LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
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LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
1–10 of 47 posts
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#2I've always wondered who gets to write the software that syncs traffic signals. Seems like it would be a really fun job.
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#3"L.A. is about to become the first major city in the world to synchronize all of its traffic signals."
For such an obvious way to improve traffic, safety and reduce pollution, it seems very odd that this hasn't been done before in other forward looking cities.
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#4"L.A. is about to become the first major city in the world to synchronize all of its traffic signals." For such an obvious way to improve traffic, safety and reduce pollution, it seems very odd that this hasn't been done before in other forward looking cities.
When you say "other forward looking cities" I say "every city in existence".
Seriously, why isn't EVERYONE doing this?
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#5Once most of the cars on the road are self-driving, even more opportunities for traffic optimization arise.
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#6Something that puzzled me when I came to the US was that traffic lights (including a majority of pedestrian lights) just cycles through a certain schedule. Where I come from, traffic lights have sensors in the ground that manages the traffic. Also, all pedestrian crossings have very responsive buttons that truly work. The crossing light won't come on unless someone presses the button. In the US, I can rarely tell if the buttons are just props or if they actually do anything.
There's way more traffic in the US though, so not sure if this would work since there are so many traffic lights, and almost always someone waiting in each direction. Something that frustrates me to no end though are traffic lights (especially for left turns) that were obviously programmed with the belief that not many cars would be waiting, but is in fact heavily used. This results in having to wait 2-3 light cycles just to get through the intersection.
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#7I am surprised that it wasn't already done but it makes me happy that the traffic in LA can get a little better (I live north of LA).
The sync will probably also discourage speeding as the sync works well at the speed-limit.
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#8I've always wondered who gets to write the software that syncs traffic signals. Seems like it would be a really fun job.
You might be uniquely suited for the job, then. :-)
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#9I live in LA, and today I honestly noticed a significant reduction in my commute time (from 45min down to about 30min), but this is the first I've heard of this. I thought I was just hitting all the lights, but interesting to find out it may become a more common occurrence! Looking forward to gathering more experience with the system.
Re: LA In Sync: Traffic Signals To Cut Travel Times
#10"L.A. is about to become the first major city in the world to synchronize all of its traffic signals." For such an obvious way to improve traffic, safety and reduce pollution, it seems very odd that this hasn't been done before in other forward looking cities.
When you say "other forward looking cities" I say "every city in existence". Seriously, why isn't EVERYONE doing this?
We have had this in Houston, TX for nearly a decade. They work pretty great if everyone is driving at the speed they're designed for. Otherwise you have to deal with red light runners, people parked at green lights texting, metro bus drivers parking their buses on the road while they go on break, people speeding and getting to the lights too early and people driving too slow.
That said at off hours they're absolutely fantastic. You can make it through the city center at great speed. I frequently take surface streets as they can be faster than the congested freeways.