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Roundabouts: We want to hear from you
The state wants to hear what motorists think of roundabouts.
And they should start in Oakland County, where two communities have had them installed — Rochester Hills and West Bloomfield Township.
Readers vary. Some wonder what's the big deal and why can't others figure them out. Others say they are wrong for the type of driving we do around here.
One editor here commented that roundabouts might work well, but not with Michigan drivers. You have to know who your audience is.
Personally, I like them and I can maneuver easily through them; however, I must admit that I worry when I go through them about the other drivers. Feel free to share your thoughts here, but at least check out the comments on our story about the state survey.
It's actually a healthy discussion, which is something I do very much like.
Labels: bloomfield, rochester, rochester hills, roundabouts, west bloomfield
posted by Stephen Frye at
1:35 PM
7 Comments:
I think they work on two lane roads. In many areas, a stop sign is not necessary. If you can not figure out how to drive through a round about, you need to go back to drivers education classes. Driving is a cooperative activity. I have to trust that other drivers know what to do in each situation. Roundabouts are efficient and make sense.
Our poll question is running very tight. 54 percent hate it and 46 percent can work with them. It's on our homepage, www.theoaklandpress.com
I like them.. They keep the traffic flowing. It's a bit of a crapshoot, because many people do not know when to enter and do so at inappropriate times. On the other hand, it gives a chance for those that would like to but have been unable to pass slower traffic headed in the same direction.
It would be nice if MDOT put public service announcement out showing proper use of roundabouts. They put'em up and it's been like the wild west.
One of the better comments on our story about this had someone noting that roundabouts were installed to avoid traffic lights but then they had to install lights for pedestrians (particularly blind pedestrians and the Americans with Disability Act, I believe)
I have no trouble figuring them out, but do call them accidents waiting to happen. It takes only one person to not know what they are doing to create a mess.
And don't forget the roundabout at Baldwin and Indianwood Road! It's been there almost two years and is great. They just take a bit of getting used to--and it's not a place to text and drive. They work well when drivers pay attention and focus on what they are doing. Hoping we get more in northern oakland county.
Yes, you're right Jonathan, I forgot about that one. It's been a long time since I drove through the Orion Township roundabout. I remember a few years ago, when still on either the court or cop beat, I got some calls about there being a rash of accidents at the roundabout. It might have even prompted a story. This was before the one was put on Tienken Road in Rochester Hills and long before the West Bloomfield roundabouts.
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