Skip to main content

One of the new traffic roundabouts in the Florence area is located at the Florence Mall at the Starbuck's, Cox Creek Blvd, entrance but if just the limited views that I have had concerning traffic samples that attempt to negotiate it are an indication then the citizens of Florence have a long way to go before the local Government considers adding more in our area.

The number of people that appear not to understand the basic traffic directions and negotiating a traffic roundabout is staggering and vast.  I can't use my hands and feet to count the number of drivers that incorrectly negotiate, or attempt to negotiate, the traffic roundabout.  So many that cut short and in the wrong direction as they go from the Cox Creek entrance directly over to Starbucks property.  I haven't had that many opportunities to be around the roundabout at the Sweetwater area but I can imagine the number of accidents and near misses that must occur in one day around the one at the mall entrance.  

I'm wondering which will occur first?  People will finally learn to negotiate a traffic roundabout in the correct way or the mall management or city officials decide to eliminate the one at that mall entrance?   I'm betting on the removal of the roundabout first as even if it remains I can imagine that there will continue to be a vast number of people either unfamiliar with how to negotiate roundabouts or unwilling to learn. I don't want to sit in the judgment of other drivers who may have never seen or encountered them and may never have been instructed on how to negotiate one but given that they are gaining in popularity in many suburban areas and cities if a person drives enough then they are bound to eventually have to negotiate one.  

It could be that the issues is one of education or driver education and maybe signage is the problem or contributing to it but either way There are plenty of resources out there that describe how to negotiate a traffic roundabout successfully. 

Here is yet another example of how to negotiate a roundabout.

Be safe out there but just watching traffic flow through and around one of these roundabouts can be both exciting, comical, frustrating, and dramatic all at the same time.

Be as the Bereans ( Acts 17:11 )

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I do think, if people use them correctly and know how to negotiate them then they can help the flow of traffic and keep things less congested but that's a huge IF.  I had heard, one time, that the city was actually considering installing a roundabout on Middle Road and Gresham Rd (the road behind Target) as a part of the process to widen both of those roads, in the future.  

Given the growth along Middle Road and Gresham Rd what with the new subdivision(s) and apartments, I can see the immediate need to add lanes to those roads immediately.   Still, if there are going to be the addition of other roundabouts in the area it's scary to think of what will happen on a crowded road when there are so many close misses and problems on the limited traffic roundabouts that exist now at the mall and in Sweetwater.

One of the problems, I believe, with the roundabout at the mall, is the street markings that they have placed.  It is confusing and there is no really good indication to people entering the mall complex that there is no LEFT turn into the Roundabout.

I was in Baltimore at the time trying to leave town and having trouble
finding my way and stopped to ask a couple of locals, I knew that as
soon as he opened his mouth, said go to the end of the block turn left
and go to the thing he said and turn right. I didn't understand everything
he said so I said what thing?? He said it again, ree da ree with his heavy
accent and high pitched voice, several times, I said thanks and drove
off and came to a rotary. I thought they're useless anyway but that
convinced me...!! 
Dr. John posted:

I haven't seen the mall roundabout close up, but it is on mall property, isn't it? That mall is doomed at this point anyway. Last time my family went was over two years ago and I know there are many fewer stores now.

Not necessarily having to do with roundabouts I will comment on the mall issue. 

I saw a similar decline of one of Chattanooga, Tennessee's malls many years ago and way before Amazon was ever a thought in Bezos mind.  It was known as "Eastgate" mall but out of despair came salvation but no longer as a shopping environment.  Eastgate, including many of the large anchor stores, transformed into an office environment and business centers with one being a call center.  The mall is still a business center today, and this is what it looks like.  

I don't see the same thing being available to Florence Mall and frankly, I don't know that I'd make bets on the mall making a success out of it but will continue to be in small decline.  I hope not and would love to see it turn around but with Amazon and a change in the way people shop I just don't see it happening.

My wife and I made a trip over to Boaz the other day and remembered back 50 years ago when Boaz was an Outlet supercenter before Outlets started popping up around major interstates across America.  Boaz wasn't able to survive, I believe a lot having to do with its location.  The only Outlet center that I know that has survived and prospered is the one in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee and then there are several stores that remain vacant even in some of the older malls in that area.  

Last edited by gbrk
Pigeon Forge had the Red Roof shopping center that dropped to just a
few stores and the Belz Blue Roof all but completely closed down. In that
area is also the Green Roof  which is still going strong. It's a Tanger outlet
by the same owners of the giant 5 Oaks Tanger outlet located in Sevierville.
Which is the reason the Pigeon Forge shopping was left on life support.
Jack Hammer posted:
Pigeon Forge had the Red Roof shopping center that dropped to just a
few stores and the Belz Blue Roof all but completely closed down. In that
area is also the Green Roof  which is still going strong. It's a Tanger outlet
by the same owners of the giant 5 Oaks Tanger outlet located in Sevierville.
Which is the reason the Pigeon Forge shopping was left on life support.

I believe that one reason that the outlets, most everywhere, have diminished in their attraction is that fewer are seen as actually having bargains or outlet prices. People are finding that they don't have to travel to certain locations to obtain great prices but can oftentimes find those great prices from their couch or bed, in other words off their laptop or desktop computer or smartphone.  Then they add to the savings the money they saved in gas, traveling, along with the motel bill.  Then some are like my wife and just like to get away from time to time.  

I forgot about the blue roof outlets but I was thinking about the decline of the Red Roof Outlets.  If I'm correct the ones you are referencing, blue roof, are the two or three mall-like stores up on the hill, and back road, at Pigeon Forge and also had the old Pottery Barn type store in the complex.   I think few stores are left, one being the Coleman Outlet.

The Coleman outlet set up in the parking lot while parts of the Belz outlet
or Blue roof was being demolished. Just a few miles from me in north
Mississippi a Tanger outlet was built which also had little to no outlet
prices.
 
Collierville built a large outdoor shopping center. It's door to door
like the Tanger outlets, said they didn't want a covered mall because
it was just a drop off for parents to rid themselves of the kids.
The kids had money to eat with but nothing to do but roam and make
trouble. And many were late picking them up. 
Last edited by Jack Hammer

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×