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.