Comments on: Ped-safety improvements bungled by bureaucracy, county rep claims

By: telecommutenow

telecommutenow — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:22:15 +0000

AS long as we keep pedestrians and cars on the same grade car will win. That was why the above grade sidewalk was developed. this intersection cries out for a pediastrian tunnel or a bridge walkover. Why does Maryland refuse to recognize these solutions?

By: AH

AH — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:16:46 +0000

Agree that this isn’t really a traffic circle. Neither is Dupont Circle, or Tenley Town, for that matter.

And I found a 2003 article that said that after the light went in just before the Chevy Chase circle, the accident rate there plummetted. The problem was controlling speed into the circle–in other words, forcing people to yield.

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:28:10 +0000

I drive this circle pretty much every day and agree its bad for both cars and pedestrians. But if they get rid of it, how will I give my friends directions to my house? “If you reach the scariest traffic circle in the world, you’ve gone to far.” It’s such a great motivator for people to make the correct turns the first time!

Seriously though, I hope they do something about it. I doubt they will, but I can name so many bad things about it, both driving and walking, so I hope they do something.

By: Bubba

Bubba — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:10:33 +0000

I agree the intersection is very dangerous. I can only speak as a driver. I, usually arrive from Colesville and am headed south on 16th. I always feel like I have to gun it and then break quickly to avoid the 16th street gang going south.

I think a 5 way intersection is the better way to go. The Chevy Chase Cricle, to me, is one of the most dangerous sections we have in the area. I’m sure there have been numerous accidents there. I take Brookville Rd. to Connecticut Ave. south and it seems like I take my life in my hands to get across.

Too many drivers just aren’t fimilar enough with circles and the rules involved.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:48:52 +0000

I’m with Steve – right now it’s not really a traffic circle. As it’s engineered, there’s nothing to encourage northbound or southbound drivers on 16th St to slow down and yield to traffic in the oval, and I don’t think the signage southbound is marked to suggest it to them either. For the northbound set, if the light’s green the light’s green and they fly on through. On the other hand, if you’re entering the oval from North Portal, Colesville Rd southbound, or Eastern Ave, it feels like a traffic circle situation.

A true roundabout could slow everyone down a little bit without making traffic any worse. And slower cars would make for safer pedestrians.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:28:00 +0000

I would still argue that if this was a true circle (i.e. no traffic lights, no stop signs, like Chevy Chase circle) it would function well for traffic and pedestrians. As it is, it’s sort of a Frankenstein’s monster of a junction, with components taken from circles, traffic lights, stops, yields, etc – and it just doesn’t work.

By: Full-Court Press

Full-Court Press — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:44:28 +0000

Absolutely agree. I’ve been trying to get both DC and MD folks to address this for years.

The traffic patterns on this circle are ridiculous and I have narrowly avoided several car accidents. They need to deal especially with cars coming across Colesville and turning South on 16th street.

I’m glad there is finally some pressure mounting, I’m only sorry it took someone being killed to get that attention.

Editor’s note: This reader’s screen name was changed to avoid confusion. — JD (Dec 8, 2009)

By: IHateYuppies

IHateYuppies — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:47:43 +0000

This is not just a pedestrian crossing issue. There are numerous traffic accidents at the circle of 16th Street and Colesville. I have seen cars flipped over and serious injuries as a result of the collisions. The onus is on Montgomery County to make this traffic area safer for drivers and pedestrians alike.

I think the circle itself should be removed and there should be a five-way intersection with traffic lights in that area. Vehicles tend to stop at red lights where as circles do not inhibit drivers from braking. Many experienced DC-area drivers still get confused about circle right-of-way traffic rules. I have seen drivers enter the circle without checking for on-coming traffic. Amazing but true. Oh yeah, try turning left to Eastern Ave. from 16th Street. If you are lucky, you won’t get blasted from an idiot speeding through the circle. Left-only turn signals should also create safer traffic flow.

I am tired of planning aesthetics taking precedence over safety. The circle must go!