Re: Langford taffic circle dangerous, Letters, July 1, 2011.
Don Wilkes correctly criticizes visual usability aspects of the traffic circle in beautiful downtown Langford.
But the problem is much larger.
Traffic circles are a fad in B.C. I can’t think of one that is of proper size, unlike those in Alberta and northeast B.C. years ago.
One is probably still in use in Dawson Creek and ones I’ve seen in the U.K. were on major streets, whereas more crowded locations had traffic lights.
Langford’s masterpiece is larger than many roundabouts, but still too small.
It is also inappropriate for the imbalance of traffic between Goldstream Avenue and side streets from which it is difficult to enter Goldstream due to the rule of yielding to vehicles already in the circle. Despite new arterial roads the need remains for four lanes on Goldstream Avenue.
A major municipal problem today is cutesy solutions that only work in the fantasies of politicians.
Besides messes such as Langford’s traffic circle we see Esquimalt Road’s centre median which works better at hiding jaywalkers than slowing traffic.
Often the motivation is misguided attempts to avoid proper policing to identify and curb bad drivers.
Keith Sketchley
Saanich