Why is it that people travelling on Herring Cove Road toward the Rotary (or, Round About-whatever) think that there is only one lane there in the morning, when CLEARLY both lanes inbound are open! I am sick and tired of people cutting me, my husband, and our 3 year old off when they change lanes without signalling and nearly smash into my car because they aren’t looking where they’re going. TWO LANES, PEOPLE – NOT ONE BIG OL’ LANE!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and by the way, they BOTH go to Chebucto on the other side, so there’s really no need to change in the first place if you’re going that way. Jerks.
This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2008.
The Rotary is a mess and always has been. I love how “Smart Halifax” wants to widen Chebucto rd. just so people can get to the congested rotary faster. Then where are the supposed to go? Is this when the UFO’s will come in and scoop the commuters up in their transporter and drop them off at home in Tantallon? Bay rd and Herring cove rd. are messes too. The city seems to like the idea of making big dumb streets that don’t lead anywhere- except to a pothole ridden side street!
On the one hand people bitch about how the ‘oldies’ are keeping growth of the city down, and then when the city does something its doing it the ‘wrong way’.People cranked on end about the changes to the rotary and the disruption to their lives last summer.Guess what? It is now 100x’s safer AND more efficient now.I’ve been biking a driving through it for the past 15 years, usually biking, and am very impressed with the results of the changes.Way to go, HRM urban designers! Now widen that Chebucto Road already!
Just wonder…Is a Segway a motor vehicle? If I had one, would I be expected to follow the rules for cyclists and ride on the street? Hmm.
Haha, right on Cranky!
I don’t think I’ve seen Many rotaries in Canada. In fact i think the one in halifax is the only one i know of. I have traveled. Visited several countries in the world. Of all the countries i’ve been to, Canada is the only one without rotaries. Lynn, I pose this question on you. Are you implying that all the countries of the world have dumb idiotic planners who have silly ideas to actually address real issues? Compare it Lynn. Several countries that stand by those solutions that have proven to be effective, opposing one country that believes rotaries create problems. I have never had a problem at the rotary. and i think it’s much better, as cranky said, than what it used to be. No offense to anyone, I drive and believe me, Halifax is home to some of the worst drivers. They denounce good change rather than Embrace it. Not to mention, some believe that they own the world. SJM, I know this may not be the ultimate answer, but when it’s not your fault, i say let the accident happen, you get a new pain job out of it without having to pay for it. It’s never a serious accident there.. mainly fender benders because the person driving next to you is a moron!
Cranky: I’m not complaining about the changes to the Rotary. I’m bitching about the road leading to the Rotary which has not changed. Those three lanes have been there as long as I can remember. I’ve lived here most of my 30-some-odd years but, having just recently moved from another are of HRM, I am just now becoming horribly familiar with the jerks who think they own both lanes going to the Rotary on Herring Cove Rd in the morning.Coyotex: I’d love to just let the accident happen, if it were just me in the car. I can’t take the risk with a toddler (and a baby on the way) – I would certainly consider it were I by myself though.
I have no problem with rotaries, Coyotex. I have seen many efficient rotaries in the many countries I have visited as well. My point was that fixing one aspect of the traffic problem- Halifax’s rotary (which didn’t operate like a round about in the UK until fairly recently- and I’m glad to hear its working a lot better Cranky) wouldn’t do much unless the a more wholistic approach was taken toward all of Halifax’s main arteries. I recently heard about Chebucto rd. because I no longer live in Halifax. I though it was sad and lacked imagination- or maybe I’m just nostalgic. But, if as Cranky said, this is an old topic, I imagine the debate is pretty worn out by now. Don’t worry Coyotex, despite what you may think, you aren’t the only world traveller on this site- I don’t oppose rotaries because they’re not popular in Canada! If you read my post, you’d see that I was making reference to the poor conditions of the roads that feed from the rotary to other parts of the city. Halifax can have a big, wide Chebucto rd., and a fancy rotary but if the streets leading into and out of these areas aren’t addressed, is there a lot of point? Good point on the worst drivers thing. I agree with you there!
It just all boils down to stupid drivers, honestly.Regardless of rotaries, highways, etc.
For the record, it’s no longer a rotary. It’s now considered a roundabout.
Considering we live in a town that refers to its bridges as “The New Bridge” and “The Old Bridge” could luck on getting that whole ’roundabout’ thing to stick.
Hey Coyotex, I’ve been to 9 countries, and thus far, have only seen rotaries in Scotland, Ireland and Britain. Not that I did any research on the matter…