Some interesting questions of traffic signal control

Transcription

1 Some interesting questions of traffic signal control HELMI and Public Transport Priority functions (skipped, discussed already on lectures) Joker signals Low cost traffic controil in the city of Helsinki BePolite bicycle signals - unique in the world OIVA-partial traffic signal control Tram Warning Control for Pedestrians Precise Long Green for Small Folks Tram Attention Stripes for Pedestrians A real life trial of traffic signal control Thinking models of traffic control The game of wins and losses in traffic control

2 Traffic telematics of the Joker bus line JOKER - Fast Bus on Ring Line Starting on August 2005 from Itäkeskus (Eastend) to Tapiola (Westend) Joker line Center of Helsinki 5-10 km Traffic telematics in Joker line Traffic signal priority Joker signal control Shuttle signals Passenger information Fleet control

3 Passenger information of Joker Jokeri - the 2nd Metro in Helsinki Jokeri 52 79V 512 Patola Dammen Itäkeskus Östra Centrum Vanha kaupunki Gammelstaden Herttoniemi (M) Hertonäs (M) Malmin asema Malms station Bussi saapuu Bussen kommer min min New bus stop shelter model Blue colour Line information pylon On-line passenger information Route information Jokeri: All buses in use Jokeri 52 79V 512

4 The first Joker signals in use Joker Bus The first Joker signals in Finland came in use in Pihlajamäentie roundabout on Thursday A.M.

5 Stages of Joker signals Bus Stage Ending Bus approaching Bus in the junction Starting Basic Stage No bus Bus has passed

6 Joker Signal Sequence No bus 15 m Dark Bus is approaching 10 m BUS Yellow flashing 2 seconds Steady yellow 3 seconds Steady red Bus from side street Bus passed Yellow flashing 5 seconds Dark

7 Lay-out of Joker signals Joker signal head are ONLY in the main streets Side streets has no signal heads at all not even the detection info light Joker signals at Aino Acten tie roundabout 10 m 5 m

8 Safety aspects of Joker signal control Main street drivers must understand that pedestrian crosswalks are not controlled at all. Signal heads are located at least 10 meters before the nearest crosswalk of the junction No green aspect is shown in the sequence of Joker signals No drive aspect is shown to the bus driver; he must observe the other traffic is yielding before driving to the junction. Pedestrians are not controlled the normal rules concerning the pedestrian crosswalks are valid even in Joker signals.

9 Joker signals are preferred to conventional signals in minor junctions Traffic signals are not really needed in most minor junctions Traffic signals cause extra delays and fuel consumption Joker signal bus priority produce the smallest disadvantage to other traffic The investment costs of Joker signals are only a quater of cost of the conventional signals Buses have the possibility to enter the main street without any delays The control of Joker signals is based on the Finnish legislation Joker signals are safety at least in the the same level as the uncontrolled junction

10 Intelligent Low Cost Traffic Control from the City of Helsinki Special Traffic Signal for Cyclists BePolite Partial Traffic Signal Model OIVA Tram Warning Control for Pedestrians VAROVA Precise Long Green for Small Folk Tram Attention Stripes for Pedestrians All traffic signal control concepts mentioned above are developed in good cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and Communications Most of these are already or will be later included in the national traffic signal code on the basis of the experiments and studies done in Helsinki

11 BEPOLITE - A NEW CONCEPT OF THE BICYCLE SIGNAL CONTROL Kari Sane Traffic Planning Division, City of Helsinki BEPOLITE was granted by EC-project THERMIE/ENTIRE

12 PROLOGUE Bicycle signal control in the Finnish suburban areas Cyclists obey the same signal heads as the pedestrians Pedestrians and cyclists are more numerous, Junctions are more complicated, Cyclists prefer own cycle lanes and cycle tracks Cycling is increasing

13 BICYCLE SIGNAL CONTROL The older city cycling control concept Cyclists have no signal control at all Pedestrians must wait the green signal on the refuge between vehicles and bicycles

14 THE CONVENTIONAL BICYCLE CONTROL Cyclists obey vehicle signal heads Cyclists are controlled by the vehicle signal heads. They must stop during the whole pedestrian stage Pedestrians wait the green signal on the sidewalk

15 THE CONVENTIONAL BICYCLE CONTROL Cyclists have their own signal heads Cyclists are controlled by the bicycle signal heads. They must stop during the whole pedestrian stage Pedestrians wait the green signal on the sidewalk

16 THE BEPOLITE BICYCLE SIGNAL CONTROL It helps both cyclists and pedestrians Cyclists are controlled by the bicycle signal heads. They must stop only during the start of the pedestrian stage. After few seconds they can ride during the flashing yellow signal. Pedestrians wait the green signal on the sidewalk

17 THE BEPOLITE SIGNAL SEQUENCE Main BePolite Pedestrian Street Stage Green Intergreen Starting Ending What is BePolite? BePolite = Bicycles Early Pass over the Stop Line Technique

18 THE BEPOLITE SIGNAL SEQUENCE 1. Main street green Vehicles and cyclists are driving and pedestrians are waiting 2. Main street green ending - Vehicle and bicycle signal heads turn first to amber and then to red 3. Pedestrian green starting - bicycle signals stay few seconds red so pedestrian can start crossing undisturbed 4. BePolite stage Bicycle signal is flashing. Cyclists can ride but they must yield pedestrians crossing the bicycle lane 5. Pedestrian intergreen - cyclists can still ride but they must even yet yield pedestrians 6. Main street green starting - bicycle signals turn direct to green because most cyclists are already riding

19 TRAFFIC SIGNAL ARRANGEMENTS AT BEPOLITE SIGNALS Cyclists must be able to see the pedestrians when approaching the crosswalk during their flashing amber stage The stop line painted 5 meters before the crosswalk keeps the sight to the crosswalk open

20 USABILITY OF BEPOLITE SIGNAL CONTROL Bepolite signal control is suitable in... pedestrian mid-block signals, T-junctions if cycle lane is along the main road Bicycle lane and even in minor X-junctions, but NOT in major X-junctions, Not here

21 SIMULATIONS OF BEPOLITE SIGNAL CONTROL Traffic simulation model HUTSIM developed in Helsinki University of Technology by Dr. Iisakki Kosonen Cyclists delays at BePolite signals are always shorter compared to the delays at conventional traffic signals even in higher pedestrian volumes. In low pedestrian volumes delays are 75% shorter

22 ARE CYCLISTS FAMILIAR WITH THE BEPOLITE YELLOW FLASHING SIGNAL 79 % You may ride, but you must yield pedestrians 9% No opinion N=428 6 % You must stop and wait for the green signal 4 % Other wrong answer 2 % You may ride and pass the signals

23 HOW DID CYCLISTS BEHAVE AT THE BEPOLITE YELLOW FLASHING SIGNAL 40 % Yield pedestrians and pass the signals during yellow flashing 34% Did not need to yield pedestrians (no pedestrians were crossing) 11 % Yield pedestrians and pass the signals during green 15 % Did not yield pedesrians who were crossing N=1040

24 MINOR PROBLEMS WITH BEPOLITE SIGNALS Some pedestrians are waiting the green signal on the cycle lane Some cyclists are not polite enough - they seem to go through the pedestrians by force