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If traffic was finite and behaved like water, building more road capacity would alleviate congestion. This simile has such a tight grip on us that we deploy it unconsciously, it is so prevalent that to think otherwise is to be thought an idiot. But it is flawed.
(1/n)
If traffic was finite and behaved like water, building more road capacity would alleviate congestion. This simile has such a tight grip on us that we deploy it unconsciously, it is so prevalent that to think otherwise is to be thought an idiot. But it is flawed.
(1/n)
To understand why treating traffic like water is flawed, we need to go back to 1865. That's when William Stanley Jevons noticed that the improved efficiency of steam engines didn't decrease the consumption of coal: instead coal was used in even greater quantities. (2/n)
(3/n)
Jevon's observation that gains in efficiency result in increased consumption became known as the 'Jevons Paradox'. This is a great little film about the phenomenon:
Jevon's observation that gains in efficiency result in increased consumption became known as the 'Jevons Paradox'. This is a great little film about the phenomenon:
(4/n)
If you'd like to see the Jevons Paradox applied to road transport and, compared to that last YouTube film, your preference is to dial the nerd factor down a bit and the comedy coefficient up a bit, you might like this:
If you'd like to see the Jevons Paradox applied to road transport and, compared to that last YouTube film, your preference is to dial the nerd factor down a bit and the comedy coefficient up a bit, you might like this:
(5/n)
Have you heard of the Jevons Paradox?
I'm hoping they're a death metal band.
No, it basically states that the better you make something like a road, the more people will use it.
Isn't that a good thing?
No, it means you spend a lot of money for a very short term benefit.
Have you heard of the Jevons Paradox?
I'm hoping they're a death metal band.
No, it basically states that the better you make something like a road, the more people will use it.
Isn't that a good thing?
No, it means you spend a lot of money for a very short term benefit.
(6/n)
SpAd: ...So there is some benefit?
Analyst1: Sure, average times crossing the city will be cut by two and half minutes, or a little less.
A2: Call it two.
A1: ...And that lasts for 14, 15 months.
SpAd: For $300bn I guess we were hoping for something a little more dramatic.
SpAd: ...So there is some benefit?
Analyst1: Sure, average times crossing the city will be cut by two and half minutes, or a little less.
A2: Call it two.
A1: ...And that lasts for 14, 15 months.
SpAd: For $300bn I guess we were hoping for something a little more dramatic.
(7/n)
So what *does* work to reduce congestion?
The city of Ghent in Belgium has implemented a mobility plan that took some political courage and has resulted in:
- 12% less rush hour traffic;
- Public transport use up 28%
- 25% more bike trips; and
- #AirPollution down 18%
So what *does* work to reduce congestion?
The city of Ghent in Belgium has implemented a mobility plan that took some political courage and has resulted in:
- 12% less rush hour traffic;
- Public transport use up 28%
- 25% more bike trips; and
- #AirPollution down 18%
(8/n)
If you'd like to know more about how Ghent achieved that, how their circulation plan works, and what it took to implement it, have a watch of this from @Streetfilms:
If you'd like to know more about how Ghent achieved that, how their circulation plan works, and what it took to implement it, have a watch of this from @Streetfilms:
(9/n)
It's clear from the film that Ghent's local politicians were prepared to take some electoral risks to do what they saw as the right thing to take care of their community. But it paid off: the Vice Mayor was re-elected with a higher share of the vote...
It's clear from the film that Ghent's local politicians were prepared to take some electoral risks to do what they saw as the right thing to take care of their community. But it paid off: the Vice Mayor was re-elected with a higher share of the vote...
(10/n)
Besides political will, it strikes me that another factor in the success of Ghent's circulation plan is something they have in common with many towns and cities in the UK: a ring road intersected by a number of radial roads. Does that sound anything like where you live?
Besides political will, it strikes me that another factor in the success of Ghent's circulation plan is something they have in common with many towns and cities in the UK: a ring road intersected by a number of radial roads. Does that sound anything like where you live?
