The rotary

Category: public open space. Subcategory: plazas and squares. In understanding the components of urbanism at any point along the Transect, it is useful to differentiate between the organization of movement and the organization of spatial enclosure. Within the broad class of urban components based on more or less circular forms, the circle, the circus, and the rotary differ in their movement and spatial organization. The circus (see June 2001 issue) has a high degree of spatial definition, and usually also strongly organizes movement. The rotary, by contrast, has as its goal the accomplishment of regular movement no matter what the character of the associated space. The rotary is a device which uses a curving movement pattern to gather and stabilize disorderly and varied movement trajectories. It standardizes and reconciles potentially conflicting traffic volumes, speeds, and geometries. The rotary is deliberately indifferent to difference, and that is precisely its usefulness. The rotary occurs in country and city. In New England it is commonly encountered outside older towns and villages and makes drivers slow down and exercise care. Its center is unreachable by pedestrians. In urban situations the rotary usually has a strongly defined circular or elliptical central island which can become an oasis for pedestrians. The rotary, in short, is a useful traffic calming device and way of reconciling street patterns, but it should not be considered only that. In every situation its potential for urban design and pedestrian use also deserves careful attention.