THANKS TO BARRY for Wacco and for the chance to discuss the future of the town we love, Sebastopol.!!!
I appreciate how hard the city council has worked and will work in the future to steer Sebastopol's streets, crosswalks and sidewalks in a safer direction, in spite of the reality of the massive crush of traffic that will persist. While some of the council members, Mr. Slayter and Ms. Gurney, in particular, like the idea of building roundabouts, I do not because,
1. They will be expensive to build.
2. There will be more delays and to a much greater extent as you are building them.
3. Once built, like where they have been suggested at Murphy and Healdburg and at Mill Station and Healdsburg (Hwy 116), they almost certainly be more unsafe than the status quo. Americans like to drive fast. Ever try to find your way once you are in a roundabout, and there is some clown behind you who is tailgating as you try to determine which way is the correct one to get where you want to do? Putting up more flashing yellow lights and perhaps even, perish the thought, lowering the speed limit a bit would help a LOT more.
4. How will pedestrians get through roundabouts? That is another expense you have to plan and pay for. Would REALLY like to see or hear what the Sebastopol Police Department's members (cops on the beat) think about new roundabouts at these locations.