Green Wave
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
Later I moved to SF and experienced the same thing on Franklin and Gough, and realized the phenomenon was probably fairly universal.
Green Waves could be a great thing, but there's still the unsolved problem of human beings behind the wheel.
You can't really fault people for driving myopically if they don't have high level information.
The bulk of traffic does 5-10km/h over the limit, so perhaps traffic light timing is based on that.
* Reddit is blocked at work, but it was probably something like r/townplanning
Also, since the bad behavior on display at the front of a green wave is pervasive in pretty much all traffic scenarios, it seems like a modicum of driver training might ultimately be the most foolproof approach.
Because there's nothing in it for them.
Most school zones don't have kids anywhere nearby outside two specific times of day.
Most construction zones don't actually have construction happen.
Many posted speed limits are either artificially low by statute (state laws to the tune of "if road has X then max speed limit = Y" are common), for revenue purposes or to account for a temporary condition that does not affect the entire area where the speed limit applies (e.g. a single tight curve or trucks enter/exiting during business hours).
In light of these it's no wonder so many drivers disregard posted limits since it allows them to get to their destination faster.
If drivers knew that a particular travel speed would result in hitting all greens then you can bet your ass the majority of them would drive that speed. There's a ton in it for them.
Even when cars do get up to speed, there's things like turning traffic vs. pedestrians. I suppose if they eliminated on-street parking and had dedicated turn lanes for both directions, it would work, but that's not happening any time soon.
I can actually make it down the entire length of a 1-way by going 25mph (the speed limit) and weaving between cars like a maniac, but that seems rather unsafe (not to mention illegal).
Oh, you want to save gas? Joke's on you:
> In the UK, in 2009, it was revealed that the Department for Transport had previously discouraged green waves as they reduced fuel usage, and thus less revenue was raised from fuel taxes.
As it was just for a pitch, I realized a video (with the help of a friend checking for my safety) to showcase the usage : Two long-sequence shots of walking between two places in Paris and being sure to have only green lights, like 15 green lights total to be nailed when they are clearly not synchronized for you and there is people and traffic around.
It was an experience in the spiritual line of Claude Lelouch "C'était un rendez-vous".
I don't drive much these days. In Washington the traffic levels can be such that the best timing in the world won't set up a green wave. On the other hand, I do manage now an then to make it half a mile or so as a pedestrian without stopping for a light. (On 16th St. NW from U to Scott Circle, a saunter will hit all the lights green; a fast walk might do the same, but I seldom bother to try that.)
You can actually watch the downtown wave approach and pass when you're going uptown on Park Ave starting around 60th St (and you'll get to watch it many times as you constantly hit red lights since you're fighting the wave).
fwiw, that's one benefit of one-way roads -- they each can be programmed to ensure a green wave for all cars on them. I never understood why you'd want a one-way road (outside small neighborhood streets) until my friend pointed that out.
I used to take back roads and take my chances with speeding and stop signs, but now I find myself taking the main road way more now because I know I'll probably only stop at one light maximum, and I know how to time my driving.
1) the Valencia bike commute green wave (named as such with posted speed)
When it's broken for some reason it's very noticeable and unfortunate.
2) the various coordinated designated auto throughways which make up for the lack of in-city access freeways
Except when you're going against the direction, like when my wife was in labor. :|
It is infuriating on a level I can't describe. My guess is they are trying to reduce accidents or they are trying to make more tax money by getting people to burn more gasoline.
I remember reading this quote more than 10 years ago and still occasionally think about how wrong it is.
Actually I think the opposite will usually hold: you will still have a green wave if you drive at the expected speed divided by an integer.
Lovely.
They overvalue fuel tax specially because a portion of it is earmarked directly to them.
This was real by the way, not just a libertarian talking point.
(...and, yes, it's upsetting that this happened in real life.)
This isn’t about money, it’s about the inherent shortsightedness of and staggering destruction wrought by bureaucrats of any country when they are given incentives of any kind. See also: private prisons, snake/rat bounty, et c.
Competently handled green waves will save transport energy from all sources. And, this kind of thing cries out to be integrated with adaptive cruise control (yeah, Elon, the thing you call "autopilot").
It doesn't mean that I think the government totally altruistic, and working solely common good. There is often (or always) a relatively hidden agenda which is conflated with the by all means honorable motives, like covering the costs of public services, saving the climate, or protecting us from a foreign adversary.
Seldom does the ulterior motive reveal itself so clearly as in this case however. Instead thinking this is a one-off, we should really be inspired to produce or look for a service where all policy decisions were inspected not only on the aspects that the politicians or public servant say but all relevant aspects, to find out the other reasons (not necessary more "real", but relevant too).
Somewhere deep among those other reasons there may be an effect that is actually not for the common good.