September 1997

Ever feel like you are going around in circles? If you live in Revere, chances are that you are!

The city is named after a great American Patriot. I bet he never thought that hundreds of years later, his legacy would be better known for another reason other than just a beautiful beach and a famous roast beef restaurant.

Down Mainers have an expression: You can't get there from here. There should be another one attributed to the state of affairs of the roads here in Revere: If you did get there, you obviously didn't take the rotary!

I don't have to mention which one. They are all the same, and there must be more of them here than in any town in America, even in Paris-in that case, maybe the world! I wonder if people in other places have the same observations that we do, namely:

1) Why do these cars stop in the middle of a rotary?
2) Is that guy honking at ME?
3) How many times have I driven around this thing?
4) Did that driver REALLY just take a right from the left hand lane?
5)...and, visa versa?
6) Can I hit that pedestrian before he crosses the street?
7) Why aren't there any traffic lights on this rotary so I CAN cross the street?
8) If I do get home, do I want to go through this again tomorrow?

One way to fix the problem is to attempt a major overhaul of our infamous rotaries. Make them into a configuration that does not allow any tie-ups or hazards, and where the human condition is not tested to the point of making drivers into caged animals. You have all probably all been a victim or a party to our rotaries. So, you know why your blood pressure is so high.

Oh, there is one more question to be added to the above list. Actually, it is more of universal statement, heard daily on any of our rotaries. Here, I'll roll down my window. Maybe you can hear it:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

See you around!