I got asked a question about how to analyze transit signal priority at traffic signals and to answer the question, I would say that simulation is a good tool for the assessment. I would also say that you want the simulation to reflect what's going on in the field and for this to be true you should use the controller software that is operating in the field. This leads us to a new development called software in the loop simulation which you might have heard about. The University of Idaho has worked with PTV to integrate various controllers into their model with varying degrees of success. I am helping the U of I as a peer review member for their training materials they are developing.
With respect to setting TSP to 10 seconds or an amount of time to give, I would say that is normally a good place to start, but at the same time look at the policy of the agencies involved, the cycle length (10 seconds means a lot more in a 60 second cycle), and the traffic impacts you and the other agencies are wiling to allow. Now if ever there may be conflict, this is where it is, but that's what life is all about. I am spending a lot of time helping WMATA in Washington DC figure this all out with their partnering traffic agencies.
This is okay to be over capacity momentarily, as long as people are willing to accept that. I would model person delay in VISSIM and use that as a starting point. The transit agency service is a cost that we're all investing in, so even motorists have a stake in making transit effective.
Beyond the 10 seconds, if it is in the middle of the night or other periods of low traffic volume intensity, let them be more aggressive with the signal timing because there's no reason not to be if there's no traffic. Keep in mind the public (and UTA) are still paying the driver the same amount per hour, so there is savings in getting them through the intersection quickly.
One quick aside is that one of the other problems with a 10 second rule is that it is a rule that only makes sense if it serves our purposes. Why aren't we using the detectors and the information we know in the field (green times) to estimate delay. Our NCHRP 3-79 research focused a bit on that and developed some algorithms. This is something transit agencies could use to sell the aggressiveness of TSP to the agencies. For instance, if your signals could tell you that they were operating at LOS B and that by giving 10 seconds you would only go to LOS C on the side street, wouldn't you say, it is okay to go to LOS D if you knew it was only going to be this one cycle?
As you can probably tell, this is where I love to debate both the details of signal timing and the policy level of transit performance and what is best for all of us, so I'd be happy to talk more. I am off to TRB on Thursday, but if you want to, drop me a line. I think we may even have a UDOT flexible services contract that we never use, so if you want me to look into that or help provide some review of the work that's been going on, I'd be happy to help. You know us consultants, always looking for someone to work for :)... it must be nice on the other side.
The example that I am passing along is a study that is a demonstration of a corridor review where we used Synchro as a first cut to estimate the impacts and benefits. The impact assessment is better than the benefit assessment, but from UDOT's perspective this may be your primary focus. I will say that we weren't allowed to be very aggressive in this example and we were trying to show limited impacts.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Happy New Year
A new year and exciting new opportunities with life, work, and making connections. I am trying to be more planful about life and get thing schedule so I can create the sort of role I want. I'd like to make stronger personal connections and not just go through life. I have to be careful not to take a shotgun approach, rather one that is more meaningful.
It seems that without building relationships, you just tread water. There are a lot of people that I would enjoy learning from that requires time commitment on my part to generate that sort of opportunity. Let's see how it goes...
It seems that without building relationships, you just tread water. There are a lot of people that I would enjoy learning from that requires time commitment on my part to generate that sort of opportunity. Let's see how it goes...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Great Christmas Cycling Post on a Blog - Cyclist drags tree home
The bike lanes are busy with people transporting all manner of seasonal items. Trees, presents, what have you.
Just another day in the life of a cycling Copenhagen.
http://cycleliciousness.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve at the Koonce Household
Just a slow day in Sellwood. Started off really slow, we had our Milwaukie neighbors over for a breakfast souflet that took two years off our lives. As we were trying to get together to get out and enjoy a little of that sunshine, we were greeted by a holiday elf that helped us decide to go down to the Park for a little play time with neighbors Katy and Lucy. We met Niko and his sister (forgot her name) and had a great old time although it was pretty cold. Susan was a baking queen and I tried to help by ruining some of the bread. Emma came over with Jack and I went shopping at the local shops for some last minute gifts and groceries. We had a good day with the girls, Abby put out treats for Santa and Amelia had fun putting on her new Curious George pajamas, a Koonce Tradition. I am eating too many sweets and Susan is making enchilladas for tomorrow's Christmas dinner at her folks. It was strange that we did not do the Estacada trip today (they were starting too late for the kiddos), but I guess that's what happens when you grow up with your kids.
Listening to some of the old Christmas Carols, Merry Christmas Baby by Springsteen is on and Elvis is always a favorite :)
Surfed a little to my favorite biking websites and found the Bike Carols on the Shift 2 Bikes site (very clever, I like clever people). Planning to ride on New Year's Eve, hopefully I am feeling up for it and the weather is decent (it is a family friendly ride)!
Off to assemble enchiladas...
Listening to some of the old Christmas Carols, Merry Christmas Baby by Springsteen is on and Elvis is always a favorite :)
Surfed a little to my favorite biking websites and found the Bike Carols on the Shift 2 Bikes site (very clever, I like clever people). Planning to ride on New Year's Eve, hopefully I am feeling up for it and the weather is decent (it is a family friendly ride)!
Off to assemble enchiladas...
Bikey Christmas Carols
Bikey Christmas Carols
Written by: Amy Stork, Jim Waigand, and Jeff Bernards
Bicycle Rock(to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock)
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycles rock
Bicycles roll and bicycles go
Spinning and grinning, it’s baskets of fun
Now the biking age has begun
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycles rock
Cyclist whoop and Cyclists hoot
Pedal and revel in Courthouse Square, In the misty air
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To bike the night away
Bicycle time is a cool time
To go riding on a two-wheeled sleigh
Giddy up, iron horse, don’t be a poke
Bicycle round the clock
Mix and mingle with your jingling spokes
That’s the bicycle, That’s the bicycle,
That’s the bicycle rock!
Bikes for the world(to the tune of Joy to the World)
Bikes for the world! The time has come
Let earth receive clean air
Let every heart, beat steadily
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Bikes rule the road, with speed and grace
And make our nation free
From oil rigs and corporate greed
So ride your bicycle
So ride your bicycle
So ride, so ride your bicycle!
Climate change is coming to town
(to the tune of Santa Claus in coming to town)
You better watch out, you better not drive
You better ride bikes I’m telling you why
Climate change is coming to town
We’re making it hot, we’re raising the sea
Gonna feel life at a hundred degrees
Climate change is coming to town
If people keep on driving
The poles will soon be lakes
The air will stink like petrol fumes
Ride your bike for goodness sake
We’re making a list, we’re checking it twice
We’re gonna find out who drove and who biked!
Climate change is coming to town
Deck the road with tons of cyclists
(to the dune of Deck the Halls)
Deck the road with tons of cyclists, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Tis the season for idealists, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our rain apparel, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Call your friend his name is Harold, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Grab your helmet and your u-lock, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Join the sheep who’ve left the flock, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Hitch your trailer to your seat post, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
To the store to get some French Roast, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Pedal til the old year passes, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Cold air fogging up your glasses, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Summer soon will come again, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Just keep riding with the wind, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
O Come all ye cyclists
(to the tune of o come all ye faithful)
O Come all ye cyclists,
joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye by bicycle\ Come and behold them
See what fun they’re having
O come let us stop driving
O come let us start riding
O come let us start riding
Our bicycles
Ring your bells
(to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Dashing through the rain, on a pedaling machine
Over the streets we go, biking keeps us lean, oh ho ho
Horns on Hondas beep, testing our resolve
But oh what fun it is to ride, cutting down on smog!
Ring your bell, ring your bell, biking all the way!
Oh what fun, it is to ride a two-wheeled Chevrolet!
Hey!
Portland winter’s wet, with puddles everywhere
Splashing cars behind, but why do I care?
I’ve got fenders on, keeping my ass dry
Oh what fun it is to ride, it’s a natural high!
Ring your bell, ring your bell, biking all the way!
Oh what fun, it is to ride a two-wheeled Chevrolet!
People think we’re odd, riding on our bikes
But we know we’re cool, ‘cause this is what we like
Breathing clean and free, letting go of hate
We are riding bicycles because it feels so great!
Ring your bell, ring your bell, biking all the way!
Rudolph the red-nosed cyclist
Rudolph the red-nosed cyclist
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it (saw it)
You would even say it glowed.
All of the silly drivers
Used to laugh and call him names (like a Masshole)
They never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph)
Take the center of the lane
Then one smoggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your healthy thighs spandex tights
Won’t you pull my sleigh tonight?
Then all the children loved him
And they shouted out with glee (with glee)
Rudolph the red-nosed cyclist
Won’t you come and ride with me!
Twelve days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A tandem with a spare seat
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two handlebars and
Etc…..
Three inner tubes
Four pedals shining
Five times the fun
Six pack (or six Pabsts) for drinking
Seven days of riding
Eight bells for ringing
Nine lights a blinking
Ten spokes a spinning
Eleven cables snaking
Twelve gears for shifting.
Written by: Amy Stork, Jim Waigand, and Jeff Bernards
Bicycle Rock(to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock)
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycles rock
Bicycles roll and bicycles go
Spinning and grinning, it’s baskets of fun
Now the biking age has begun
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycles rock
Cyclist whoop and Cyclists hoot
Pedal and revel in Courthouse Square, In the misty air
What a bright time, it’s the right time
To bike the night away
Bicycle time is a cool time
To go riding on a two-wheeled sleigh
Giddy up, iron horse, don’t be a poke
Bicycle round the clock
Mix and mingle with your jingling spokes
That’s the bicycle, That’s the bicycle,
That’s the bicycle rock!
Bikes for the world(to the tune of Joy to the World)
Bikes for the world! The time has come
Let earth receive clean air
Let every heart, beat steadily
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Bikes rule the road, with speed and grace
And make our nation free
From oil rigs and corporate greed
So ride your bicycle
So ride your bicycle
So ride, so ride your bicycle!
Climate change is coming to town
(to the tune of Santa Claus in coming to town)
You better watch out, you better not drive
You better ride bikes I’m telling you why
Climate change is coming to town
We’re making it hot, we’re raising the sea
Gonna feel life at a hundred degrees
Climate change is coming to town
If people keep on driving
The poles will soon be lakes
The air will stink like petrol fumes
Ride your bike for goodness sake
We’re making a list, we’re checking it twice
We’re gonna find out who drove and who biked!
Climate change is coming to town
Deck the road with tons of cyclists
(to the dune of Deck the Halls)
Deck the road with tons of cyclists, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Tis the season for idealists, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our rain apparel, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Call your friend his name is Harold, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Grab your helmet and your u-lock, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Join the sheep who’ve left the flock, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Hitch your trailer to your seat post, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
To the store to get some French Roast, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Pedal til the old year passes, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Cold air fogging up your glasses, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Summer soon will come again, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
Just keep riding with the wind, Fa la la la la la, la la la la
O Come all ye cyclists
(to the tune of o come all ye faithful)
O Come all ye cyclists,
joyful and triumphant
O come ye, o come ye by bicycle\ Come and behold them
See what fun they’re having
O come let us stop driving
O come let us start riding
O come let us start riding
Our bicycles
Ring your bells
(to the tune of Jingle Bells)
Dashing through the rain, on a pedaling machine
Over the streets we go, biking keeps us lean, oh ho ho
Horns on Hondas beep, testing our resolve
But oh what fun it is to ride, cutting down on smog!
Ring your bell, ring your bell, biking all the way!
Oh what fun, it is to ride a two-wheeled Chevrolet!
Hey!
Portland winter’s wet, with puddles everywhere
Splashing cars behind, but why do I care?
I’ve got fenders on, keeping my ass dry
Oh what fun it is to ride, it’s a natural high!
Ring your bell, ring your bell, biking all the way!
Oh what fun, it is to ride a two-wheeled Chevrolet!
People think we’re odd, riding on our bikes
But we know we’re cool, ‘cause this is what we like
Breathing clean and free, letting go of hate
We are riding bicycles because it feels so great!
Ring your bell, ring your bell, biking all the way!
Rudolph the red-nosed cyclist
Rudolph the red-nosed cyclist
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it (saw it)
You would even say it glowed.
All of the silly drivers
Used to laugh and call him names (like a Masshole)
They never let poor Rudolph (Rudolph)
Take the center of the lane
Then one smoggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say
Rudolph with your healthy thighs spandex tights
Won’t you pull my sleigh tonight?
Then all the children loved him
And they shouted out with glee (with glee)
Rudolph the red-nosed cyclist
Won’t you come and ride with me!
Twelve days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
A tandem with a spare seat
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two handlebars and
Etc…..
Three inner tubes
Four pedals shining
Five times the fun
Six pack (or six Pabsts) for drinking
Seven days of riding
Eight bells for ringing
Nine lights a blinking
Ten spokes a spinning
Eleven cables snaking
Twelve gears for shifting.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Bikes in Portland
While we were on Peacock Lane, there were two different cycling groups that came through. Even a devoted cyclist like myself thought they were a little crazy on one of the rainiest nights we've had.
I haven't been biking much myself with my health issue. A little frustrating going on the third week.
Peacock Lane: A Holiday Tradition
One of our favorite traditions is visiting Peacock Lane in inner Southeast Portland. The two block walk is filled with houses all lit up for the holidays. The sad part is that cars run all the way through and it becomes quite congested on the sidewalks.
We enjoyed a rainy night with Herny and MK.
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