Rochester folk 'roundly' criticize, question roundabout's 'slip lane' efficacy

SIGN SIGN EVERYWHERE A SIGN: A lot of information to decipher at first glance (Courtesy photo/Voice graphics)

ROCHESTER - Rochester residents took jabs at the city's release of a traffic primer on Friday that sought to explain how motorists are supposed to use the infamous, enigmatic and clearly misunderstood "slip lane" at the Strafford Square roundabout.
Seems like many who chimed in on the Rochester Police Facebook Page over the weekend believe it's there for drivers familiar with the roundabout to give those unfamiliar with it "the slip."
"If you do try to use the proper lane, not the abutters Lane, the people in the abutters lane try to cut you off because they think you are trying to 'pass them' when you reach the end," wrote Cheryl Melzar. "I gave up and started using the abutter lane."
Friday's statement noted that the slip lane serves two main purposes. First, it provides access to properties along the north side of the roundabout. Secondly, it also offers additional capacity for outbound traffic on North Main Street during peak hours, according to city officials.
But Bruce Welch said, intuitively to many, the slip lane would seem like a more direct path toward Route 11.
"It is the most idiotically designed traffic circle I have seen so far," he said. "To a normal person it would appear that the slip lane is for northbound traffic to flow thru faster. The police in their post say it is for abutters and that northbound traffic shouldn't use it but yet say it is to be used for high traffic times? So we can't use it yet we can use it, no confusion there..."
To reduce further confusion, the City's Public Works Department is considering removing the word "Abutters" from the sign near the slip lane, according to city officials.
Another comment argued that the city should just get rid of the first westbound exit on the roundabout and let all westbound traffic use the slip lane.
"They'd do well to eliminate that first exit in the traffic circle and just go with the slip lane," writes Pam Lord. "I've never used that first exit and probably never will. Eliminating that exit will avoid the potential for two cars crashing into each other as they exit (the roundabout)."
Another problem is when people using the first eastbound exit try to turn right to go to church.
"People coming out of the circle and then entering right to go to Our Lady of Holy Rosary Church almost get hit by people using slip lane (who) do not yield for them."
Others among the commenters just threw up their hands and mused in disbelief after reading the statement.
"Oh, now I get it! NOT." wrote Pete Eldredge.
"My gut feeling is, after the anticipated number of accidents there, they'll spend three additional years to change it back to how it was!" added Bonnie Faulkner.
Perhaps Dan Plourde put a bow on it best.
"Well first they call a circle Strafford SQUARE," he said. "So there's that."