Carmel, Indiana: The Roundabout Capital of the United States

Lennart and Matt were not prepared for Carmel’s incredible advancements in community-centered development. In just a couple decades, Carmel has embarked on an ambitious path of smart growth, with multi-story rental buildings popping up all over, but especially in its Midtown district. In Midtown, you’ll find what many Americans venture all the way to Europe to experience: beautiful walking and cycling paths, tree-lined streets, and wide patios full of happy patrons. On Monon Boulevard, the heart of it all, you’ll find 10-foot (3 meter) wide streets, parks, plazas, an outdoor movie theatre, public restrooms, trees, and restaurants.

“Like Dorothy in Oz” you might say to describe how Matt and Lennart felt (pavers and raised intersections and trees, oh my!). Lennart, a seasoned masterclass trainer known for arriving in America with a healthy skepticism, gushed over the dense, walkable, and well-maintained development. Matt, in constant search of the North American example that demonstrates that you can go Dutch, quickly filled his phone with photos to show his Canadian colleagues. Always arriving prepared to teach, Matt and Lennart quickly became humble students of Carmel’s urbanism successes.

Of course, every community still has its opportunities to improve, and this was why Mobycon was invited. Carmel has perfected the “American roundabout” but is looking for Dutch inspiration on “protected roundabouts” – those that prioritize the comfort and safety of people outside of cars. Overall, Carmel residents are still quite dependent on the car to get around, and we discussed how the city could move forward to manage its growing congestion problem while staying true to its values and goals. We put staff and elected officials to work, first walking their own roundabouts with them, and then having them redesign their own streets, roundabouts, and traffic lights

Carmel’s success with roundabouts and urban infill are tangible results of sustained commitments to ambitious policy goals over decades. Just like the Dutch street transformation, Carmel’s hasn’t happened overnight. Instead, it is the result of the goal to make intersections safer and more efficient with roundabouts, as well as develop the community to become more liveable and economically vibrant. Matt and Lennart left the city with final thoughts on what the city’s next big policy intervention could be: investing in “the third mode”. By making cycling practical and attractive for all residents, the city could grow further without maxing out its transportation network.

Is Carmel poised to be the next mecca for sustainable transportation? Today, many signs point to yes, but only time will tell.

Interested in hosting a Masterclass in your city? Check out our Masterclass page or send an email to info@mobycon.com.

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Matthew Pinder

Senior Mobility Consultant

“I’ve spent much of my life dependent on a car and a large part of it without one (by choice). My lived experience of both has taught me much about what it takes to design communities where car ownership and use is an option, rather than a necessity.” 

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