I live in a city with an unholy number of traffic intersections and lights. When traffif flows it is OK, but when there are too many cars you can easily find yourself spending 1 minute each at 10 lights when only traveling 2 miles.

Instead, have north-south roads at one level and east-west roads at a higher or lower elevation. Each intersection would be an overpass/underpass with transition roads for right turns only.

Rather than build the N-S roads all at a consistently high level with expensive concrete and steel, you could make each road segment gently graded up or down so that N-S roads reach their highest point just where a E-W road reaches its lowest point at an intersection. I.e., every 1/2 mile or so.

With no left turns, one would sometimes have to drive around the block, but it would all go much much faster since there would be no stopping, only merging. Fuel would be saved as well.
-- 0xdeadc0de, Jul 06 2004

Traffic Woof & Warp http://www.halfbake...20Woof_20_26_20Warp
almost identical [FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004]

Unstoppable Traffic Theory http://www.halfbake..._20Traffic_20Theory
no overpasses, must turn left or right [FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004]

Why not just close streets when full? Hey, if streets fill up, it isn't the fault of the designer, it's the fault of the drivers. Charge twenty-five cents to leave, nothing to stay for one hour or longer. Downtowns would become more sticky, and owning a car in town might eventually have its advantages. That forced parking system puts a premium on both excellent driving and foresight.

Don't like the right turn only option. Better make streets one-way and allow turning either to right or to left. Actually, I think one way only streets for the concentric city was discussed elsewhere on the Halfbakery.
-- dpsyplc, Jul 06 2004


Someone else suggested this recently, I believe.
-- DrCurry, Jul 06 2004



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