Making the Springfield Roundabout More Dangerous

Robin's commentary --

As everybody is totally aware (except for the local government of Springfield which totally denies the allegations) that the roundabout at Pioneer Parkway and Harlow Road is a total nightmare and is a road that myself and many other people that I know try to avoid at all costs.

Trying to negotiate a double lane roundabout is hard enough as it is without feeling like you're going to get rammed by some other car who's either not paying attention or their focus is on the other cars trying to get through the roundabout.

Yesterday, as we are on our way to Riverbend Hospital I noticed that crews were setting up the flashing crosswalk signs which would require vehicles to STOP when there is a pedestrian in the roadway.

Granted, I don't think that pedestrians were taken into consideration when they came up with their "wonderful" idea for the roundabout versus using a four-way stop or the old-fashioned stoplights.

Now with the addition of the pedestrian crossing signs, I feel is just another added risk to this already dangerous intersection.

My recommendation to the city of Springfield is just to suck it up, put up a traffic light and make it safer for all.