Cape Town N1 rush hour - how is it possible ?

[Shake&Bake]

It's going to get worse as there are more lane closures planned for the outbound sections of the N1 for the next 3 months!

 

[hj2k_x]

It's going to get worse as there are more lane closures planned for the outbound sections of the N1 for the next 3 months!

Well a bit of warning the next time they intend to close the whole damn freeway wouldn't hurt!

 

[Shake&Bake]

Well a bit of warning the next time they intend to close the whole damn freeway wouldn't hurt!

I heard about these closure on kfm this afternoon - not found anything on the web yet, but tis true.

 

[hj2k_x]

I heard about these closure on kfm this afternoon - not found anything on the web yet, but tis true.

Yeah, I heard about it on KFM when I was already stuck in the middle of it

 

[medicnick83]

Well a bit of warning the next time they intend to close the whole damn freeway wouldn't hurt!

Totally agree!

 

[Shake&Bake]

Yeah, I heard about it on KFM when I was already stuck in the middle of it

Eish

That had to suck :erm:

 

[hj2k_x]

Eish

That had to suck :erm:

It did. 2km in 90mins. No way off the road because of the construction which has steel barriers on either side. No escape. No hard/soft shoulders. It sucked.

 

[Alan]

Yeah, I heard about it on KFM when I was already stuck in the middle of it

 

[ignition]

What time does this exact Paarden Eiland to Parow/Durbanville rush hour traffic on the N1 end? I for once need to make that trip.

 

[Shake&Bake]

Sometimes up till 6pm.

 

[hj2k_x]

After 6 you should be safe.

 

[LancelotSA]

I have read this before elsewhere so did a search when seeing this thread. Wiki was the first link that said what I had read before :

Phantom jams can form when there is a heavy volume of cars on the road. In that high density of traffic, small disturbances (a driver hitting the brake too hard, or getting too close to another car) can quickly become amplified into a full-blown, self-sustaining traffic jam...

The other time I saw it there were pretty pictures and all. So yeah that one idiot right in the front that decides he is special and cuts from lane to lane causing those behind to hit the brakes, or that other idiot who thinks it is ok for him to pull over onto the yellow line to drop off passengers, in fact any idiotic act that results in those behind having to touch the brakes causes these traffic jams. Of course "rubber neckers" are also to blame. Often a minor accident is well clear of the road but all those braking to take a peek result in the ripple effect spreading backwards.

So bottom line, it is the fault of the idiots!

And the congestion of course is explained by economics. This is why we need to pay tolls and road taxes etc.

Congested roads can be seen as an example of the tragedy of the commons. Because roads in most places are free at the point of usage, there is little financial incentive for drivers not to over-utilize them, up to the point where traffic collapses into a jam, when demand becomes limited by opportunity cost. Privatization of highways and road pricing have both been proposed as measures that may reduce congestion through economic incentives and disincentives

 

[Hosehead]

And the congestion of course is explained by economics. This is why we need to pay tolls and road taxes etc.

So you suggest that tolls will relieve congestion..
Not in the Cape.
(We pay road taxes but these go...well... only Julius knows where)

 

[LancelotSA]

So you suggest that tolls will relieve congestion..
Not in the Cape.
(We pay road taxes but these go...well... only Julius knows where)

It is less about where the money goes and more about providing an "incentive" for people to find other means of transport. Charge people R1000 to get into Cape Town by car and all of a sudden you will see a lot more lift clubs starting up.

 

[xrapidx]

Yeh - thats more about ripping people with money off again.

SA doesn't have a public transport system to support something like that, and even if it did, it wouldn't exactly be safe.

 

[hj2k_x]

So you suggest that tolls will relieve congestion..
Not in the Cape.
(We pay road taxes but these go...well... only Julius knows where)

Yeah, that is not going to help - people need to get to and from work. In cars. On roads.

 

[LancelotSA]

Yeh - thats more about ripping people with money off again.

What is the logic behind that comment? A taxi would still need to pay tolls. The point is a taxi has 10 (and sometimes up to 50) passengers so the cost of the toll can be spread amongst them. Hence he stating lift clubs would become an alternative.

As stated in that link.... it is pure economics. If the most convenient mode of transport is also the cheapest then people are obviously going to use it. Hence congestion.

SA doesn't have a public transport system to support something like that, and even if it did, it wouldn't exactly be safe.

Something like what? Congestion taxes and the like? We don't need a public transport system for that. People would just start looking for alternatives and as stated that could be lift clubs or whatever best suits your needs.

 

[hj2k_x]

IF we had a public transport system then this argument might have some merit. Until then, it does not.

Lift clubs are not going to help enough to make any kind of impact.

 

[LancelotSA]

IF we had a public transport system then this argument might have some merit. Until then, it does not.

Lift clubs are not going to help enough to make any kind of impact.

Of course they will. 1 person per vehicle vs 4 people per vehicle. Simple maths. That means a 1/4 of the current number of cars on the road.

And as regards public transport, we often get the same people arguing for better public transport moaning about the cost of the Gautrain (and I am in no way directly referring to you here as I have no idea of your views on these current projects). It seems to be a no win situation really!

 

[hj2k_x]

Of course they will. 1 person per vehicle vs 4 people per vehicle. Simple maths. That means a 1/4 of the current number of cars on the road.

And as regards public transport, we often get the same people arguing for better public transport moaning about the cost of the Gautrain (and I am in no way directly referring to you here as I have no idea of your views on these current projects). It seems to be a no win situation really!

But not everyone will be able to ride share/lift club. We tried it once at varsity in support of the environment and what not. It did not work.