Ask the City Manager

A pet peeve of many residents over the last few years is the inadequate size of the roundabout on Yellowbird and 5th Avenue. I've seen pick-up trucks roll right over it,  let alone those pulling any type of trailer. What can the City do to make this roundabout more functional and less confusing for those using it? 

The roundabout at Yellowbird is actually called a “mini-circle.” I know that may not matter to most people, but the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has been promoting the use of “roundabouts” on state roads and the use of “mini-circles” on residential streets. The mini-circle is the right size for a two-lane residential street. FDOT notes that mini-circles increase safety by reducing the number of vehicle crashes because all drivers must slow down and the number of “points of conflict” that exist at a normal intersection are reduced. To make it more functional and less confusing to drivers, the best approach is to drive slowly (15 MPH) when approaching the intersection and yield to a vehicle already in the circle. But let’s face it, some people just don’t like the mini-circle and it will continue to be a pet peeve for years to come.