10-24-2015, 09:55 AM
I am so glad that you touched on the idling thing. Yes, this forum is predominantly focused on cycling/walkability, but as a hypermiler (I own the two most fuel-efficeint cars sold in Canada), there is nothing as disheartening as getting into a a nice pulse-and-glide cycle, anticipating traffic up ahead carefully, and then seeing a light change to yellow... not because cross-traffic or a pedestrian triggered/requested it... but because it was on a timer and nobody's there. So much wasted energy. I wish someone would do a study on fuel consumption wasted with deceleration/idling/re-acceleration with "dumb" traffic lights. It's not a question of being impatient and wanting to not be held up - it's quite the opposite. I would much rather travel at a lower, consistent average speed, vs. having to stop often but travel quicker in between those stops (what most people illogically want). Everything is smoother, quieter, more relaxed.
Driving carefully on Ira Needles by adjusting your speed (slowing down, basically) to wait for gaps and then inserting at just the right time into roundabouts not only is more fuel efficient, but it's smoother and more predictable for everyone around you.
My least-favourite urban sound is when a light turns green and everyone just stupidly floors it - wasting fuel, shorting the longevity of their vehicles, and creating noise pollution.
TL;DR: Roundabouts make for smoother, calmer driving, which is better for everyone.
Driving carefully on Ira Needles by adjusting your speed (slowing down, basically) to wait for gaps and then inserting at just the right time into roundabouts not only is more fuel efficient, but it's smoother and more predictable for everyone around you.
My least-favourite urban sound is when a light turns green and everyone just stupidly floors it - wasting fuel, shorting the longevity of their vehicles, and creating noise pollution.
TL;DR: Roundabouts make for smoother, calmer driving, which is better for everyone.