I'm still amazed that we can build new highways and bridges. Construction workers never seem to be working. They're aways just standing around watching one guy dig a hole.
I'm even more amazed that they can keep roads and highways and bridges open, at the same time that they're re-building or improving these same roads. That whole idea of keeping traffic flowing while they build around the cars seems so impressive to me.
The other day I was driving down the highway and I saw a sign that said in two weeks they were closing the highway for 10 minutes at 1am. They knew 2 weeks in advance that they were closing the highway for 10 minutes! Talk about great planning.
And only 10 minutes? Hell they can close it for a few hours and I'd be impressed. But 10 minutes and in the middle of the night? They're being super nice and considerate. I wonder what they're going to be doing for that 10 minutes that compels them to close the road?
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traffic. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Friday, October 2, 2009
Listening to traffic reports on the radio is totally useless.
When I first started commuting I listened avidly to the traffic reports on the radio. Now I don't bother.
They don't help. First, they're often wrong and way out dated. They will still report an accident that happened hours ago. (They often beg people for updates. "If you're in the area let us know what's going on!" I want to yell, "Where's your chopper? You tell me!"
Second, there are only a few alternate routes and they're so slow that it isn't any faster taking them - even if the radio reports an accident on your route.
Third, often they say, "It's super slow, there's an accident on this road." When you get there, it isn't slow at all. In other words, the radio exaggerates the problem. I guess this is related to point #1 - they're wrong.
Finally, 95% of the information is useless. They say stuff like, "Mary Hill bypass is busy and slow going." Okay... So what? It's like that all the time. That doesn't tell me anything new.
I've concluded that traffic reports are simply for the illusion of control. Sort of like weather reports and child birth training. Pretend that you know what you're doing so you feel better about the random, uncontrollable situation.
They don't help. First, they're often wrong and way out dated. They will still report an accident that happened hours ago. (They often beg people for updates. "If you're in the area let us know what's going on!" I want to yell, "Where's your chopper? You tell me!"
Second, there are only a few alternate routes and they're so slow that it isn't any faster taking them - even if the radio reports an accident on your route.
Third, often they say, "It's super slow, there's an accident on this road." When you get there, it isn't slow at all. In other words, the radio exaggerates the problem. I guess this is related to point #1 - they're wrong.
Finally, 95% of the information is useless. They say stuff like, "Mary Hill bypass is busy and slow going." Okay... So what? It's like that all the time. That doesn't tell me anything new.
I've concluded that traffic reports are simply for the illusion of control. Sort of like weather reports and child birth training. Pretend that you know what you're doing so you feel better about the random, uncontrollable situation.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
More roads = more traffic.
About a month ago a new, multi-lane, multi-million dollar toll bridge opened by my house. I haven’t noticed any difference in traffic.
This wouldn’t be a surprise to many people in the transportation sector. The more roads you build, the more traffic you cause. This is called “induced traffic”. Or, to be more general, “induced demand”.
The idea that building more roads, causes more traffic sounds counter-intuitive at first. Let’s say the government builds 100 brand new roads in your city. Suddenly, there’s a lot more space for driving. People will say, “Hey, driving is awesome. There’s so much room! I’m gonna drive.”
Likewise, if you triple the number of buses and sky trains and other public transit vehicles, you suddenly have a huge increase in ridership. People say, “I love taking the bus. It’s way faster and there’s so many buses and it’s so comfortable.” The buses will soon fill up.
Then, when all the buses are full again and the roads are empty, people will leave the bus and go back to driving. This back and forth will happen until equilibrium is reached.
Generally, the roads are always at equilibrium. There’s just the right amount of cars on the road. The roads are not busy enough to compel people to avoid driving, and they’re not empty enough to encourage new traffic.
Induced demand works in other areas as well. When air condition efficiency improved in the 1990s, more people bought and used air conditions.
When fuel economy in our cars improved, people drove more and used more gasoline.
This is why the government often fails when it tries to legislate environmental improvements. Subsidize the price of gas, and more people buy gas. Make cars more fuel efficient, more people will drive. Plant more trees and more people buy paper products.
It works in the opposite as well. Increased demand for hamburgers means people will breed more cows. Increased demand for fresh, drinking water means more desalinization plants.
This wouldn’t be a surprise to many people in the transportation sector. The more roads you build, the more traffic you cause. This is called “induced traffic”. Or, to be more general, “induced demand”.
“Induced demand is the phenomenon that after supply increases, more of a good is
consumed.” – Wikiepedia.
The idea that building more roads, causes more traffic sounds counter-intuitive at first. Let’s say the government builds 100 brand new roads in your city. Suddenly, there’s a lot more space for driving. People will say, “Hey, driving is awesome. There’s so much room! I’m gonna drive.”
Likewise, if you triple the number of buses and sky trains and other public transit vehicles, you suddenly have a huge increase in ridership. People say, “I love taking the bus. It’s way faster and there’s so many buses and it’s so comfortable.” The buses will soon fill up.
Then, when all the buses are full again and the roads are empty, people will leave the bus and go back to driving. This back and forth will happen until equilibrium is reached.
Generally, the roads are always at equilibrium. There’s just the right amount of cars on the road. The roads are not busy enough to compel people to avoid driving, and they’re not empty enough to encourage new traffic.
Induced demand works in other areas as well. When air condition efficiency improved in the 1990s, more people bought and used air conditions.
When fuel economy in our cars improved, people drove more and used more gasoline.
This is why the government often fails when it tries to legislate environmental improvements. Subsidize the price of gas, and more people buy gas. Make cars more fuel efficient, more people will drive. Plant more trees and more people buy paper products.
It works in the opposite as well. Increased demand for hamburgers means people will breed more cows. Increased demand for fresh, drinking water means more desalinization plants.
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