Metro Vancouver Road Infrastructure Discussion

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

realistically they should be synchronized, with no buttons or actuation during the busy times. such as rush hours and midday if traffic warrants. then afterwards, at night/evening/etc. they go to actuated/button.

yup

[officedweller]

The buttons do 2 things -
- they tell the traffic light to turn red to allow the pedestrian to cross, particularly in the absence of a car on a cross street activating the light.
- depending on the width of the street being crossed, they increase the duration of the red light to allow pedestrians to cross the street (versus a shorter signal for cross traffic which can clear the intersection faster).

So I guess that means that those red lights are longer in duration?

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by aberdeen5698

If they're on sometimes and off sometimes then how the heck are pedestrians supposed to know whether or not they're supposed to push the button?

nothing wrong with pushing the button anyways, as people already do. we cant build our cities with that mentality.

good example, the buttons at Cambie & W 12th are non-functional. that light has to be sync'd with Yukon & W 12th.

and it still works.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

nothing wrong with pushing the button anyways, as people already.

The whole point is that for the time being there is something wrong with pushing a button.

[officedweller]

You can use keys to push the button, as you do in elevators these days.

[VancouverOfTheFuture]

Originally Posted by Changing City

The whole point is that for the time being there is something wrong with pushing a button.

Originally Posted by officedweller

You can use keys to push the button, as you do in elevators these days.

keys, foot, pen, pencil, straw, single use cup, etc. most buttons in Vancouver are the sensor type anyways.

plus, the virus cant really live outside. UV rays, rain, etc. it dies quite fast.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by VancouverOfTheFuture

the virus cant really live outside. UV rays, rain, etc. it dies quite fast.

Do you think the North shore municipalities would change the programming on their lights if there wasn't a risk? Studies suggest it can last up to 3 days on surfaces. No studies I've seen suggest UV rays make any difference - it needs 56 degrees to kill it.

[Sheba]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Do you think the North shore municipalities would change the programming on their lights if there wasn't a risk? Studies suggest it can last up to 3 days on surfaces. No studies I've seen suggest UV rays make any difference - it needs 56 degrees to kill it.

Those tests are on surfaces inside - on surfaces outside where it's exposed to the elements it's unlikely to last as long. In the air on the other hand... yeah we're doomed on that one.

[WarrenC12]

Some of those buttons almost feel like they are hand-wave sensors, and probably should be unless they are prohibitively expensive.

I haven't pressed a button like that with my fingers in a long time. Usually bump it with the top of my wrist, ideally with a jacket.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Some of those buttons almost feel like they are hand-wave sensors, and probably should be unless they are prohibitively expensive.

I haven't pressed a button like that with my fingers in a long time. Usually bump it with the top of my wrist, ideally with a jacket.

That can work for the more recent sensor style crossing controls. I'm pretty sure the north shore crossings have some of the older physical buttons.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Some of those buttons almost feel like they are hand-wave sensors, and probably should be unless they are prohibitively expensive.

I haven't pressed a button like that with my fingers in a long time. Usually bump it with the top of my wrist, ideally with a jacket.

I'm guessing the big plastic yellow button models wear out quicker than the solid state ones that are harder to press. They have newer systems with sensors and there are also pad sensors:

https://www.traffictech.com.au/products/psp/psp.html

[flipper316]

Originally Posted by GeeCee

Yeah, totally a 'war on cars' when there are hardly any on the road right now. Inconvenienced for a few seconds while sitting comfortably in an air conditioned vehicle, my heart absolutely breaks for you.

Of course, some anti-car agenda type comes out in a road infrastructure thread. Cars are here to stay and they'll always be the number 1 choice of transport whether you like it or not.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Of course, some anti-car agenda type comes out in a road infrastructure thread. Cars are here to stay and they'll always be the number 1 choice of transport whether you like it or not.

Tell that one to the narcissists

With fewer drivers on Metro Vancouver's roads, cyclists call for temporary bike lanes

Cycling advocates are calling on Metro Vancouver cities to create temporary bike and pedestrian lanes to encourage physical distancing.

HUB Cycling says the COVID-19 outbreak has led to fewer cars on the roads in several cities in the region, making it a prime opportunity to create new cycling infrastructure.

Navdeep Chhina, the organization's acting director, said temporary lanes could help people keep an adequate distance from each other as more people choose to to walk and cycle during this time.

"We are looking at places where community members want go which are destinations, and so that they can easily walk or cycle without having to fight for space with each other," he said.

-https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hub-calls-for-temporary-bike-lanes-1.5527305

Neither snow, storm or viral outbreak will stop The Bike Lobby from thinking it's a great chance to harden those arteries just a little more.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by MIPS

Tell that one to the narcissists



Neither snow, storm or viral outbreak will stop The Bike Lobby from thinking it's a great chance to harden those arteries just a little more.

Really? all cyclists are narcissists? What do you call a guy with a bad combover tootling around in a muscle car with a 426 hemi then?

The idea of temporarily closing roads, or restricting vehicles, in favour of cyclists during the Covid19 situation started in Canada in those well-known car-hating, self-absorbed cities of Calgary and Winnipeg

[aberdeen5698]

Originally Posted by flipper316

Of course, some anti-car agenda type comes out in a road infrastructure thread. Cars are here to stay and they'll always be the number 1 choice of transport whether you like it or not.

I think the indignation comes because of people who are complaining about a little inconvenience in a time of crisis despite the fact that traffic volumes and travel times are at historic lows. Those who are still driving have it better than ever and so anyone sniping about the small stuff seems petulant.

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by Changing City

Really? all cyclists are narcissists? What do you call a guy with a bad combover tootling around in a muscle car with a 426 hemi then?

The idea of temporarily closing roads, or restricting vehicles, in favour of cyclists during the Covid19 situation started in Canada in those well-known car-hating, self-absorbed cities of Calgary and Winnipeg

They always have an agenda. While they make good points as to why we should do it, they have an underlaying scheme.
The city will flex and temporarily close some routes. Then they'll extend it a liiiitle longer because it was so successful. Then they'll permanently close the road to vehicle traffic and blammo, another bike route.
This isn't about the quality of driving but more about not giving slack to people who will just look at you with garbage smiles and say "oh well, we can't undo these changes now. That would be expensive."

[idunno]

Originally Posted by MIPS

They always have an agenda. While they make good points as to why we should do it, they have an underlaying scheme.
The city will flex and temporarily close some routes. Then they'll extend it a liiiitle longer because it was so successful. Then they'll permanently close the road to vehicle traffic and blammo, another bike route.
This isn't about the quality of driving but more about not giving slack to people who will just look at you with garbage smiles and say "oh well, we can't undo these changes now. That would be expensive."

Is reducing road space for driving to make more room for sustainable modes a bad thing? Are we not in a climate crisis?!?

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by idunno

Is reducing road space for driving to make more room for sustainable modes a bad thing? Are we not in a climate crisis?!?

On the assumption BC vehicle sales are all-electric in 20 years and use of ICE vehicles drops linearly in the years following due to availability of fuel parts and emissions control mandating (I remember you, AirCare), yes it is a bad thing to reduce road space because cars, trucks and vans are not going to magically be replaced by everyone (lets be real here and just say 75%) riding a bicycle.
Similarly as the population increases curbside parking and bidirectional roads will still remain desireable.

[Henbo]

Originally Posted by MIPS

...yes it is a bad thing to reduce road space because cars, trucks and vans are not going to magically be replaced by everyone (lets be real here and just say 75%) riding a bicycle.

Who said something about getting everyone to ride a bicycle? I missed that post

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by Henbo

Who said something about getting everyone to ride a bicycle? I missed that post

What other sustainable modes fit in (or allowed to use) bike lanes other than bicycles? Electric scooters are a stretch.