This is where we need a traffic circle
Suggestion to the powers that be: Instead of putting traffic circles where they don't belong, how about putting one at 27th Ave. and 28th Lane? When drivers leave Pollo Tropical or the Shell station, for some reason, they don't take the US1 side out, so they take 28th Lane, go to 27th Ave. and they try to make a left turn into midday traffic.This backs up traffic 1/4 mile at times on 28th Lane. Sometimes it is all the way backed up into the Shell station lot. If a traffic circle is not feasible there (where there is heavy traffic), how about a "no left turn" law from 28th Lane onto 27th Avenue? I know there really is not a four way intersection here, so maybe the "no left turn" is the answer.
In the photo above, you can see about 10 cars waiting for the one car trying to turn left all the way at the front. I was the next car back and there were about five cars behind me. I am hearing crickets at the traffic circle on Virginia and Shipping as I type this. Wish we could pick that one up and move it here.
posted by Tom Falco at 7:51 AM
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8 Comments:
Sorry Grapeman, a traffic circle there is not possible. It would be a total nightmare as well. Regardless of what you believe about traffic circles, they still cause traffic in busy areas because you have 4 entries (in this case it would only be 3 but still...) and people need to wait to get in. If a traffic circle went in there, the spillage on 27th would flow to US1 and cause a total logjam. Its just not possible. Plus, you cant expect Miami to be "traffic free". Its a CITY. Waiting a few minutes wont kill you. Deep breaths...
...or ride your bike. Best way to get around the Grove and free parking!!
The real problem is not the lack of a traffic circle or other traffic taming device, but simply that there are just too many cars for the roadways. That coupled with discourteous and/or distracted drivers equals the jams we encounter at all times of the day here in our BIG CITY.
From my personal experience, I believe the best use for traffic circles are at major intersections, i.e. all along US1. There would be less backing up of cars that would normally come to a dead stop. It would pose a better solution than that of traffic signals. It works in congested areas of Rome and Paris where European drivers have seemed to master this technique of merge and flow. Here (Stateside) I find that most drivers take personal offense if you try to merge in front of them. They do everything to try to cut you off. Most traffic jams could be averted if people were more simply more courteous and just let other drivers in. A natural flow happens - keeping everything moving. If only drivers learned that merging at a yield sign never means coming to a dead stop. The Cocoplum traffic circle goes pretty smoothly at rush hour.
Nyah, the Cocoplum circle doesnt receive 1/100th of the traffic that US1 gets. Traffic circles on US1 wont work. Its way too busy. In the suburbs of Boston, they use rotaries on semi-busy sections of road, but that is more like a A1A than a US1.
You are right about the abundance of autos on the road though. You can thank the City of Miami who year after year refuses to push for a public transportation system and instead wastes hundreds of millions on ridiculous things like the $550 Million (now $630M I believe) Performing Arts Center and changing the wall that lines US1. This city desperately needs a USEFUL public transportation system.
LOL, the idea of a traffic circle right there on 27th is one of the luniest (no disrespect) ideas, Mr. Grapevine, that I have heard.
I do really like your idea of a no left turn sign there. Wow! Would that save time (if anybody obeyed it).
As far as the crickets on Sarnoff Circle go, I do like their cadence, but I wonder what happened to the second tree. Does anyone know?
I think Traffic circles on US 1 probably sound better if you aren't forced to cross it on foot every day on your way home from the train. Can you imagine navigating a US 1 rotary on foot?
1. The only alternative for people trying to get from that strip mall to SW-bound US 1 would be to turn right and go down to Bird Road, which has enough traffic of its own at peak times.
2. A traffic circle in that spot would be, as others have aptly pointed out, a major disruption to traffic on U.S. 1.
Adam, you are absolutely right about the dangers of crossing the street, regardless of said hypothetical traffic circle. I totally commiserate with you - pedestrians are definitely not granted the lawful "Right-Of-Way. You really do risk life and limb as you double look both ways before stepping into glorified asphalt. Be careful.
From my experience, in most other North American cities and towns the size of our Coco Grove, it is practiced, observed, and self-motivated courteous behaviour that motorized vehicles totally yield for peds. I've driven around in Denver, Aspen, Boulder, Austin, Santa Fe, SF, Dallas, La Jolla, et al and learned to stop if there's a ped on the side. Hey man - is dah law!
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