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How we can reduce traffic congestion

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241–250 of 373 posts

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#241
post #6

One of the things this type of intervention doesn't take into account is that different roads are built with different levels of hardiness based on the amount of traffic they are expected to receive. For instance, a few years ago, a segment of I-495 in Delaware needed to be unexpectedly shut down for emergency repairs. Drivers were rerouted. But because of the increase in traffic on the less-hardy detour route, that…

Also, pedestrians and cyclists choose lesser traveled roads for safety. Granted you're talking huge roads but on a smaller scale, filling up neighborhood streets with commuter traffic is likely to provoke a backlash.

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#242
Next step? Maps Pro subscription 'blue' plan will guide you through the fastest routes, Maps Free users will be routed on the fast 'green' plan, but might ocasionally be diverted to other routes to 'balance' (free up blue routes') traffic under extreme congestion conditions.

Yep, the virtual universal fast toll road option.

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is possible if you’re not picky about where you live, where you work, your career options, how crowded your local vicinity is, or how much you pay for your residence. The more your preferences or financial constraints come into play, the more you have to give up. Most people settle in for driving because it allows them to pick from more job options than those that happen to be located near their house and more h…

> This is possible if you’re not picky about where you live, where you work, your career options, how crowded your local vicinity is, or how much you pay for your residence. Perhaps the problem is the lack of options for those people that want human-centric (versus car-centric) communities. Maybe if we let The Market™ decide, versus forcing low-density sprawl via zoning, more options would be available. Right now, if…

We already tried that experiment. The result was Houston.

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#244
post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh don’t worry there is plenty of evidence Deaths per billion miles via car: 7.3 Train: 0.43 From https://www.vox.com/2015/5/14/8606195/train-safety-driving-c... but you can just google, there are tons of other studies.

Your data is for traffic accidents, not crimes. Public transit is dangerous because of crime.

[dead]

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#245
post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh don’t worry there is plenty of evidence Deaths per billion miles via car: 7.3 Train: 0.43 From https://www.vox.com/2015/5/14/8606195/train-safety-driving-c... but you can just google, there are tons of other studies.

It’s a safe bet that sndgndgndgndy isn’t referring to that metric, but to the (perceived) probability of getting shouted at, mugged, etc. That, I have been told, is definitely a problem in the USA. I think that’s because they’ve painted themselves into a car-centric corner that it is very hard to get out of.

Outside of a handful of American cities, public transit is mostly used by the poor, which can include a lot of "undesirables", and many people used to their "quiet, safe" suburbs feel deeply uncomfortable around the poor in general. In some cities, public transit is used as a du-facto shelter system by the homeless.

It's funny when people see celebrities use the subway in NYC. It's just accepted by New Yorkers that the subway is usually the best way to get around Manhattan and getting mixed in with the entire socioeconomic spectrum is normal. But the crowds of people is also a kind of security blanket if something does happen.

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#246
post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh don’t worry there is plenty of evidence Deaths per billion miles via car: 7.3 Train: 0.43 From https://www.vox.com/2015/5/14/8606195/train-safety-driving-c... but you can just google, there are tons of other studies.

Your data is for traffic accidents, not crimes. Public transit is dangerous because of crime.

> Public transit is dangerous because of crime

What was it you said? Assertions made without evidence?

Edit: I looked into it and crime rates are actually lower on transit than in cars. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1077291X2...

You need to examine your assumptions

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#247
post #156

How we can reduce traffic congestion? 1. Extensive support of public transport: metro, tram, dedicated bus routes (separate from car traffic), dedicated paths for bicycles. 2. ... maybe whatever is this ... UPDATE: here's a good graph - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport#/media/File:P... , i.e. car traffic is often congested because of inherent low passenger bandwith. If google wants to manage traffic as…

If you believe that adding lanes doesn't reduce congestion, then you must also believe that adding transit doesn't reduce congestion.

Induced demand is a real, observed phenomenon for both roads and public transport. However, because of density differences, it is generally easier to increase service frequency for public transport than to add lanes for low-density road traffic.

Empirically, this pattern is observed repeatedly.

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#248
post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh don’t worry there is plenty of evidence Deaths per billion miles via car: 7.3 Train: 0.43 From https://www.vox.com/2015/5/14/8606195/train-safety-driving-c... but you can just google, there are tons of other studies.

It’s a safe bet that sndgndgndgndy isn’t referring to that metric, but to the (perceived) probability of getting shouted at, mugged, etc. That, I have been told, is definitely a problem in the USA. I think that’s because they’ve painted themselves into a car-centric corner that it is very hard to get out of.

Crime rates are actually lower on transit than in a car: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1077291X2...

The perception of crime and danger is strangely very inverted

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People will generally choose whichever mode of transport is most convenient and cost-effective, based on how they rationally (or irrationally) weigh various factors. If every road were free of traffic, every destination had unlimited parking at the door, everyone already owned a car, and driving carried no direct or indirect costs, almost everyone would drive everywhere. The only way to shift people onto public trans…

> If every road were free of traffic, every destination had unlimited parking at the door, everyone already owned a car, and driving carried no direct or indirect costs, almost everyone would drive everywhere. Even with that unrealistically idealised scenario, if you had similarly idealised public transport (station within 5 minutes walk either end, trains every 5 minutes) I'd still choose the train much of the time.…

> station within 5 minutes walk either end, trains every 5 minutes

Describes large parts of London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, etc

Re: How we can reduce traffic congestion

#250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People will generally choose whichever mode of transport is most convenient and cost-effective, based on how they rationally (or irrationally) weigh various factors. If every road were free of traffic, every destination had unlimited parking at the door, everyone already owned a car, and driving carried no direct or indirect costs, almost everyone would drive everywhere. The only way to shift people onto public trans…

Yep. In the future, only billionaires and politicians shall be allowed private travel. The common man shall be crammed into public transport where he can sweat, sneeze, touch, grab etc. the rest of the common man. Forcing the public to abandon the comfort of private travel seems right out of the WEF playbook.

Comfort? The hassle of parking a car makes the train the nicer option, all by itself!
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