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To clarify: A proper roundabout is an intersection at which there is no stop sign or traffic light but rather a circle formation that vehicles drive around — all in the same direction — until they reach their desired exits. Cars must slow down before entering the roundabout and yield to those already circling.

Although electronic traffic signals require less space on the ground, next to no landscaping and are much cheaper to install —the bill is usually around $200,000 compared to roughly $1-million for a basic roundabout at a four-way intersection — it’s important to note that hydro bills are significantly cheaper for roundabouts and upkeep is usually minimal.

These are a few reasons why Steve van De Keere, a transportation engineer for the region of Waterloo, became such a vocal proponent of roundabouts. Thanks largely to his efforts, this area now has 17 in operation, with about 20 to 30 more on the drawing board.

“There was a lot of anxiety [in 2004] when we opened our first one,” he says. “We’re always a little concerned initially, and we always see people going the wrong way or going backwards. I’ve seen stuff that I’d never believe people would do, but the good thing is that it’s all happening so slow.”

Closer to Toronto, in August of last year, Mississauga stole a sliver of the spotlight when it installed the GTA’s first city-centre roundabout at Duke of York Boulevard north of Burnhamthorpe, at Square One.

Capano, however, remains critical: “You have to commend Waterloo,” he says, “but it’s a different situation. They had more land to do that and they have a strong educational campaign to help people out. With the one in Mississauga, there’s still some confusion there. I see drivers stopping and pausing, like, ‘Do I stop? Do I go?’ … We don’t dismiss roundabouts entirely — there are a lot of obvious benefits to them — but there are some challenges and drawbacks.”