Traffic Theory

[Deleted User 62]

Interesting video on how to avoid (and maybe prevent) traffic jams: http://www.wimp.com/traffictheory

[Airbear]

Good one, Tim. A bit of courtesy goes a long way. We all hate the cheaters passionately and can see the effect they have on traffic flow. I've actually tried the trick of travelling at the average speed so I don't have to stop/start all the time. It does work, but I have encountered drivers behind me who get very irritated by my apparent lack of interest in the competition to get that few metres ahead at every opportunity. I'm very glad that I no longer live where traffic jams happen.

ps: That vid was taken in Seattle, and it wasn't raining. What's with that?

[melville]

Good one, Tim. A bit of courtesy goes a long way. We all hate the cheaters passionately and can see the effect they have on traffic flow. I've actually tried the trick of travelling at the average speed so I don't have to stop/start all the time. It does work, but I have encountered drivers behind me who get very irritated by my apparent lack of interest in the competition to get that few metres ahead at every opportunity. I'm very glad that I no longer live where traffic jams happen.

ps: That vid was taken in Seattle, and it wasn't raining. What's with that?

Sshhh. It always rains there. I useta drive the 520 bridge every Friday at 5 pm in the summertime to get to the velodrome, generally in a VW Bus, so I could see all sortsa stuff going on up ahead. I'd try to keep the motor burbling along in 3rd gear, 20-25 mph, and let the gap in front grow and shrink as it may. Yes, people did get agitated that I was not "filling the space," but I could make it across that span without having to nail the brakes.

Curiously, the speed variations that cause traffic to flow unevenly are also part of pack dynamics in a bike race, but there the idea is to work the speed variation actively from the front to shake people off the back of the pack. I always felt a touch ironic driving to smooth traffic flow on my way to the races where I intended to be disruptive.

[Garnet]

" I always felt a touch ironic driving to smooth traffic flow on my way to the races where I intended to be disruptive."


That's the difference Mel, you have a track to be competitve on which allows you to be calm on the street.

[Sibbo]

I'm fortunate that there is only one set of traffic lights in town and I have to ride a long way to find a traffic jam , maybe once a year in the local Big Smoke .

[Zombie Master]

Commrade:

ps: That vid was taken in Seattle, and it wasn't raining. What's with that?

Summers are very dry in Seattle.

[Zombie Master]

That's how I do it. Born of always trying to increase my space cushion on the bike. If you're not there, they can't hit you.

[Chuey]

It's kind of like...................what every VW bus driver knows. Or should I say, what every VW bus driver who will get old knows?

One thing that comes to mind in that video is an idea I have. People really do think that it is some kind of shameful situation if they get "beat" in a line of traffic. As Melville alluded to, a person who rides a bicycle, and I never raced on the road, knows that what happens in a car don't mean shit. Sure, pass me. How can that matter? Do you really, in your heart, think that puts you one up on me? How sad for you! Do that to me on a bike and you're going down MoFo. I'm in a car. It's gasoline! You are not one up on me. You just got 6mpg to make up one second of time. That is pathetic!

I will admit to one incident,on my part, of bullheadedness in the VW bus. The wifie and I had been recently married. We were in our 1965 Sundial VW camper. As cherry as it can get. Car show winner. Thanksgiving day. On our way to a family dinner. I'll say where it was just in case Mike V is reading. Hwy 57 Northbound near Hwy 60. Slow car, slow lane, that's me. Traffic is tight. The right lane is ending. When it ends, you have to go right, onto the 60. A cheater in a pick-up truck is trying to punk me out by driving on my right when he should have merged in right behind me. I'm not having it. I keep my space in my lane and give him nothing. Remember, traffic is moving relatively slowly. He ends up driving parallel to me, to my right, on the spare pavement to the right of the slow lane. He wants in. That means he wants to pass me on the right and cheat and get in front of me instead of blending in as he should have five or six cars back. I hold my place in my lane. As a matter of fact, I ease the bus to the right, still in my lane, protecting my position. Gretchen is sitting quietly, didn't say a word. I feel bad for putting her in this position even though no harm would come to her if he hit us. Eventually, the cheater had to take Hwy 60 because the lane faded out and he had no other choice. The tension in the VW bus had been undeniable. The air had been thick with it. As he gave up trying to get between me and the car that was in front of me, and took the road he clearly had not intended to take, I said, softly, "I won." Gretchen thought that was really funny. I didn't feel bad about it but I didn't feel good either. I usually let cheaters have their way but every now and then they shouldn't get away with it.

Chuey

[ME 109]

That's how I do it. Born of always trying to increase my space cushion on the bike. If you're not there, they can't hit you.

I'm hearing ya man. I've had some of the biggest space cushions on my outback trips.
They can last for hours.

[Sibbo]

It's kind of like...................what every VW bus driver knows. Or should I say, what every VW bus driver who will get old knows?

One thing that comes to mind in that video is an idea I have. People really do think that it is some kind of shameful situation if they get "beat" in a line of traffic. As Melville alluded to, a person who rides a bicycle, and I never raced on the road, knows that what happens in a car don't mean shit. Sure, pass me. How can that matter? Do you really, in your heart, think that puts you one up on me? How sad for you! Do that to me on a bike and you're going down MoFo. I'm in a car. It's gasoline! You are not one up on me. You just got 6mpg to make up one second of time. That is pathetic!

I will admit to one incident,on my part, of bullheadedness in the VW bus. The wifie and I had been recently married. We were in our 1965 Sundial VW camper. As cherry as it can get. Car show winner. Thanksgiving day. On our way to a family dinner. I'll say where it was just in case Mike V is reading. Hwy 57 Northbound near Hwy 60. Slow car, slow lane, that's me. Traffic is tight. The right lane is ending. When it ends, you have to go right, onto the 60. A cheater in a pick-up truck is trying to punk me out by driving on my right when he should have merged in right behind me. I'm not having it. I keep my space in my lane and give him nothing. Remember, traffic is moving relatively slowly. He ends up driving parallel to me, to my right, on the spare pavement to the right of the slow lane. He wants in. That means he wants to pass me on the right and cheat and get in front of me instead of blending in as he should have five or six cars back. I hold my place in my lane. As a matter of fact, I ease the bus to the right, still in my lane, protecting my position. Gretchen is sitting quietly, didn't say a word. I feel bad for putting her in this position even though no harm would come to her if he hit us. Eventually, the cheater had to take Hwy 60 because the lane faded out and he had no other choice. The tension in the VW bus had been undeniable. The air had been thick with it. As he gave up trying to get between me and the car that was in front of me, and took the road he clearly had not intended to take, I said, softly, "I won." Gretchen thought that was really funny. I didn't feel bad about it but I didn't feel good either. I usually let cheaters have their way but every now and then they shouldn't get away with it.

Chuey

That's a lot harder to do on a bike , easier in my Hilux with it's big steel flat bed tray .