Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war • Hacker News Board

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#11

Post by DanBC » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:43 PM UTC

JoshTriplett wrote: post #5

This quote seems very telling: > It used to be that only locals knew all the cut-through routes, but Google Maps and Waze are letting everyone know So they don't have a problem with people cutting through as long as they're "locals"; it's when the outgroup starts doing the same thing that people get up in arms. If the through traffic is breaking traffic laws, that's a solvable problem. If the street has insufficient…

Local people may know that children live and play there, and drive more cautiously.

(I didn't downvote you.)

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#12

Post by RankingMember » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:44 PM UTC

voiper1 wrote: post #3

I actually recall this... 15 years ago, living parallel to a busy street. The various extra stop signs didn't keep people from using it. As @FroshKiller said though, it's not "my street". However, it was still a problem: there were frequently people way over the speed limit when we'd hardly expect it...

Traffic calming measures (speed humps) in the area where I grew up seem to have cut down on people taking local roads to get around highway traffic.

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#13

Post by morninj » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:45 PM UTC

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #6

FroshKiller wrote: post #2

I'm a homeowner and an active Waze user. The street I live on is not "my" street. It's a public street that any licensed driver may use. I did have an issue with drivers coming around a blind curve too quickly to be safe, though, so I did what these homeowners ought to be doing and contacted my local government about getting my street assessed for a traffic calming project. The city created a three-way stop before th…

I got a ticket for one of these types of things, some local ordinance prohibiting through traffic during rush hour. It's a great revenue generator for the local PDs. Lots of one-off traffic laws that people passing through won't (and really, can't) know about.

There's no way that the trickle of revenue is greater than the cost of enforcement. Officer salary and benefits, equipment maintenance, and all the costs associated with the court system...

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#14

Post by dagss » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:46 PM UTC

JoshTriplett wrote: post #5

This quote seems very telling: > It used to be that only locals knew all the cut-through routes, but Google Maps and Waze are letting everyone know So they don't have a problem with people cutting through as long as they're "locals"; it's when the outgroup starts doing the same thing that people get up in arms. If the through traffic is breaking traffic laws, that's a solvable problem. If the street has insufficient…

I would think the problem is the volume of traffic faced by pedestrians and neighbors, not specifically who drives.

Many roads are simply suitable for moderate traffic.

"Solving the problem" in this case often involves a roadblock in the middle so that you cannot drive through.

Compared to changing Waze, this is "fair". But are you really happier then?

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#15

Post by jschwartzi » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:46 PM UTC

paulddraper wrote: post #4

If it's faster to take a neighborhood street than the interstate , there's a problem. It's not normal. It sounds like residents are at war with transportation infrastructure instead.

Welcome to rush hour in every major city.

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#16

Post by theseatoms » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:47 PM UTC

voiper1 wrote: post #3

I actually recall this... 15 years ago, living parallel to a busy street. The various extra stop signs didn't keep people from using it. As @FroshKiller said though, it's not "my street". However, it was still a problem: there were frequently people way over the speed limit when we'd hardly expect it...

> However, it was still a problem: there were frequently people way over the speed limit when we'd hardly expect it...

Sounds like recourse should be attainable via law enforcement.

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#17

Post by jdblair » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:48 PM UTC

The City of Berkeley, CA, fixed this problem a long time ago, before Waze or even widespread GPS. Every few blocks they block side streets to all vehicles except bicycles. The effect is to be forced to take right or left turns that guide you back to the main through street.

Streets parallel to the through streets that are now impassible to cars are marked as "bicycle boulevards" and provide safer routes for cyclists. Residents still have easy access to the main roads.

It sounds like the residents of this Maryland neighborhood could adopt this practice and solve their traffic issue.

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#18

Post by EGreg » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:48 PM UTC

morninj wrote: post #13

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got a ticket for one of these types of things, some local ordinance prohibiting through traffic during rush hour. It's a great revenue generator for the local PDs. Lots of one-off traffic laws that people passing through won't (and really, can't) know about.

There's no way that the trickle of revenue is greater than the cost of enforcement. Officer salary and benefits, equipment maintenance, and all the costs associated with the court system...

How do you know there's no way?

At the very least, it might be paying for itself....

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#19

Post by aggie » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:52 PM UTC

morninj wrote: post #13

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got a ticket for one of these types of things, some local ordinance prohibiting through traffic during rush hour. It's a great revenue generator for the local PDs. Lots of one-off traffic laws that people passing through won't (and really, can't) know about.

There's no way that the trickle of revenue is greater than the cost of enforcement. Officer salary and benefits, equipment maintenance, and all the costs associated with the court system...

The marginal cost of those items, for the police anyway, might be close to 0.

Re: Traffic-weary homeowners and Waze are at war

#20

Post by superuser2 » Mon, Jun 06, 2016, 2:56 PM UTC

morninj wrote: post #13

rhinoceraptor wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I got a ticket for one of these types of things, some local ordinance prohibiting through traffic during rush hour. It's a great revenue generator for the local PDs. Lots of one-off traffic laws that people passing through won't (and really, can't) know about.

There's no way that the trickle of revenue is greater than the cost of enforcement. Officer salary and benefits, equipment maintenance, and all the costs associated with the court system...

Suburban PDs tend to be vastly overstaffed for the level of serious crime and bored most of the time. Mine spends the majority of its hours on mall shoplifters and dogs at the park.