[LitespeedRider]

So - new, since Mid-Octoberish the lights on 441 are simply rediculous. If you go speed limit you get stopped at EVERY LIGHT. They turn just in time so that you stop at them all - Or...if you go about 65 you can get all green!!!

It is obvious that this is the case as cars with more "pep" do just that - make it to the next light and continue on their merry way.

I can not imagine why any Traffic Flow Engineer would want this to be how lights are timed. To me, this is either a cash grab for police to ticket people who are able to make the green (speeding at +/- 5mph over), or selfish ploy to get people to stop in front of the retail areas and maybe decide to shop.

The lights even turn red when there is no cross traffic! This means that they are timed off of each-other, not actual traffic set off by a sensor (or a cross walk as the buttons either are not there, or do not seem to alter anything).

Someone needs to fire who ever made the decision to handle traffic in this manner.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by LitespeedRider

So - new, since Mid-Octoberish the lights on 441 are simply rediculous. If you go speed limit you get stopped at EVERY LIGHT. They turn just in time so that you stop at them all - Or...if you go about 65 you can get all green!!!

It is obvious that this is the case as cars with more "pep" do just that - make it to the next light and continue on their merry way.

I can not imagine why any Traffic Flow Engineer would want this to be how lights are timed. To me, this is either a cash grab for police to ticket people who are able to make the green (speeding at +/- 5mph over), or selfish ploy to get people to stop in front of the retail areas and maybe decide to shop.

The lights even turn red when there is no cross traffic! This means that they are timed off of each-other, not actual traffic set off by a sensor (or a cross walk as the buttons either are not there, or do not seem to alter anything).

Someone needs to fire who ever made the decision to handle traffic in this manner.

I travel 441 between 466a and 42, 5-6 times a week. I cannot recall experiencing the issue you describe. In addition, I have never seen any police traffic stop in all my travels on that route. Not once, and I travel it extensively. Hopefully you don't actually drive 65mph, since the speed limit is 45.

[LitespeedRider]

Originally Posted by photo1902

Hopefully you don't actually drive 65mph, since the speed limit is 45.

You must not be going from Spanish Springs north - and yes - we ALL do 65 or you are simply in the way (or stopped at the light). There is a guy on a motorcycle in the AM every day at about 7:10 northbound...he is at about 100 or so north bound (he gets all green lights on his Buell).

Just got back from WalMart on 441...EVERY light...every one of them was red.

As I said, it was not like that just a week or two ago.

[spring_chicken]

It's my pet peeve, too. There is no rhyme or reason. I left TV one time at 5 am and got stopped at 5 lights between TV and Del Webb and there was zero cross traffic waiting to go.
Add to this the lack of right turn lanes (441 at Morse, El Camino...), you end up waiting at LONG red lights just to make a right turn that could have been made easily with a turn lane.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by LitespeedRider

...The lights even turn red when there is no cross traffic!...

This is standard. With no cross traffic registering on the sensors, the major road phase will be extended, but not indefinitely. (Sensors are not perfect.)

[LitespeedRider]

Originally Posted by Polar Bear

This is standard. With no cross traffic registering on the sensors, the major road phase will be extended, but not indefinitely. (Sensors are not perfect.)

I am often on my bicycle trying to cross - I gave up on the cross walk buttons. They do nothing. I either cross on red or wait (but now being as they turn for no good reason could it be better?). But, it is far faster (albeit dangerous) to cross at Griffin and 441 (as the light at least changes).

Someone needs to be fired. My other half says that she gets stopped at every light, every week day at 7:30am(ish) heading north to Ocala.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by LitespeedRider

You must not be going from Spanish Springs north - and yes - we ALL do 65 or you are simply in the way (or stopped at the light). There is a guy on a motorcycle in the AM every day at about 7:10 northbound...he is at about 100 or so north bound (he gets all green lights on his Buell).

Just got back from WalMart on 441...EVERY light...every one of them was red.

As I said, it was not like that just a week or two ago.

Yes, I go North to 42, then south to 466a. And no, we ALL don't do 65 (much less "100").

[LitespeedRider]

Originally Posted by photo1902

. And no, we ALL don't do 65 (much less "100").

So, you are one of the ones "in the way"

[Shimpy]

For lights to be timed they must change in progression at about the speed limit. In other words after you go thru a light, then if driving at the speed limit the next one will change after the one you just past and so on so you you keep getting green lights.
Now that is for the direction YOU are traveling. The other side is going against the progression and will get most lights.
I don't see how it's possible for lights to be timed in both directions at the same time.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

For lights to be timed they must change in progression at about the speed limit. In other words after you go thru a light, then if driving at the speed limit the next one will change after the one you just past and so on so you you keep getting green lights.
Now that is for the direction YOU are traveling. The other side is going against the progression and will get most lights.
I don't see how it's possible for lights to be timed in both directions at the same time.

It's a compromise based on traffic counts. The usual goal is to minimize total delay counting all vehicles using the facility, not for any single vehicle.

[LitespeedRider]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

I don't see how it's possible for lights to be timed in both directions at the same time.

My non-scientific study (driving to the office and shopping). If you leave at 6am north - you catch few lights. 7:15 am you catch a ton of lights. 7:30 you get screwed by school bus'.

Southbound at 4:45...same thing. Today going north - every light, every time. It was no better coming south (from WalMart). Traffic was a mess.

[spring_chicken]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

For lights to be timed they must change in progression at about the speed limit. In other words after you go thru a light, then if driving at the speed limit the next one will change after the one you just past and so on so you you keep getting green lights.
Now that is for the direction YOU are traveling. The other side is going against the progression and will get most lights.
I don't see how it's possible for lights to be timed in both 1at the same time.

It is possible. It's done in many cities and can knock 15 minutes off of a commute.

[ColdNoMore]

I've noticed that if I drive in the left lane on 441 the lights always turn red right in front of me, but if I'm in the right lane...they stay green.

[KennyP]

Stop lights in general in the area are very out dated. I'm surprised that with so many emergency calls there are in the area, the lights have no "emiters" on them, that is the device that senses the flashing light of the emergency vehicle to change the light to green. I'm sure its a money issue, but the technology is there for better all around traffic control.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by LitespeedRider

My non-scientific study (driving to the office and shopping). If you leave at 6am north - you catch few lights. 7:15 am you catch a ton of lights. 7:30 you get screwed by school bus'.

Southbound at 4:45...same thing. Today going north - every light, every time. It was no better coming south (from WalMart). Traffic was a mess.

Sounds like the entire highway system is against you and your bike. Try Uber.