How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Roundabout

Ah, the roundabout. A common sight in many global regions and a fearsome adversary for many American drivers.

But as the movement to install roundabouts and traffic circles — a type of intersection designed to keep traffic flowing, often without stoplights — John Surico wonders whether U.S. drivers can finally embrace the (incredibly efficient!) model. As Surico notes, “Nationwide, the US now has more than 10,000 roundabouts, a figure that’s doubled in a decade.”

In some U.S. communities where roundabouts have been installed, the backlash has been fierce. Yet “By just about all measures, the modern style of roundabout — where cars are meant to seamlessly yield in a circular pattern — are an easy win: They save lives, reduce traffic delays and cut emissions.”

Surico attributes the vitriolic opposition to roundabouts in part to a lack of familiarity and an image of roundabouts as only monstrous, multi-lane traffic circles. Cities that install more roundabouts at once tend to have more success as drivers learn to navigate them and become accustomed to them. In Carmel, Indiana, a bold experiment led by then-mayor Jim Brainard installed over 150 roundabouts across the city. Early opposition turned to strong support when residents began to notice the congestion relief and cost savings. The former mayor credits public outreach and education, which included informational TV spots and neighborhood meetings, with encouraging residents to understand and appreciate the benefits of roundabouts.