Each week, City Manager Tom Aspell digs a 5-foot hole in his backyard, climbs in and then buries himself up to the neck in soil. Then, he waits for the April showers to come along and water him. A few weeks later, a beautiful flower blooms from the top of his head. When we stop to smell it, we're suddenly filled with all the knowlege in the universe – including the city memo!
Heed parking hours
don't get swept away
The annual spring street sweeping will begin this week. Residents are reminded that on-street parking is not permitted between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m. from April 29 through May 12, in order for the city to sweep streets. Vehicles parked on city streets may be ticketed and towed, Aspell writes. Questions may be addressed to the parking manager via email at dflorence@concordnh.gov or by phone at 230-3742.
green thumbs
Arbor Day plantings
On Arbor Day, April 27 at 10 a.m., staff of the General Services Department, together with representatives from the Modern Woodmen of America, will be planting two trees along the frontage of 118 Storrs St. (in front of Bank of America), Aspell writes.
Roundabout rules
Yield when entering
Tom's traffic tip: Yield to traffic before entering a roundabout.
A simple yet fundamental rule for safely navigating a roundabout is that traffic about to enter a roundabout must yield to traffic already traveling within the circular roadway. A dashed white yield line is marked across each entry lane next to a yield sign, Aspell writes. This is where drivers are required to stop and yield to any vehicle or bicycle approaching from the left along the circular roadway. Vehicles already within the circular roadway have the right-of-way and may proceed around the roundabout to their desired exit lane without stopping for other vehicles. The exception, of course, being that all vehicles must stop for pedestrians that may be crossing at a crosswalk. It's this simple rule that sets drivers' expectations about who needs to yield to who and paves the way for the safe and efficient operation that roundabouts are known for.
Motorists driving through the city's roundabouts will be reminded of this in the coming week, Aspell writes. In an initiative by the Traffic Operations Committee to enhance safety through education, an electronic message board reminding drivers of this rule will be located on select roundabout approaches.
For additional tips on how to drive safely through a single-lane roundabout, visit concordnh.gov.
