It's a good idea to think outside the box sometimes (in this case we
can try thinking inside a circle instead), so a roundabout is worth
considering.
But I'm not sure it would work at this intersection. First of all,
there's the question of vertical grade. The intersection itself is
fairly level, but there are serious hills going east of west on
Regent or Monroe Streets. Would these pose a problem for the
roundabout? There's also the problem of horizontal space. Can we
fit a roundabout in the existing space? If not, can we expand the
space without tearing anything down? To the north, the Fieldhouse
parking lot should be available, but there are building in other
directions, housing people or businesses. I would not support
tearing the building containing Kipp's -- which serves the best
chicken in the known universe -- or the block containing Mickie's or
New Orleans takeout, and I think my neighbors would agree with me.
I also wonder how the roundabout would handle traffic on the
Southwest Path. Would the path follow its current route, and cut
straight across the center of the circle, or would bikes be expected
to merge with auto traffic and go around the edge of the circle?
Either alternative would create problems.
It's possible that all these questions can be resolved to our
satisfaction, but they would need to be discussed before we can think
seriously about a roundabout at this location.
On Oct 26, 2007, at 7:40 PM, George Perkins wrote:
Riding through that intersection last night, I realized there are
eight (8) spokes that come
together to form the intersection. Spokes and a wheel seem
appropriate...
http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Madison,
+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.067794,-89.413862&spn=0.002959,0.005665&z=18&om=1
I wonder if the biking community has strong feelings about traffic
circles? I know roundabouts
seem to generate extreme polarization in the automobile world, but
they are (in my biking world) a
bit of an unknown. I like them when I've visited Europe and
Washington DC. They seem to be very
effective traffic calmers and traffic movers. I just don't know
how well a bicyclist fares in
them.
Traffic (ped, bike, motor) aside, I think a traffic circle
(roundabout) would be a wonderful asset
to the Regent-Monroe-Breese-SWBikePath-Little-Oakland-CrazyLegs!
intersection if done with enough
emphasis on art/architecture/landscape. The great cities of the
world feature big traffic circles
that become landmarks. This particular intersection is one of the
gateways to the UW and downtown
Madison. The UW might need to give up a bit of its parking lot and
Monroe and Regent Streets
would need to bend a bit to make a circle fit. But imagine the
possibilities...
I envision removal of the ridiculous phallic sculpture now gracing
the stadium with something of a
more classical design - a tall fountain with fish, cherubs and
Greek gods and goddesses, perhaps.
If the fountain (including seating, flower boxes, etc.) could be
placed at the center of a
wonderful traffic circle, this could be a lasting monument for
generations to come.
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