"There's real science behind freeway ramp metering, as I understand it semaphore-type signals (modeled on good old city stoplights) provide a steady but variable drip of traffic so highways don't come to a standstill (at least not as often)."
That "real science" is total bunk. It asks me to disbelieve my own experiences. I was driving for a living when the DOT switched the meters off. I was on the road 8 hours a day every day, all over the metro during that experiment. Traffic was a dream. I prayed they'd never turn back on. "But in rush hours I've seen shorter city on-ramps back up more quickly than their more roomy suburban counterparts, and the surrounding urban environment can't handle the overflow as easily as more sprawlingly built areas can. Sometimes that means multiblock gridlock in the neighborhood, with queueing cars blocking thoroughfares, bike lanes, crosswalks, alleys and even intersections." This is a real problem I've observed for some time. Solution: Turn off the meters! Dan McGrath http://www.subversivepictures.com http://www.smokeoutgary.org REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
