Can US Cities Tame Drivers’ Outrage Over Roundabouts?

In Ashland, Kentucky, the buzz around roundabouts has been anything but smooth. City commissioner Joshua Blanton’s mayoral run hit a bump as his advocacy for these traffic circles stirred up community resistance. Many locals blamed the roundabout construction for traffic headaches and business slowdowns. While they’re a common sight in places like France and the UK, roundabouts haven’t hit the same popularity in the U.S. The challenge seems to be helping people look beyond the initial inconvenience to realize the benefits of safer roads and fewer emissions. Can American cities learn to navigate this circular debate?

Get the full story from Bloomberg. And if you don’t’ know why this matters in Minot, then welcome out! You’ve clearly been living under a rock. And because you’re joining the conversation late, roundabouts are a really old traffic intersection that are finding their way into places they haven’t been before. They are faster, safer, often cheaper because they don’t require traffic lights, and so, obviously, a source of much outrage.

Linda Poon, Magdalena Del Valle

Bloomberg

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