An occasional update on items from Motordom – the world of auto dominance.
TWO-WAY STOPS
In response to Mike Jone’s inquiry in Annals – 6 – why is Kits populated with so many two-way stops? – David Rawsthorne, a City Transportation Engineer, was good enough to send in a response:
The alternating stop signs in your area were installed as part of the City of Vancouver’s stop-sign infill program. This involved the installation of stop signs at all uncontrolled intersections within an area bound by arterial streets. They were installed in an alternate fashion to discourage short-cutting traffic throughout the neighbourhood.
Four-way stop signs are installed when the existing two-way control is no longer functioning adequately. When installing four-way stop signs to improve safety, the decision is made based on a number of factors including the accident history at the intersection provided by police and ICBC records. We then follow guidelines for stop sign installation as set out in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Canada. The MUTCD warrant calls for four-way stops if five or more right-of-way conflict accidents per year have occurred (right angle collisions, not rear ends or side swipes).
Traffic volumes must generally be balanced, with 200 or more vehicles per hour on the lesser street. Another consideration for four-way stops is an average delay of 30 seconds or more to side street traffic. Efficiency problems would be evident by high volumes in all directions, and delays to traffic in the stopped direction.
Four-way stop signs are not installed to enhance pedestrian safety, and in fact unwarranted installations can be detrimental in this regard. Drivers are sometimes so concerned about other vehicles and whose turn it is to proceed, that they don’t pay attention to pedestrians.
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CAR ART
Marcus Bowcott, a Vancouver-based sculptor and artist, has an intriguing portfolio of auto-inspired art.
Below is one of his finished ‘Das Capital’ planter/vases. “I’ve photographed it”, he says, “as a monument atop a tree/column. I suppose this piece could be seen as a re-fetishization (if there is such a word) of discarded fetish objects. ”
More of his artwork is at marcusbowcott.com. For something truly provocative, check out his proposal for a stacked-car sundial in Lost Lagoon.
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PROMISES AND PREDICTIONS IN MEXICO CITY
In Mexico City, new freeways are indispensible. So says the government:
Mexico City’s new Supervía Poniente highway
is “indispensable” for solving traffic congestion in the capital, according to urban development and housing ministry (Seduvi) head Felipe Leal.
At a meeting with residents of Magdalena Contreras and Álvaro Obregón boroughs, which will be affected by the work, Leal said the project will reduce travel times along the route by up to 80%.
Well, it’s worked everywhere else, hasn’t it?
Sadly, it’s the consequence of building a commercial centre where it wasn’t supposed to go, without a rapid-transit connection. Now the freeway will be pushed through some of the few remaining green spaces, to join up with a peripheral freeway that will only ensure the government’s traffic projections will be blown away.
Thank you Mr. Price and Mr. Rawsthorne. Thanks for the update. I’m pretty happy with that response. It’s nice to know that there’s a reason behind things and that it’s not just an after thought.