Vivent Les Plages!

 

As published in Seven Days, August 23, 2017:

Vivent Les Plages!

Winooski as Brooklyn ["Working Winooski," August 2]? With walk-up building heights, francophone roots, a developed riverfront and a giant traffic gyratory, Petite Rive Droite could be an even cheekier nickname. That gyratory, though, is definitely not a "roundabout." True modern roundabouts have essential characteristics that the cumbersome Winooski circulating roadway fails to meet, including no traffic signals and a small central island that is inaccessible to pedestrians.

By comparison, the inexpensive circle near Best Buy in Williston offers a glimpse at how simple a roundabout can be. Both circles demonstrate that gyratory traffic control can get the job done even with less-than-excellent engineering.

In the other Rive Droite, Winooski would find inspiration on how to eliminate cars, restore vibrant pedestrian spaces and replace traffic signals — as well as the circulating roadway — with true modern roundabouts. Bring on the Winooski Beach.

Peter Duval

Underhill