Comments on: Mailbag: The Crosstown in color and ghost jams http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/ Travel along with our transportation geek Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:46:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: botski http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12625 botski Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:56:39 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12625 Cars slowing down can't cause a shockwave? Whoa. I have nothing more to say, your honor. Cars slowing down can’t cause a shockwave? Whoa. I have nothing more to say, your honor.

]]> By: Morg http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12621 Morg Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:33:12 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12621 You know, it really doesn't matter. This volleying back and forth is pointless, because you're probably one of the people who drive in the left lane for no reason and refuse to move over and think anyone going faster than you is an idiot. I'd have better luck trying to talk to a rock. Next subject! You know, it really doesn’t matter. This volleying back and forth is pointless, because you’re probably one of the people who drive in the left lane for no reason and refuse to move over and think anyone going faster than you is an idiot. I’d have better luck trying to talk to a rock.

Next subject!

]]> By: Morg http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12620 Morg Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:30:23 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12620 To simply slow down, as Josh R pointed out, does not cause the shockwave that applying the brakes does. When I see brake lights ahead, I instinctively hit mine too if I'm close, whereas if someone merely slows down ahead by easing off the gas for a second, there is no net effect at all. To simply slow down, as Josh R pointed out, does not cause the shockwave that applying the brakes does. When I see brake lights ahead, I instinctively hit mine too if I’m close, whereas if someone merely slows down ahead by easing off the gas for a second, there is no net effect at all.

]]> By: botski http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12618 botski Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:45:25 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12618 E is following at a safe distance in Lane 2, A is in Lane 1. A moves over in front of E to let Morg and his band of left lane patriots through. E slows down for this because now his following distance has been drastically reduced. Whatcha missing? E is following at a safe distance in Lane 2, A is in Lane 1. A moves over in front of E to let Morg and his band of left lane patriots through. E slows down for this because now his following distance has been drastically reduced. Whatcha missing?

]]> By: Josh R http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12605 Josh R Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:03:16 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12605 If you're following at a safe distance you don't need to break when someone merges in front of you. All you do is let off the gas a bit to get a safe distance again, which dosn't cause the waves that start a ghost jam. Google "Smith system" My wife is a school bus driver and swears by their way of making driving safe and sane. If you’re following at a safe distance you don’t need to break when someone merges in front of you. All you do is let off the gas a bit to get a safe distance again, which dosn’t cause the waves that start a ghost jam. Google “Smith system” My wife is a school bus driver and swears by their way of making driving safe and sane.

]]> By: Morg http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12602 Morg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:45:13 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12602 Easy. If car E is following at the safe/proper distance, car A should be able to slide over without affecting car E whatsoever. There should be no "cutting in", just merging over. It's done thousands of times a day. Easy. If car E is following at the safe/proper distance, car A should be able to slide over without affecting car E whatsoever. There should be no “cutting in”, just merging over. It’s done thousands of times a day.

]]> By: botski http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12592 botski Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:44:08 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12592 How does car E's proper following distance with the car in front of him make any difference at all when car A has to cut in front of him when A moves over to let Speedy Gonzalez Car B zoom by? How does car E’s proper following distance with the car in front of him make any difference at all when car A has to cut in front of him when A moves over to let Speedy Gonzalez Car B zoom by?

]]> By: Hollywood http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12579 Hollywood Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:36:55 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12579 I do like the idea that many of you had about not tailgating, but the only way that is going to work is if we get cars that automatically drive themselves. It only takes one person to do something dumb on the highway, then we are all stuck. Here's an incomplete list of everything I see as causing ghost jams: Tailgating Driving below the posted speed Driving the posted speed in the left lane Speed Traps (yes, cops cause ghost jams, I've seen it happen numerous times) Drivers who are lost/don't know what turn to take Drivers who wait till the last minute to merge (huge one for me since I take 494 N to 55 West to get home to Rockford. Two spots that happens, and it amazes me when a car goes speeding around me in the right lane, only to merge 2 cars up, when they could have just merged in behind me. I like to wave at these people when I get up next to them at a stoplight) I do like the idea that many of you had about not tailgating, but the only way that is going to work is if we get cars that automatically drive themselves. It only takes one person to do something dumb on the highway, then we are all stuck. Here’s an incomplete list of everything I see as causing ghost jams:
Tailgating
Driving below the posted speed
Driving the posted speed in the left lane
Speed Traps (yes, cops cause ghost jams, I’ve seen it happen numerous times)
Drivers who are lost/don’t know what turn to take
Drivers who wait till the last minute to merge (huge one for me since I take 494 N to 55 West to get home to Rockford. Two spots that happens, and it amazes me when a car goes speeding around me in the right lane, only to merge 2 cars up, when they could have just merged in behind me. I like to wave at these people when I get up next to them at a stoplight)

]]> By: Morg http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12569 Morg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 17:28:10 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12569 if car E was maintaining proper following distance, there would/should be ample room to move over. if car E was maintaining proper following distance, there would/should be ample room to move over.

]]> By: botski http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12552 botski Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:53:42 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/roadguy/2008/03/12/mailbag-the-crosstown-in-color-and-ghost-jams/#comment-12552 "Sean: easy fix. Car A looks in their mirror, sees car B approaching and moves over a lane. " Causing Car E in that lane to have to slow to make room, lather, rinse, repeat. “Sean: easy fix. Car A looks in their mirror, sees car B approaching and moves over a lane. ”

Causing Car E in that lane to have to slow to make room, lather, rinse, repeat.

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