MARK MY WORD: ROUNDABOUTS PROVIDE PLENTY OF RECREATION TO GO AROUND

There's a reason why people complain about running around in circles.

No doubt, they've driven through a roundabout and lived to tell about it.

It's not that we're against circles. We just don't want our roadways turned into giant merry-go-rounds that send us spinning out of control.

At least, that's what a lot of Cape Girardeau residents apparently have concluded after taking a drive on the city's one-and-only roundabout, a circular, no-stop-sign intersection at Gordonville and Silver Springs roads.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the roundabout. It's perfect for my children's Barbie car.

I've driven in the roundabout with Becca and Bailey. They gleefully view it as an amusement ride.

Some people clearly aren't amused, but I think we should all have open minds. After all, roundabouts are common in Europe, where people are used to running in circles.

A French architect is credited with inventing one-way roundabouts in 1877. Before then, everyone just went their own way, often running into each other and starting wars. Roundabouts have improved over the years, but the French still have trouble driving without hitting things.

Joni and I found that out when we took a taxi in Paris a number of years ago and quickly learned that driving in France resembles a demolition derby. No one stays in his or her lane and brakes are optional.

Roundabouts are everywhere in France, popping up at the rate of 1,000 per year, according to some experts.

France isn't alone in its love of roundabouts. Britain and The Netherlands have embraced them too.

The Netherlands experienced spectacular growth of roundabouts beginning in the late 1980s. In only six years, about 400 roundabouts were built turning the small nation into one big traffic circle.

Norway has tried roundabouts too, installing yield signs in 1985 in an effort to improve safety and get their citizens to quit driving like the French.

In this country, we've embraced the stop sign and power brakes.

But Cape Girardeau city officials may be on to something. The mayor says Cape Girardeau needs more roundabouts. Maybe he's right.

The city could build a roundabout in every neighborhood, not for traffic but to provide recreational opportunities.

That way, our children would no longer have to risk injury bicycling down busy roads. We could just put them all in roundabouts and let them pedal away. They may not get anywhere, but at least they would be safe.

Roundabouts also would provide great places for skateboarders to hang out. In the winter, we could turn them into ice rinks.

Roundabouts would be great places for toddler races or even international turtle races.

The city also could reserve roundabouts for children just learning how to ride bicycles. Roundabouts could be turned into Safety Villages where youngsters could learn the rules of the road, provided that the city bars cars from such places.

Roses could be planted in the middle of the roundabouts, adding to the character of our City of Roses. It doesn't look good just to have tall grass in a roundabout unless goats are going to be pastured there.

The possibilities are endless if we can just get past thinking about roundabouts as vehicular intersections and more like outdoor play areas.

The kids would love it.

My brain's going in circles just thinking about it.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.