There is a new configuration that traffic engineers are using to manage vehicles. It is a round about and that pretty much is all the description that you need. Why would a country boy walking back roads care about a round about? I hope the answer surprises you. It irritates me.
Before most of us ever heard of a round about, one existed in Dallas County, Iowa. Actually, before there were cars and trucks there was a round about 3 miles from my house. Some folks tell the story that as a group of settlers were moving across Iowa in covered wagons, several became ill and died. They started a little cemetery right on the spot. Eventually the dirt roads, then the gravel roads, and now the slightly paved roads from four directions all met at that cemetery.
No matter where you are coming from or where you are headed, you must go around the little cemetery. Thus, Dallas County's first round about.
What irritates me? This weekend a police officer was parked just off the cemetery trying to catch cars that short cut their left turn and don't travel all the way around to the right. We have been managing that spot for 150 years with no additions to the cemetery. Now we need the help of traffic cops.
Surely they could be put to better use adjusting those red light cameras.
Before most of us ever heard of a round about, one existed in Dallas County, Iowa. Actually, before there were cars and trucks there was a round about 3 miles from my house. Some folks tell the story that as a group of settlers were moving across Iowa in covered wagons, several became ill and died. They started a little cemetery right on the spot. Eventually the dirt roads, then the gravel roads, and now the slightly paved roads from four directions all met at that cemetery.
No matter where you are coming from or where you are headed, you must go around the little cemetery. Thus, Dallas County's first round about.
What irritates me? This weekend a police officer was parked just off the cemetery trying to catch cars that short cut their left turn and don't travel all the way around to the right. We have been managing that spot for 150 years with no additions to the cemetery. Now we need the help of traffic cops.
Surely they could be put to better use adjusting those red light cameras.
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