America's 'roundabout city' is in … Indiana?

The city of Carmel, Indiana has 158 roundabouts, making it the roundabout capital of the United States. 

According to a CNU Public Square article by Robert Steuteville, the city has eliminated almost all of its traffic lights in favor of roundabouts that keep traffic flowing smoothly and more safely.

But traffic safety isn't the only benefit of the roundabouts. Steuteville, who has written about them before, adds that they play a key role in Carmel's downtown development. In fact, "This intersection type complements Carmel’s broader redevelopment efforts, which promote compact, mixed-use development and active transportation."

According to Henry Mestetsky, executive director of Carmel Redevelopment Commission, "By replacing congestion with continuity, [the roundabouts] created safer streets, cleaner air, and a public realm that invites walking, biking, and investment," becoming "catalysts for redevelopment, supporting compact, mixed-use districts and demonstrating how thoughtful transportation design can transform a city from the ground up." 

After the town installed roundabouts in its town center, it was able to break up former 'superblocks' into smaller blocks with walkable frontage suitable for mixed-use development. Roundabouts also provide new green spaces and platforms for civic art.

City Engineer Bradley Pease explains that the roundabouts are part of a broader mobility vision: "Carmel’s investment extends to multi-use paths, thoughtfully narrowed roadways, and the intentional activation of public spaces that encourage walking, biking, gathering, and everyday community life."