Quote:
Originally Posted by waves
I agree with the COV for this decision. People who turn left in Vancouver are demonized by other drivers and the left hand turners often don't feel safe to begin with. What this effectively has done is reduced the overall left turn volumes. Intersections can have less intergreen time because they only require two phases. It additionally increases the pedestrian walk time per cycle.
The problem with cornholio's suggestion for three phases is just that; more time is wasted on signal changes than moving traffic. The city generally does a good job at focusing dedicated turn lanes where necessary; denman SB to davie EB, pacific WB to burrard SB, burrard NB to alberni WB, Hornby NB to georgia WB, georgia EB to Howe SB. Georgia WB to Pender WB. Other than the major intersections already with priority Georgia should be right turns only at all intersections in my view. I would however to be interested to see the syncro analysis if cornoholio feels so inclined to test the ped scrambe model.
When I say its the sole entry/exit point I mean that it is that way for vehicles - but not for pedestrians and bikes. Bike traffic has the opportunity for other avenues of entry exit through Stanley Park either beside the lake or near Coal Habour, same with pedestrians.
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The point of a scramble is it allows all pedestrians to cross to all points and eliminates multiple crossings at a single intersection. This allows for a longer delay between cycles to achieve the same results. More importantly no traffic is moving therefore there is ZERO risk of a vehicle - pedestrian collision.
The benefit is then returned once traffic flows as there are no pedestrians crossing, thus you can do safe worry free left and right turns which is safer for everyone and helps with the flow and distribution of traffic. You also have a opportunity for a longer cycle and move more vehicles through the intersection.
In this setup you have as little as 3 signal changes, W->E, N->S, Pedestrians. You can allow for a short fourth of fifth signal to give left turns a green arrow to clear out the left turn lane's (if needed). This becomes less of a problem at intersections where the north/south street is one way. Heck as you don's need the right turn lane for the direction with the left turn lane to the one way street you can create two left turn lanes for even greater throughput.
Lights being synced is just a green wave to eliminate a stop and go situation for as many cars as possible. Time at say 40kmph or something or what ever is optimal.