I just got back from a sightseeing/shopping trip, so I’ll keep this short – sleep awaits.  The reason I’m writing is because I had an idea on the trip back home.

Most cities are either planned in a grid pattern (you know..grid paper?) , or in a road hierarchy (cul-de-sacs which turn into streets which siphon into arterial routes, highways, etc).  Actually, most are a combination of both, the cores being gridded and the encircling suburbs following the road hierarchy.  A few unlucky cities aren’t really planned, and grow according to the caprice of developers.

Anyway, why are gridded cities always patterned according to a two-way grid?  I think it would be interesting to study how a city would function, based upon a three-way grid instead.  In case I’m not being clear enough, picture a four-way stop for a two-way grid.  Now, for a three-way grid, picture a *six*-way stop.  Two opposite lanes would be allowed to go through at a time.

I’m not sure if this would help or hinder a city’s traffic control, but it deserves further thought.  Probably research, too, to see if there are any other similar schemes already in existence out there.  Anyway I’m off for a good dose of sleep.  Over and out!

Fashion Hobo.