Just take a look at the planned monstrosity:
It looks like something more appropriate for I-69. It is completely unacceptable for use by all but the most daring bicyclists, and completely unacceptable for pedestrians.
This plan is on the verge of final approval!
Local transportation activist Buff Brown (founder of B-TOP) made an eloquent plea a couple of weeks ago to the Citizens Advisory Committee, pointing out serious flaws in the plan and advocating for a more sensible, vastly smaller, four-way stop sign. (Even in its current state the intersection is vastly too wide, at 100 feet between the east and west stop lines.)
The proposal is part of a larger package - called the Transportation Improvement Program - of such roundabouts. In addition to its intrinsic flaws it will eat up much or all of our local federal allocation for transportation infrastructure. It is now moving on to the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Policy Board meeting, Friday, April 8, 1:30 pm, at City Hall.
If you are concerned about bicycling infrastructure (not to mention urban sprawl, increased vehicle traffic, speeding traffic, etc.) it would be worth putting in an appearance at this upcoming meeting. There will only be a limited opportunity to get this proposal changed.
Buff Brown has prepared a detailed 16 page document addressing fundamental concerns about this proposal and proposing more reasonable alternatives. Click here to download it. (6.8MB PDF file)
Edit Monday April 4: Taking into consideration the public input we have received, including the resolution passed by the Citizens Advisory Committee, Mayor Kruzan has decided to postpone the construction of the Sare and Rogers roundabout by one year until Fiscal Year 2013. This will allow for more consideration of the design and details of the roundabout. The City will be making this recommendation at the Policy Committee meeting on Friday, April 8. [From City Director of Public Works, Susie Johnson.]
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Allan, I also spoke in opposition to this at the Citizens Action Committee And have spent time with the city engineer who is willing to consider signage establishing priority for vulnerable road users.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, Buff's picture above is a bit misleading because it excludes pedestrian oriented improvements including crosswalk refuges. In addition, the circle is exactly the same radius as the High Street Circle. The detailed plans can be seen on the city website at http://bloomington.in.gov/documents/viewDocument.php?document_id=35 In addition, to a cyclists going straight or to the right, the lane separation may actually reduce confusion. The real issue for cyclists will be the left turn. Unfortunately, road cyclists are the only constituency that loses something in this.
Nonetheless, this will take an intersection where everyone stops and change it to one where the left turning carsvare projected to go at 17mph, right turning cars at 27mph, and straight bound cars at 25mph (all despite 15mph posted speeds).
The next step is the policy committee on 4/8. I will attend as the BBC safety director AND, REGARDLESS OF MY PERSONAL WILL ADVOCATE A POSITION ON BEHALF OF THE BBC THT REPRESENTS A CONSENSUS OF FEEDBACK I RECEIVE. Feel free to email me at the address in the club roster.
Chris Tietz
Chris brought this up at the start of the OWLs ride tonight. I grew up with roundabouts in the UK so am well used to them...and I think this is a bit of a monstrosity. How many of you have seen motorists stop at each exit on the roundabout on Winslow/High Street/Rogers? I know I have. I dont fancy their chances on this.
ReplyDeleteCyclists turning right will have to yield / filter in to the traffic continuing straight across the roundabout...which would to Chris's point above be travelling at a greater speed than if this were a 4 way stop. This is even more of an issue coming up the hill from Rogers and turning right...worse continuing straight as you'll be going across the traffic coming north on Sare. I'm not the slickest getting into pedals at the best of times!
Thanks Allan, Chris, Buff for bringing this up.
Rob Evans
I am very very far from being a roundabout or transportation expert, but it seems to me that there should be deterrents to slow down traffic before this circle. The 25mph and 27mph estimates scare me! I also noted that the roundabout has parts that are only 1 lane making there no room for mistakes for vehicles. Isn't the purpose of the roundabout to continue movement in all directions and not hinder it. I suggest that the circle have 2 lanes in its entirety. And maybe the HT should publish articles on how to drive in a rotary. I've almost rear ended a police cruiser because he came to a complete stop at one of our current roundabouts! Jim Schroeder
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