01-30-2016, 12:24 PM
(01-30-2016, 11:57 AM)BuildingScout Wrote: This is yet another reason why I'm not a fan of roundabouts at busy intersections. In my opinion they work best at medium traffic intersections, where (1) a red light would be unnecessary most of the time and (2) traffic would be low enough that drivers can pay attention to pedestrians crossing...
They seemed to have become the fashionable traffic solution and be applied without due consideration of local conditions.
The problem isn't with the concept of roundabouts but rather their implementation in Waterloo Region. Roundabouts at busy intersections can be fine for pedestrians and cyclists providing they're designed to accommodate us. In Europe that means underground passageways or overhead bridges, both with ramps for those who need them. If the Region hadn't cheaped-out on this there wouldn't be an issue for pedestrians/cyclists crossing at roundabouts.
As for the "'only' an extra minute at every crossing" argument, if the intent of our transportation plans is to get more people out of cars, then how does adding those minutes to a trip encourage more people to walk/cycle instead of drive?