Walking in Waterloo Region

[jamincan]

Part of the problem in Waterloo Region is poor driver discipline in roundabouts, and difficulty enforcing it. Key problems are failure to signal (slowly improving) and speeding through the roundabout. I think the prevalent mentality here is that a roundabout is like a mini free-flowing interchange instead of a free-flowing intersection. The important distinction is that a free-flowing interchange has limited points of interaction between other vehicles and you generally have a clear expectation where those will occur and can prepare for and anticipate them easily. An intersection has far more in a much smaller area that requires slowing down and being fully aware of your surroundings.

Brainstorming some potential solutions:

1) implementing the pedestrian crossing signals. I don't think they necessarily have to be moved from their present location despite the guidelines. The main objective is to increase the awareness of drivers to the presence of a pedestrian.

2) install speed bumps at the entrance/exits of the roundabout to force people to moderate their speed. This doesn't improve pedestrian visibility, but the reduced speeds will allow greater time for both pedestrians and motorists to react to each other. Not really suitable on higher volume roundabouts.

3) provincial guidelines on how roundabouts should operate and then better enforcement of the rules. Importantly also, awareness through media about how to behave in them. It's astonishing how ignorant so many people are about how roundabouts are supposed to operate.

4) more open design. Right now, there is always a big berm in the centre of the roundabout, probably to prevent someone from barreling straight through. This prevents someone entering the roundabout from being able to clearly see the part where they are going to exit and anticipate future conflicts. Right now, the motorist in the roundabout is concerned about steering through it and potential conflicts with vehicles on their right. A pedestrian crossing at the exit will remain invisible until the motorist is partway through the roundabout and already distracted by other things. Removing the berm and replacing it with other barriers might make it possible for them to anticipate pedestrian traffic earlier and act accordingly.