Traffic Circles in Berkeley

In July 18, 2004 traffic circles in Berkeley were constructed to slow down traffic and discourage reckless driving. The cost for each circle is 20,000 dollars. Each is about 300 square feet. The city provides the soil, but the neighborhood nearby has to plant flowers, shrubs, and take care of the plants. Some people like them because neighbors and children would come out to socialize, play, and help planting flowers. But most drivers I talked to hated traffic circles. One lady said: "As a parent, I like them because they slow down traffic so it would be safer for my son to cross the street. But as a driver, I hate them because they can make you late for work." One man said: "I think they are confusing because you don't know if the other driver would go straight or turn completley around." A school bus driver said: "It's terrible and it costs too much." She also added: "It's only in Berkeley!" I wonder what firefighters think. I am not a driver, so I like these circles. In some neighborhoods where flowers and shrubs are more established, these traffic circles look beautiful. Not only trees and plants are good for the environment, they are also so pleasing to the eyes and souls.





In April of this year, they constructed these circles near my neighborhood.











These circles are about a year old, so the plants are not yet fully grown and established. I might come back next year to check on these traffic circles and plants.

COMMENT:

July 16, 2006

I liked the traffic circle shots and smiled to see the old Victorian church in the background. I used to live in West Berkeley and must have walked/driven by hundreds of times, and now to see it painted so prettily (is that a word?)--very nice. My problem with the circles is the circle arrow signs that obscure and detract from the beautiful foliage and flowers. I called the traffic dept. and asked why couldn't they paint the go-around arrows on the pavement instead of sticking four of those horrid signs in the circle. But you know bureaucrats...

Nick M.