need to stop for those turning left from the leg of the ‘T’ to the top part. I don’t happen to recall how much it cost to construct this unneeded and less-efficient intersection, but it was in the realm of a few million dollars. And, of course, the light needs power to operate, which is an ongoing cost.
Meanwhile, the city installed traffic-calming roundabouts on La Jolla Boulevard, the main business street in the Bird Rock neighbor-hood. From all accounts, they work beautifully: traffic still moves, albeit slower, walkers cross safer, and businesses on the street say they have more customers – those who used to just drive past now see them and stop.
This anecdote serves as a metaphor for how too many things seem to work – or, rather, NOT work – here in “America’s Finest City.” Hence, the title of this journal.
