If hypermilers designed the road system...

[Lazarus]

Andrew J turned me on to this site. Pretty interesting stuff.

[hvatum]

Originally Posted by basjoos

All speed limit reductions posted on uphill stretches of road and speed limit increases posted on downhill stretches of road.

Sadly that's exactly the opposite of what the police want, since they like to give people tickets. Within three miles around my house I can think of four hills where the speed limit decreases as one goes down the hill. On one of them it seems to be totally arbitrary.

[MetroMPG]

Crosswalks would be pedestrian bridges or tunnels.

Right lanes on multi-lane roads would never "disappear" by turning into exits. Exits would always split off from the right lane. (This might help people get over their fear of driving right, passing left.)

And have you ever been on those automated tracks that pull vehicles through car washes? I could think of a lot of places those would be useful. Hmmm...

[dremd]

Outlaw all lights timed like the ones in my town. All traffic is forced to stop at each light every time. ERGH. I actually complained and was told that they wanted everyone to stop 3 times in the 2 mile space.

Remove all Speed Lumps in the middle of roadways which I can only clear at under 10 mph in 35 mph zones, yet SUV's take at 40 ERGH

Allow Bike riding on Empty/ superlow traffic side walks. A buddy of mine has been arrested 2 times for this one.

Subscribed:

[Who]

As previously stated, first and foremost separate the light / low speed traffic (ecars, bikes) from heavy traffic (current automobiles & trucks) with much more emphasis on the light'nlow side of things having efficient paths and full access.

When stops are required, elevate them whenever economically feasible so that they require almost no braking, and then allow gravity acceleration back to speed.

Progressively lower speed limits on ascents to apexes. 60 > 55 > 50 > 45
Likewise progressively increase speed limits on the other side.

As for Arminius' tree comment, I think wind breaks tend to help. You never gain as much back from a tailwind as you lose from the same headwind, so I must admit I like wind breaks where possible.

All tolls, customs, booths etc. designed on mild downward slopes.

[Duffman]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Right lanes on multi-lane roads would never "disappear" by turning into exits. Exits would always split off from the right lane. (This might help people get over their fear of driving right, passing left.)

Totally disagree, every multi-lane road should have a disapearing right lane moving onto a road that has an apearing right lane. In this scenareo you can turn right on a red without ever needing to stop. If the right lane goes the length of the whole road, it will never back up with traffic.

[boxchain]

European style traffic lights (red > red/yellow > green) to give you time to start your engine. And a big yes for countdown timers.

large radius turning lanes for major intersections.

Traffic lights that take into account the amount of traffic actually there. There are a couple lights on the main street by my house that go red for only ~15s. The cross streets are one lane residential, and the main street is 3 lanes each way. It's great, if I see it turn red even 3-4 blocks ahead, I have time to pre-brake, EOC, and bump start and hit the light keeping up plenty of momentum. More like this please.