It was the BarrieToday headline that sent shivers down my spine: “Ready for roundabouts?”
They could become part of the local growing part of local traffic landscape.
No! Absolutely not ready! I will never be prepared. The mere thought of them makes me feel queasy.
Currently, I only have to avoid a couple in the city. One at Park Place — thankfully, there is a backdoor entry — and one at The Queensway in the city's south end.
The city, though, is considering putting one at Ross, Collier and Bayfield streets. There is also an environmental assessment for Bradford Street with the future plan for a pair of roundabouts at Tiffin and Lakeshore.
Phew. Where is my puffer?
Barrie, have we citizens not suffered enough? We have been forced to endure the Five Points for all these years.
I know, I know. They are all the rage in Europe and are considered to offer a better and safer flow of traffic. Studies say you just get sideswiped rather than hit head-on.
People who love them really love them. Maybe if you grew up in a region with roundabouts they make sense to you.
They do not make sense to me. Maybe it’s the way my brain is wired.
Maybe it's like “does this dress look gold or blue to you?”
I really don’t know, but they seem illogical to me.
Believe me, I have tried to get comfortable.
A few years ago, Barrie Coun. Sergio Morales took his life in his hands and took me out to Park Place and attempted to explain the concept and then put me behind the wheel to practice. I nodded at all the appropriate times, but I never really understood.
It's just a circle I can’t square.
I do remember him saying: “You never stop in a roundabout.”
I didn’t until I was way far away from that nightmare.
Try as you may to convince me that most motorists understand them, I beg to differ. I’m going out on a limb and saying a lot of people are lying. I submit most have no clue what they are doing and they simply fake it.
“Get in the circle, close your eyes, go around a bit and fly off on one of those spokes and keep going without looking back.”
Google says: “The right lane is intended for those who need to exit at the first street. Those wanting a subsequent exit use the inside lane and the person wanting to get off has the right-of-way.”
What if I don’t want to get in that circle in the first place? Can there be a roundabout bypass?
BarrieToday spoke with Young Drivers of Canada instructor Al Zurawski, who says it does make sense from a safety aspect.
“The purpose of them is to allow you to get from one street to another eliminating any cross flow. The key is to pay attention to the signage leading up to the roundabout to know what lane to be in," he said.
OK, see that is where I get lost. It comes up so fast. I’m trying to read the signs, but I am not supposed to slow down, so I just brace and pray there are no other vehicles.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone off on the wrong spoke only to have to retrace my steps and try again.
The thing is there are times I think I have successfully navigated one and I likely have, but I have no way of knowing. Maybe if there was a bright light or a bell that could do off.
“Ding ding ding! Yay, driver, you did it!”
Now, I will admit I also feel the need to turn my radio down as I search for an address.
For the record, I also don’t care for concrete barriers on the side of the highway. They make me feel like I am about to steer into them.
Parallel parking is another evil I try to avoid at all costs. I did it when I was 16 for the test. That was plenty.
Lest you assume I am a nervous or horrible driver, I am actually neither. But there are just a few things that always give me angst.
I know I can’t hold back progress. I will just hope against hope that the discussions go round and round and grind to a screeching halt because you can’t stop in a roundabout.
