Poll
Question:
What is your least-favorite roadway feature?
Option 1: Ramp meters
votes: 17
Option 2: Roundabouts
votes: 14
Option 3: SPUIs
votes: 1
Option 4: Diverging Diamond interchanges
votes: 0
Option 5: Something else? (Specify in comments)
votes: 22
Dear Mods: Thank you for fixing the poll to allow for more than one choice.
Something else - 'No Right Turn on Red When Pedestrians Are Present'
1) It's vague and subjective - how close does the pedestrian have to be to be 'present'?
2) Even more problematic in regions that love red light cameras.
2) It can increase the conflicts between right turners and pedestrians, especially if it is one of those signals where the main road stays green forever due to coordination concerns and the right turn has plenty of large gaps to choose from.
All-way stop signs when a roundabout would do.
HB - I made it so people should be able to select up to all the options. Let me know if it works or if you want to try again.
- Protected left based on speed limit
- Yellow crosswalk ramps (I prefer white)
- Intersections where turning traffic is dominant but no slip lanes are provided
I could go on, but I just start nitpicking after these.
Roundabouts only work when people know to use them. A roundabout filled with people who have no clue what to do is a nightmare waiting to happen.
Quote from: The Nature Boy on January 31, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
Roundabouts only work when people know to use them. A roundabout filled with people who have no clue what to do is a nightmare waiting to happen.
Studies have actually shown that roundabouts decrease accidents, one of the reasons being that people who have no idea what they are doing drive much more carefully.
SILVER ALERTS! If an elderly couple is missing in Dallas why do I need to look for their vehicle on the roads in Austin?
Quote from: The Nature Boy on January 31, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
Roundabouts only work when people know to use them. A roundabout filled with people who have no clue what to do is a nightmare waiting to happen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAgX6qlJEMc
Excessively high speed bumps, such that one has to come to an almost complete stop to cross or risk destroying their suspension.
Intersections that prohibit right on red because of cheap design, e.g. a freeway offramp intersecting with the crossroad at a normal 90 degree angle, but you can't see traffic coming from the left because the fence/barrier is too close to the road. Also major intersections that lack dedicated left and right turn lanes.
Speed limits posted well below a safe and reasonable speed. Fuck every city that posts a 35mph limit on 4/6 lane arterials that have dedicated left turn lanes and no particular reason for a lower limit, like on-street parking or an excessive number of driveways.
Quote from: dfwmapper on January 31, 2015, 11:23:32 PM
Intersections that prohibit right on red because of cheap design, e.g. a freeway offramp intersecting with the crossroad at a normal 90 degree angle, but you can't see traffic coming from the left because the fence/barrier is too close to the road. Also major intersections that lack dedicated left and right turn lanes.
Major intersections without left turn bays should prohibit left turns. Have drivers loop around the block.
Quote from: dfwmapper on January 31, 2015, 11:23:32 PM
Speed limits posted well below a safe and reasonable speed. Fuck every city that posts a 35mph limit on 4/6 lane arterials that have dedicated left turn lanes and no particular reason for a lower limit, like on-street parking or an excessive number of driveways.
That's how the city makes money. It's bullshit of course, and I agree with you.
For those that abhor the ramp meter, what exactly do you not like about it? I've always been on the fence about it; WSDOT is installing them everywhere now, but I've noticed the arterials have more traffic than before which I can't say I like. BUT better traffic flow on the freeway is preferable in my eyes.
Unstriped lanes on any road that is both (1) not intentionally using a shared space configuration and (2) in a higher hierarchical position than a collector street. This excludes toll plaza approaches, but it includes implicit turning lanes. (This especially includes auxiliary lanes on freeways, although, thankfully, I only know of one place where this occurs.)
Quote from: corco on January 31, 2015, 11:07:56 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on January 31, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
Roundabouts only work when people know to use them. A roundabout filled with people who have no clue what to do is a nightmare waiting to happen.
Studies have actually shown that roundabouts decrease accidents, one of the reasons being that people who have no idea what they are doing drive much more carefully.
Most of the studies out there are limited to just single-lane roundabouts. The results are all over the place when it comes to multi-lane roundabouts. I've thoroughly studied the statistics at a couple of the main ones in Oregon . . . the one at US-101 and OR-202 in Astoria more than doubled the occurrence of injury accidents long term, without reducing accident severity. The one on MLK Pkwy in Springfield has had 182 accidents in the past 5 years, putting it in the 3.00 per MEV range, which is pretty terrible, and far worse than any other intersection in the city. It's been there 9 years and they've done absolutely nothing to address the issue, in part due to cost ($9.3 million for initial construction), which highlights the problem if you botch a roundabout--it's prohibitive to attempt to correct it (or to remove it altogether).
Quote from: Revive 755 on January 31, 2015, 09:57:31 PM
Something else - 'No Right Turn on Red When Pedestrians Are Present'
Also in the same vein: SCHOOL Speed Limit xx -- When Children are present OR During School Hours.
So if school gets out at 3:30, does that mean at 3:31 when the kids are coming out of the building, I can go the regular speed, because "school" just ended?
Also, any intersection where two one-way streets meet and there is no signage stating whether a Left Turn On Red is permitted or not. If you have friends in the car, it can become a great gambling game to see whether the soccer mom will make the left turn on her own, after being honked at or will only turn on the green light.
Tollbooths.
Runners-up:
- Tight urban cloverleaf interchanges
- Pre-timed, pedestrian-only phases
Not in any order.
Some of these may be considered bugs, not features.
Red light cameras, especially erroneous ones
Badly timed traffic lights
Lack of signage when a route turns
Lack of signage at a route intersection
Speed limits way below what is optimal
Unsigned tolls
Lane merges that cause traffic for miles (I-95/MA 128 north, exits 33-37)
Businesses along the road that do not know how to spell/use grammar ("camera's" used as a plural)
Lack of ability to cross the US/Canada border freely
Sequential exit numbers skipped for no reason (see I-93 in Boston)
The existence of speed limits on straight rural roads (if 120 mph is safe, then put "no speed limit")
Left entrances and exits.
Quote from: UCFKnights on February 01, 2015, 12:25:41 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 31, 2015, 09:58:55 PM
All-way stop signs.
fify
All-way stop signs don't always bother me. There are some places where a roundabout doesn't make sense but visibility issues particular to the location warrant stop signs rather than letting one road's traffic go without stopping. But I think the all-way stop is certainly overused in the US. I find driving in the UK to be a breath of fresh air in that respect because to me it often feels like they trust you to stop when you need to do so and will otherwise let you keep moving if there's no need to stop, whereas the US philosophy feels more like "you might have to stop at some point, so we'll require you to stop every time because you can't be trusted to do it properly." (I suppose the "can't be trusted" part may be true of many drivers, but that's a separate thread.)
Quotewhich highlights the problem if you botch a roundabout
A poorly-designed anything will cause more accidents than a well-designed anything- I don't know that it's fair to say "roundabouts are bad" (nor am I saying that you're saying that) because badly designed or inappropriately placed roundabouts are bad.
* All-way stops. Thankfully there are only a handfull in all of Sweden.
* Speed cameras. They're signed beforehand though. :D
* 1+1 roads (this type of road (http://goo.gl/maps/mFK6G)).
* Solid lines when dashed ones will do (Sweden uses mostly dashed shoulder lines on regular roads).
Probably roundabouts. I personally believe 4 way stops or traffic lights are much better and safer.
Speed limits that are too low for a road because it's considered "safer".
I don't really drive much, but this is what I can dig up.
25 mph speed zones on major arteries. New Jersey has plenty of them!
Then in Florida we have traffic signals being added in places where right ins and right outs should be made.
Intersections that are not striped for turn lanes, that should be as the general use lane is much wider than 12 feet. That allows some cops to be anal and try to say that going around a left turning vehicle is considered illegally passing.
Not having dedicated right turn only lanes at intersections on major arterials for heavy turning right turn traffic at some locations. This causes slowdowns in the right lane on high speed highways and if you are turning right while the light is red and the car in front of you is not turning, you are missed your chance for right turn on red.
Quote from: 1 on February 01, 2015, 11:45:00 AMSequential exit numbers skipped for no reason (see I-93 in Boston)
Do keep in mind that such was the result of the Big Dig/O'Neill Tunnel version of I-93 has less exit ramps than the original Central Artery I-93; the current sequential exit numbers for I-93 were assigned circa 1986-87. Which is why the then-MassHighway & the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority should've went with mile-marker based exit numbers for the Big Dig tunnels and I-90 & 93 from the get-go IMHO.
Sherman, set the WABAC Machine to 1990 (a drive along US 1 & I-93 South):
In case the signs shown in the video were too blurry (exit number & location/vicinity):
Exit 26 - Storrow Drive (MA 3 North)
Exit 25 - Haymarket Square
Exit 24 - Callahan Tunnel (MA 1A North)
Exit 23 - High St./Congress St. (ramp was then-recently relocated to accomodate International Place high-rise)
Exit 22 - South Station
Exit 21 - Kneeland St./Chinatown
Exit 20 - I-90 West/Mass Pike
Exit 19 - Albany St. (note: no exit tab was ever added to the old 50s-era BGS')
Lanes that become turn only with little or no warning.
Quote from: corco on February 01, 2015, 12:05:30 PM
Quotewhich highlights the problem if you botch a roundabout
A poorly-designed anything will cause more accidents than a well-designed anything- I don't know that it's fair to say "roundabouts are bad" (nor am I saying that you're saying that) because badly designed or inappropriately placed roundabouts are bad.
I'd agree that's sound logic, and I wasn't saying that all roundabouts are bad, or that a good roundabout was somehow inferior to a bad signal or 4-way stop.
To clarify, I was saying that a bad roundabout is worse than a bad signal or other control device from the standpoint of finances and flexibility. Signal installation costs are usually measured in the hundreds of thousands--$300K is a typical figure. If there's issues with a signal, it's possible to adjust the timing on it to improve operations, or retrofit the layout, and worst-case scenario, if the signal needs to be removed, you're out the $300K installation plus removal costs (which usually aren't significant), so probably a bit shy of a million. Compare that to the most roundabouts, which usually push at least $1 million. ODOT usually uses the $3-5 million figure for single-lane designs, and if a multi-lane design is used, that figure pushes up toward the $9.3 million that Springfield spent. It's difficult to fix a roundabout without substantial re-engineering, and one would have to completely tear up and redo the intersection if the roundabout needs removing. Bad roundabouts (especially multi-lane ones) are much harder and more expensive to fix than bad signals, and being a newer engineering device, bad roundabouts cast an ugly shadow on the good ones in the public eye.
I get the sense that some engineers (esp. here in Oregon, at all levels of government) are more interested in trying to be "innovative" by pushing roundabouts into places where they really don't belong, rather than actually building a solid, functional project. They're doing the general public and the reputation of roundabouts a severe disservice in the process.
those stupid traffic meters we had in Minnesota. Without them it would take me 20 minutes to get to work/school, With them I wasted 10 minutes at the meter making it a 30 minute drive (I had the option to go the unmetered way and I took it)
Freeways where the main lanes bridge over cross traffic, and then return to grade, like a roller coaster. Either put the whole thing on an embankment or piers, sink the lanes underground, or bridge the cross-traffic! It's especially bad in Texas because of the ubiquitous frontage roads.
Quote from: Tarkus on February 01, 2015, 04:24:44 AM
Quote from: corco on January 31, 2015, 11:07:56 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on January 31, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
Roundabouts only work when people know to use them. A roundabout filled with people who have no clue what to do is a nightmare waiting to happen.
Studies have actually shown that roundabouts decrease accidents, one of the reasons being that people who have no idea what they are doing drive much more carefully.
Most of the studies out there are limited to just single-lane roundabouts. The results are all over the place when it comes to multi-lane roundabouts. I've thoroughly studied the statistics at a couple of the main ones in Oregon . . . the one at US-101 and OR-202 in Astoria more than doubled the occurrence of injury accidents long term, without reducing accident severity. The one on MLK Pkwy in Springfield has had 182 accidents in the past 5 years, putting it in the 3.00 per MEV range, which is pretty terrible, and far worse than any other intersection in the city. It's been there 9 years and they've done absolutely nothing to address the issue, in part due to cost ($9.3 million for initial construction), which highlights the problem if you botch a roundabout--it's prohibitive to attempt to correct it (or to remove it altogether).
Reminds me of a certain roundabout in Bend. Here is a Google Sateliite view (unfortunately no Street View of it): https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0909659,-121.2817749,70m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
The left lane is clearly marked left turn only, with multiple signs and road markings. The right lane is right turn or straight. EVERY TIME I go through here, someone stays in the left lane and goes straight! It really pisses me off. And this is in Bend, where people are supposed to know how to use roundabouts...
Quote from: TXtoNJ on February 01, 2015, 11:38:48 PM
Freeways where the main lanes bridge over cross traffic, and then return to grade, like a roller coaster. Either put the whole thing on an embankment or piers, sink the lanes underground, or bridge the cross-traffic! It's especially bad in Texas because of the ubiquitous frontage roads.
In Florida, too, most roadways that cross over another are at grade then climb and artificial hill to stretch over the crossing roadway, and then down another artificial hill to go back to grade.
I think its a little more costly to do it on flat land like most of the Florida Peninsula and most of Texas are.
Heck at least Texas is not like Louisiana, where they do not even build artificial hills at all. Just built one hurdle viaduct from the moment it leaves grade to moment it returns. Almost every bridge on I-10 is that way in the Greater NO Area.
Quote from: doorknob60 on February 02, 2015, 12:09:44 AM
Quote from: Tarkus on February 01, 2015, 04:24:44 AM
Quote from: corco on January 31, 2015, 11:07:56 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on January 31, 2015, 10:47:01 PM
Roundabouts only work when people know to use them. A roundabout filled with people who have no clue what to do is a nightmare waiting to happen.
Studies have actually shown that roundabouts decrease accidents, one of the reasons being that people who have no idea what they are doing drive much more carefully.
Most of the studies out there are limited to just single-lane roundabouts. The results are all over the place when it comes to multi-lane roundabouts. I've thoroughly studied the statistics at a couple of the main ones in Oregon . . . the one at US-101 and OR-202 in Astoria more than doubled the occurrence of injury accidents long term, without reducing accident severity. The one on MLK Pkwy in Springfield has had 182 accidents in the past 5 years, putting it in the 3.00 per MEV range, which is pretty terrible, and far worse than any other intersection in the city. It's been there 9 years and they've done absolutely nothing to address the issue, in part due to cost ($9.3 million for initial construction), which highlights the problem if you botch a roundabout--it's prohibitive to attempt to correct it (or to remove it altogether).
Reminds me of a certain roundabout in Bend. Here is a Google Sateliite view (unfortunately no Street View of it): https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0909659,-121.2817749,70m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
The left lane is clearly marked left turn only, with multiple signs and road markings. The right lane is right turn or straight. EVERY TIME I go through here, someone stays in the left lane and goes straight! It really pisses me off. And this is in Bend, where people are supposed to know how to use roundabouts...
I swear, I live in the only state in the union where roundabouts were implemented without collisions rising. Washington has about 300 roundabouts now, and I suppose you could compare the overall number of roundabouts with increased driver familiarity, but of greater interest (IMO) is driver attitude. Washington drivers are pretty calm and relaxed (much like British drivers where the roundabout came to fame); I think a state needs drivers who are calm and attentive in order to succeed in the construction of roundabouts (the other option is to just build hundreds of them and force drivers to learn the rules, a la Carmel, IN). I think Oregon drivers are enough like Washington drivers to succeed at driving through roundabouts (and I'd bet the Springfield and Bend examples are rare cases of increased issue). The problem is Oregon's slow roll-out of them. What they need to do is build like 50 of them, have a massive campaign (digital, physical, etc) and let drivers figure it out. Oregon doesn't have enough of them to force drivers to learn the concept of giving way to the left.
Perhaps we ought to try out the "yield at roundabout" sign?
EDIT: Add this to my list of least-favorite roadway features: dashed lines in roundabouts. Lane changes are prohibited within modern roundabouts -- don't use dashed lane lines!!!! Solid lane lines exist for this reason.
Quote from: jakeroot on February 02, 2015, 01:34:03 AM
EDIT: Add this to my list of least-favorite roadway features: dashed lines in roundabouts. Lane changes are prohibited within modern roundabouts -- don't use dashed lane lines!!!! Double solid lane lines exist for this reason.
Corrected.
Speed limits.
Quote from: NE2 on February 02, 2015, 03:09:39 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 02, 2015, 01:34:03 AM
EDIT: Add this to my list of least-favorite roadway features: dashed lines in roundabouts. Lane changes are prohibited within modern roundabouts -- don't use dashed lane lines!!!! Double solid lane lines exist for this reason.
Corrected.
True. Are there any roundabouts with double solid lane lines?
Quote from: bugo on February 02, 2015, 03:12:29 AM
Speed limits.
Yeah, we heard.
Through lanes on a road shifting to the left or right, such as with Bannister Road in both directions between US 71 and Blue Ridge.
This is a good example of it: https://goo.gl/maps/anwN6
Up to this point, the left two lanes are the through lanes. If you want to keep going on Bannister, though, you have to shift two lanes to the right from where you were here - the "through" lanes default into left turn lanes for local streets and for I-435 South.
Erased road markings/lack of any maintenance - this is for you, Chicago!
I mean, seriously, sometimes I wonder if a turn lane is there or not due to the erased road markings. Even where to stop if you're the first at a red light can be ambiguous.
4 way stop signs. What's worse? A consecutive series of blocks with stop signs. No wonder my friend and I get well below our EPA estimates for city fuel economy! :X Gimme roundabouts with yield signs!
Unclearly delindeated overly wide lanes on a 2 lane road. I want to drive in a lane, not a general vicinity. This allows idiots to wander left and right while driving. It rewards the incompetant and is a hell for the precise.
Fixed time signal lights. I think I have to wait at least three minutes at a red light everyday when there's no traffic perpendicular to me.
Manhole covers that are directly in the path of travel of your tires within the lane. I bet the tire lobby is behind that one!
Too short on ramps and off ramps. Cloverleafs with cramped designed. It just gets messy with too many conflict zones while entering/exiting the Interstate.
Unsmooth road surface in general. I drive a BMW with runflats. I feel everything.
Although I usually don't mind about roundabouts, I don't like when there are too many of them in a small area. I hate badly timed traffic lights, too. And when you mix roundabouts and badly timed traffic lights, you get Zaragoza. I prefer to go around the city on the Z-40 beltway to get quickly to the area I'm going.
Also, some speed limits are silly. Last year I drove a straight road with a ridiculous (but legally mandated) speed limit of 56*. I went 75 all the way. Fortunately there are no speed cameras in the way.
* The reason of this weird speed limit is not that weird outside the US, being 90 km/h. I drove 120 there.
Quote from: jakeroot on February 02, 2015, 01:34:03 AM
EDIT: Add this to my list of least-favorite roadway features: dashed lines in roundabouts. Lane changes are prohibited within modern roundabouts -- don't use dashed lane lines!!!! Solid lane lines exist for this reason.
It isn't just roundabouts, lane changes are prohibited in any intersection. Turn lane extension lines are also dashed (see Figure 3B-13 in the MUTCD), so it's not like roundabouts are setting a new precedent for lane lines within an intersection. Unfortunately, cross/entering traffic gradually wears away solid lines, turning them into dashed lines.
crappy drivers. even the most poorly-designed roadway is tolerable until you're stuck behind someone who doesn't know how to drive.
I'm not the biggest fan of roundabouts, although I don't mind them when they are implemented properly.
I also don't like traffic lights with non-black backgrounds.
Am I allowed to count people who don't use their turn signal when turning at an intersection and/or changing lanes as a "roadway feature" that I hate?
Quote from: freebrickproductions on February 02, 2015, 09:53:18 AM
Am I allowed to count people who don't use their turn signal when turning at an intersection and/or changing lanes as a "roadway feature" that I hate?
No kidding. Most people in Austin drive like they didn't have turn signals on their cars at all.
Quote from: jakeroot on February 02, 2015, 01:34:03 AM
...I think a state needs drivers who are calm and attentive in order to succeed in the construction of roundabouts.
That probably explains why there are virtually none in NYC.
Quote from: Darkchylde on February 02, 2015, 03:25:37 AM
Through lanes on a road shifting to the left or right, such as with Bannister Road in both directions between US 71 and Blue Ridge.
This is a good example of it: https://goo.gl/maps/anwN6
Up to this point, the left two lanes are the through lanes. If you want to keep going on Bannister, though, you have to shift two lanes to the right from where you were here - the "through" lanes default into left turn lanes for local streets and for I-435 South.
I agree it's probably annoying in an example like yours, but there's a similar situation on NY 17 that I actually like. Going over the Shawangunk ridges, there are several spots where there is a climbing lane on the right, but once you've gotten over the summit, it's this climbing lane that becomes the new right thru lane, and the left-hand travel lane ends. In this setup, traffic seems to flow more smoothly into the correct keep-right-except-to-pass configuration as the three lanes drop back to two.
For my part, I am always irked by protected-only left turn phases that stay in effect through the dead of night (i.e., green with a left red arrow). Orange County, CA seems to be fond of this. There's absolutely no reason I can't safely make a left turn at midnight when I can see there's no oncoming traffic for half a mile, just as I do everywhere else in the country.
I hate:
* Poorly timed traffic signals
* New Jersey traffic circles (more-so because the other people can't drive properly in one worth shit)
* Ridiculously sharp (90 degree) curves that require me to slow to nearly 10 MPH to avoid crossing the center-line'
* The idea of grooving a road so that you stop speeding on it, ignoring the fact that if that road is remotely icy you are fucked (*cough* CR 567 near Raritan)
* Extremely rough roads with no pavement markings whatsoever
* Speed zones that make you ride your brake down a hill to avoid getting popped
Most of my peeves have already been mentioned, but I'll add:
-Munis that are too cheap to identify all of the streets at all of their intersections (this should be in the MUTCD);
-'ONE WAY' signs below the 'YIELD' signs at roundabout entrances (should use black-on-white graphic roundabout image signs, as is the normal practice in Europe);
-Those little islands that some munis like to use in the middle of their neighborhood side-street intersections for 'traffic calming'. Hint guys - THEY DON'T WORK!
-Wordy signs at freeway entrances that are used to tell the World what is prohibited beyond the sign. A WisDOT example: http://goo.gl/maps/DnnjN (College Ave (County 'CE') to NB WI 441 here in Appleton) - Use my avatar for that, DAMMIT! :angry:
-'STOP' signs used where 'YIELD' signs, or no signs at all, will do just fine. We all know munis that love to do that and they lessen the impact of 'STOP' signs that are used for legitimate traffic engineering purposes.
Mike
I'm not a fan of speed humps, but if they are of a design that you can traverse at the posted speed limit, I don't get overly annoyed by them. Speeding in residential areas is a real problem. But what I hate is that a lot of the time the speed humps are designed to make you slow to a crawl. Those aren't there to reduce speeding, they're there to discourage people from using the road at all. If the road is privately owned and maintained, I guess that may be the owner's prerogative depending on local laws, but if the road is publicly-owned and -maintained, I have a problem with the local authorities giving into residents who don't want other people driving through their little piece of paradise. I can think of a neighborhood out near Fairfax City (the Mantua neighborhood, for those who know the area) that went whole-hog on very sharp speed humps and excessive stop signs as a means of "mitigating cut-through traffic." You want to mitigate cut-through traffic, work with VDOT to improve the traffic light timing on the arterials that bypass your neighborhood!
How much you have to slow to go over a speed bump also depends on how your car is built, I believe. I can comfortably take these style of speed bumps (http://www.instantstreetview.com/2d4m5iz1r8wvuz1pkzmxz5p) at 25 mph while I've seen people (and been behind said people) who have to slow to an almost complete stop.
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux5ADlWXOvs - explains why it is bad.
I'm also not a fan of barriers between diamond lanes and the general purpose lanes.
Really dislike jersey barriers as the sole division between traffic directions.
Botts-dots as the only lane separators.
Lanes that end shortly after an exit... why is it not just an Exit Only lane?
Traffic signals, and rotate between directions of travel, instead of addressing traffic flow.
The lack of Michigan Lefts outside of Michigan.
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video explains why it is bad.
Gawrsh, no it doesn't.
Quote from: riiga on February 01, 2015, 12:09:33 PM
* 1+1 roads (this type of road (http://goo.gl/maps/mFK6G)).
I believe the proper term is a Super-2. BTW, I hate them too!
Other things I can't stand:
Four-way stop signs
Left-hand ramps (both entrances and exits)
Red-light cameras
Speed limits posted lower than ideal numbers
Sequential exit numbers
Closely-bunched interchanges, especially if they're not braided
Right-turn traffic signals
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux5ADlWXOvs - explains why it is bad.
I dislike it when dogs drive cars.
And even if you tried to really stretch this video to ramp metering, it didn't work. A ramp meter isn't located in the acceleration lane. It's located within the ramp, where other people can see and expect traffic to be stopped.
Quote
I'm also not a fan of barriers between diamond lanes and the general purpose lanes.
Why? It prevents people from jumping into/out of the lanes illegally.
Quote
Really dislike jersey barriers as the sole division between traffic directions.
This just really doesn't make sense. What else do you want between directions that protects traffic from hitting each other.
Quote
Lanes that end shortly after an exit... why is it not just an Exit Only lane?
Because motorists tend to stay in the Exit Only lane until the last moment, then quickly jump out of the lane. Many motorists don't understand what 'Exit Only' means either...with many thinking that you can exit, but you can't re-enter.
QuoteTraffic signals, and rotate between directions of travel, instead of addressing traffic flow.
Huh?
Not a fan of the idea of ramp meters but I don't live in an area where they are in use or could be in use so I probably can't have too much of an opinion on that. On DDIs there are definitely none around here so again no opinion either way.
Hate red light cameras, just seems like a way for the police to be laid back and but get plenty of income. "For your safety" my ass. Luckily the program in New Jersey has ended, isn't likely to be renewed, and will not be extended to speed cameras here.
I like modern roundabouts, but some people really don't know how to behave. A couple of times in the roundabout I regularly use, a driver in the circle will stop and cede their right of way to the people entering getting me angry. I've had and seen no issues with the one SPUI in my area so I give it a net positive opinion.
Other things I hate, besides the razor blade slot in the bathroom, artificially low speed limits solely to enhance the town revenue, raised reflective markers in shoulders because as a cyclist, they are annoying to ride around especially when they're placed on roads with very narrow or nonexistent shoulders, and traffic signals that have actuation but continue to give long greens to movements without any vehicles.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 02, 2015, 12:18:08 PMQuoteTraffic signals, and rotate between directions of travel, instead of addressing traffic flow.
Huh?
I think they mean "split phasing".
There are some intersections here in Huntsville where both streets split phase, but those are only on Memorial Parkway.
There's a limited number around me. One they did recently - at first the timing was pretty bad, but after they came back out and adjusted it, I have to say it's working quite well.
Delaware may split-time over 50% of their intersections. If it's not that high, it's quite close to it.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 02, 2015, 12:18:08 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video - - explains why it is bad.
I dislike it when dogs drive cars.
And even if you tried to really stretch this video to ramp metering, it didn't work. A ramp meter isn't located in the acceleration lane. It's located within the ramp, where other people can see and expect traffic to be stopped.
Except, with the introduction of metering, especially in Washington and Oregon, it doesn't provide enough time for you to get up to whatever the traffic speed is. You say it is on the ramp, but I usually see it just before the ramp merges with the traffic lanes.
QuoteQuote
I'm also not a fan of barriers between diamond lanes and the general purpose lanes.
Why? It prevents people from jumping into/out of the lanes illegally.
It shouldn't be illegal to jump between lanes. In Washington and Oregon you can get into and out of the HOV lane wherever you want. Restricting access is illogical.
QuoteQuoteReally dislike jersey barriers as the sole division between traffic directions.
This just really doesn't make sense. What else do you want between directions that protects traffic from hitting each other.
Perhaps you know of medians. I have seen far to many incidents where a vehicle had either gone over the barriers, or through the barriers and into oncoming traffic, or move the barrier into the oncoming traffic. Even a minor median would prevent this, in addition of the barrier, or barriers that are not movable. There are many places where the barriers are built into the road. Jersey barriers by definition are not affixed to the ground, as they were designed for temporary installations.
QuoteQuote
Lanes that end shortly after an exit... why is it not just an Exit Only lane?
Because motorists tend to stay in the Exit Only lane until the last moment, then quickly jump out of the lane. Many motorists don't understand what 'Exit Only' means either...with many thinking that you can exit, but you can't re-enter.
Then perhaps we should change it to "Must Exit", but 9 times out of 10, I see someone fly past the exit in the lane, then nearly cause an accident whilst attempting to merge.
QuoteTraffic signals, and rotate between directions of travel, instead of addressing traffic flow.
Huh?
I guess the correct term is split-phase, but they are basically controlled all-way stops. It just seems like lazy design, and in the places I see them, people seem to run them more often than regular lights due to impatience.
I forgot a couple:
Multi-lane roads where one lane reverts to parking after a certain time of day.
Low traffic intersections, without left turn yield options.
Speed limits that are reduced or raised for a short period (less than 5 miles) without any need.
School Zones near schools without pedestrian use (many are in the country without people living nearby), but still have school zones.
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 02:05:07 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 02, 2015, 12:18:08 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video - - explains why it is bad.
I dislike it when dogs drive cars.
And even if you tried to really stretch this video to ramp metering, it didn't work. A ramp meter isn't located in the acceleration lane. It's located within the ramp, where other people can see and expect traffic to be stopped.
Except, with the introduction of metering, especially in Washington and Oregon, it doesn't provide enough time for you to get up to whatever the traffic speed is. You say it is on the ramp, but I usually see it just before the ramp merges with the traffic lanes.
It might be time to buy a new car.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on February 02, 2015, 12:29:22 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on February 02, 2015, 12:18:08 PMQuoteTraffic signals, and rotate between directions of travel, instead of addressing traffic flow.
Huh?
I think they mean "split phasing".
There are some intersections here in Huntsville where both streets split phase, but those are only on Memorial Parkway.
"Pretimed"
(Split phasing makes sense but is usually used when describing left-turns.)
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
...
Lanes that end shortly after an exit... why is it not just an Exit Only lane?
...
I have mixed feelings with these. In principle I agree, but in practice, I can think of a few exits where I'm glad they're structured this way because of the tendency of drivers to stay in the exit-only lane until the last moment then try to merge in. On a true exit only lane, this can block the exit lane so that the traffic intending to exit is stuck on the freeway waiting on the jerk to merge left.
Quote from: KEK Inc. on February 01, 2015, 12:37:22 AMQuote from: dfwmapper on January 31, 2015, 11:23:32 PM
Speed limits posted well below a safe and reasonable speed. Fuck every city that posts a 35mph limit on 4/6 lane arterials that have dedicated left turn lanes and no particular reason for a lower limit, like on-street parking or an excessive number of driveways.
That's how the city makes money. It's bullshit of course, and I agree with you.
On a sort-of related note, am I the only one who thinks it's awesome that Pennsylvania doesn't allow local police to run radar? By law, only the state police are permitted to. All the little Barney Fiefdoms and irrelevant shithole towns that happened to win the highway lottery can't balance their budgets with ticket revenue. For them, it's pretty much VASCAR or nothing.
Anyway, one thing I hate about some roads is unnecessary zigging, zagging and swerving over a short distance when a simple arc movement or straight line would do. Curves with improper banking or geometry bug the hell out of me too. I also hate when auxiliary right-turn lanes are too short for a car to use without slowing down in the main travel lane anyway. What's the point of having them in that case? Georgia seems to be especially bad with this.
1. Red light cameras.
2. Inappropriately low speed limits
3. Traffic signals where the light automatically turns red even if there is no cross traffic.
4. In parts of downtown Omaha, there is diagonal parking where you are expected to back into the parking spot. You pull ahead of your spot and then back in.
Quote from: US81 on February 02, 2015, 03:26:05 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
...
Lanes that end shortly after an exit... why is it not just an Exit Only lane?
...
I have mixed feelings with these. In principle I agree, but in practice, I can think of a few exits where I'm glad they're structured this way because of the tendency of drivers to stay in the exit-only lane until the last moment then try to merge in. On a true exit only lane, this can block the exit lane so that the traffic intending to exit is stuck on the freeway waiting on the jerk to merge left.
Like, all of Austin???? People are A) too dumb to get out of the exit lane B) stay in the left lane until the last second and get over 3 lanes. And none of them ever use their blinkers.
Quote from: freebrickproductions on February 02, 2015, 11:21:08 AM
How much you have to slow to go over a speed bump also depends on how your car is built, I believe. I can comfortably take these style of speed bumps (http://www.instantstreetview.com/2d4m5iz1r8wvuz1pkzmxz5p) at 25 mph while I've seen people (and been behind said people) who have to slow to an almost complete stop.
Generally those in very high backup trucks too :P
Quote from: DandyDan on February 02, 2015, 04:10:36 PM
....
4. In parts of downtown Omaha, there is diagonal parking where you are expected to back into the parking spot. You pull ahead of your spot and then back in.
DC has this in some places, but in some of them it's restricted by day and time. For example, there are a number of places near churches where "back-in, pull-out" diagonal parking is allowed only from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sundays. If you parallel park during "diagonal hours," you get a ticket; if you diagonal park outside the specified time, you get a ticket; if you diagonally park front-in instead of backwards, you get a ticket.
I saw a LOT of diagonally-parked cars with tickets yesterday because people going to the Capitals game, which started at 1:00, parked that way and left their cars that way past 2:00 (because Verizon Center doesn't allow you to leave and re-enter except for smokers through one specific door). Of course, it's those people's own fault for not parking in one of the many nearby garages. They thought they could save money parking on the street and didn't read the signs. We paid $17 to park in a garage, but that's cheaper than a parking ticket.
Busy intersections where the left lane is for both straight and left-turning traffic and the right lane is right-turn only. Especially when there isn't a protected left-turn cycle. At certain times of day only one or two cars will even be able to make the left turn each cycle, so all of the cars trying to go straight are basically screwed, and to what end I have no clue.
Also, sequential exit numbers.
Quote from: wphiii on February 02, 2015, 04:59:49 PM
Also, sequential exit numbers.
Sequential exit numbers that are actually sequential are fine.
"Sequential" exit numbers like 38, 37, 35C, 35B, 35A, 34, 32... (I-495 Massachusetts, southbound) on the other hand...
Quote from: 1995hoo on February 02, 2015, 04:34:52 PM
Quote from: DandyDan on February 02, 2015, 04:10:36 PM
....
4. In parts of downtown Omaha, there is diagonal parking where you are expected to back into the parking spot. You pull ahead of your spot and then back in.
DC has this in some places, but in some of them it's restricted by day and time. For example, there are a number of places near churches where "back-in, pull-out" diagonal parking is allowed only from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sundays. If you parallel park during "diagonal hours," you get a ticket; if you diagonal park outside the specified time, you get a ticket; if you diagonally park front-in instead of backwards, you get a ticket.
Quite a few back-in angle parking locations in Tacoma. Some are 24-hour free zones, some are 2-hour pay zones:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0Z229RD.png&hash=36afa11d12cb4e0b2450432b2182d0250ce74cbd)
I do not believe that I have a photo of one of these, but those old left-turn signals in Henrico County (the new ones aren't so bad) really annoyed me for some reason. I think it was because they looked odd.
Quote from: bahnburner on February 02, 2015, 03:37:19 AM
Erased road markings/lack of any maintenance - this is for you, Chicago!
I mean, seriously, sometimes I wonder if a turn lane is there or not due to the erased road markings. Even where to stop if you're the first at a red light can be ambiguous.
4 way stop signs. What's worse? A consecutive series of blocks with stop signs. No wonder my friend and I get well below our EPA estimates for city fuel economy! :X Gimme roundabouts with yield signs!
Unclearly delindeated overly wide lanes on a 2 lane road. I want to drive in a lane, not a general vicinity. This allows idiots to wander left and right while driving. It rewards the incompetant and is a hell for the precise.
Fixed time signal lights. I think I have to wait at least three minutes at a red light everyday when there's no traffic perpendicular to me.
Manhole covers that are directly in the path of travel of your tires within the lane. I bet the tire lobby is behind that one!
Too short on ramps and off ramps. Cloverleafs with cramped designed. It just gets messy with too many conflict zones while entering/exiting the Interstate.
Unsmooth road surface in general. I drive a BMW with runflats. I feel everything.
The Chicago driving experience encapsulated. I hate a lot of these things too. The manhole covers under the tires seems like deliberately poor design.
Not mentioned: 5 and 6 way intersections. HATE.
Quote from: sipes23 on February 02, 2015, 05:51:08 PM
Not mentioned: 5 and 6 way intersections. HATE.
Agreed, if they are signalized. 5+ legs are great places to use roundabouts.
Quote from: 1 on February 02, 2015, 05:13:00 PM
Quote from: wphiii on February 02, 2015, 04:59:49 PM
Also, sequential exit numbers.
Sequential exit numbers that are actually sequential are fine.
"Sequential" exit numbers like 38, 37, 35C, 35B, 35A, 34, 32... (I-495 Massachusetts, southbound) on the other hand...
Oh you forgot about how FL messed up I-4 in Sanford with 50, 51A, and then 51. Plus the awful double suffixed Saxton Boulevard with it being Exit 53CA and 53CB between Exits 53 and 54.
That is one reason why they got rid of the sequential numbers, because some idiots did not know their abc's in addition to their 123's.
Quote from: Zeffy on February 02, 2015, 10:18:18 AM
I hate:
* New Jersey traffic circles (more-so because the other people can't drive properly in one worth shit)
My favorites are the ones with the main road cutting through the middle. US 1 near Princeton?
Speaking of those, someone at TRB had a poster claiming that there were only 3 of these "hamburger roundabouts" in America with only one in Jersey (and it wasn't the Princeton one). I didn't have the heart to show them more examples.
Bayway Circle in Elizabeth.
There is a smaller no named one in Watchung along US 22 at Mountain Avenue.
Quote from: cl94 on February 02, 2015, 09:59:37 PM
My favorites are the ones with the main road cutting through the middle. US 1 near Princeton?
Speaking of those, someone at TRB had a poster claiming that there were only 3 of these "hamburger roundabouts" in America with only one in Jersey (and it wasn't the Princeton one). I didn't have the heart to show them more examples.
Quote from: roadman65 on February 02, 2015, 10:05:24 PM
Bayway Circle in Elizabeth.
There is a smaller no named one in Watchung along US 22 at Mountain Avenue.
NJ 38 in Cherry Hill, here: https://www.google.com/maps?ll=39.940555,-75.009088&spn=0.001966,0.00327&t=h&z=19 (https://www.google.com/maps?ll=39.940555,-75.009088&spn=0.001966,0.00327&t=h&z=19)
Also, until recently, 70 and 73 in Marlton. I am sooooooo glad this one is gone. Every trip along 70 now under 73 is an absolute delight, compared to the mess this used to be.
Hamburger roundabouts work really well in other countries (take a look at any Mexican highway for North American examples). I wonder why they don't work well here? The concept is fantastic, perhaps the execution is poor? I'd imagine the issue is more driver familiarity or driver attitude though.
The key here is "when traffic is moving well."
When traffic is not moving well, the ramp metering does help. On I-355, the North South Tollway during the AM rush hour, when the light turns green for the ramp, you suddenly have 20 cars trying to merge with the right lane. If this ramp was metered, the traffic would be able to merge because it would be better spaced. Instead, both the right lane and ramp traffic come to a virtual standstill.
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux5ADlWXOvs - explains why it is bad.
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
There is no logical reason for ramp metering. This video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux5ADlWXOvs - explains why it is bad.
Not at all. Induction loops and now microwave sensors monitoring mainline traffic count and speeds trip ramp meters.
Quote from: jakeroot on February 01, 2015, 02:56:57 AM
For those that abhor the ramp meter, what exactly do you not like about it? I've always been on the fence about it; WSDOT is installing them everywhere now, but I've noticed the arterials have more traffic than before which I can't say I like. BUT better traffic flow on the freeway is preferable in my eyes.
I find they really don't do anything for congestion during rush hour, and when used during off-peak hours, they inhibit one from properly gaining speed on the ramp to merge in smoothly at speed.
Quote from: texaskdog on February 02, 2015, 04:32:23 PM
Quote from: US81 on February 02, 2015, 03:26:05 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on February 02, 2015, 11:47:46 AM
...
Lanes that end shortly after an exit... why is it not just an Exit Only lane?
...
I have mixed feelings with these. In principle I agree, but in practice, I can think of a few exits where I'm glad they're structured this way because of the tendency of drivers to stay in the exit-only lane until the last moment then try to merge in. On a true exit only lane, this can block the exit lane so that the traffic intending to exit is stuck on the freeway waiting on the jerk to merge left.
Like, all of Austin???? People are A) too dumb to get out of the exit lane B) stay in the left lane until the last second and get over 3 lanes. And none of them ever use their blinkers.
I'd say there is a legitimate purpose for ending a lane shortly after an exit
if one is simply trying to terminate the lane. Ending the lane by itself allows for a proper zipper merge, while an exit-only lane does not. However, if the amount of exiting traffic is such that it warrants its own lane prior to the exit, then I would say the exit-only lane is preferable.
Every ramp meter I have seen is only active during periods when the expressway is typically congested. In these situations (and only these situations), they are useful because they prevent merging congestion at the end of an entrance ramp when a free ramp could slow the mainline due to large amounts of vehicles attempting to merge at once.
Outside of congested periods, ramp meters are useless, with every one I have seen in the northeast and Ohio being disabled at these times.
Quote from: Brandon on February 03, 2015, 07:26:36 AM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 01, 2015, 02:56:57 AM
For those that abhor the ramp meter, what exactly do you not like about it? I've always been on the fence about it; WSDOT is installing them everywhere now, but I've noticed the arterials have more traffic than before which I can't say I like. BUT better traffic flow on the freeway is preferable in my eyes.
I find they really don't do anything for congestion during rush hour, and when used during off-peak hours, they inhibit one from properly gaining speed on the ramp to merge in smoothly at speed.
Are they used off-hours in Chicagoland? I've never seen my local ramp meters on unless traffic was heavy.
Quote from: 1 on February 02, 2015, 05:13:00 PM
Quote from: wphiii on February 02, 2015, 04:59:49 PM
Also, sequential exit numbers.
Sequential exit numbers that are actually sequential are fine.
"Sequential" exit numbers like 38, 37, 35C, 35B, 35A, 34, 32... (I-495 Massachusetts, southbound) on the other hand...
Eh, I just find mileage-based exit numbers to be such a handy navigational aid that it annoys me when I don't have that.