Gridlock Expert Takes On Sim City Streets

Thanks to the Gaming-Age messageboard regulars for pointing to an EA webpage interviewing real-life traffic engineer Sam Schwartz, aka 'Gridlock Sam', and discussing "ways to alleviate traffic congestion in your own virtual metropolis" for Maxis/EA's PC game Sim City 4: Rush Hour. Schwartz notes some of the tricks gamers use to get round traffic congestion in-game: "I have read on the Sim City message boards, and seen screen shots of cities where mayors build roads at certain angles to avoid the creation of a traffic light", but goes on to suggest relevant real-world tactics, particularly noting players should "...use underground rail where [traffic] density is the greatest." However, 'Gridlock Sam' found unexpected social issues even in the virtual city: "One time I made the mistake of turning all my roads into streets thinking I was improving the level of service and therefore congestion would lessen. It did, but now I had Sims yelling at me because their once bucolic roads became bustling streets."

Comments

Re:Roundabouts.

[Washizu]

"Why the hell doesn't the US build more roundabouts?"

Over the last 15 years, New Jersey has been eliminating their "roundabouts" (we just call them circles). I still drive through one every day on the way to work and it's really bad in the 5:00PM traffic. Could driving on the other side of the road make a difference in the effectiveness of the roundabout? In my experience, a bad traffic light is preferable to a bad traffic circle, because I'm at least guaranteed to eventually get through the traffic light. On most traffic circles, one feeding street dominates the traffic flow and the other streets have to hope for a gap that may never come.

You realize...

[FooAtWFU]

You realize, of course, Mr. Expert, that the periodic whining complaints about streets being made into roads makes just about no difference whatsoever? As long as the property doesn't suffer excessive traffic noise along its road, then you can deal with it.
Particularly effective SC4 traffic strategies usually involve forcing your Sims to take the bus/train/subway/monorail by making it the only reasonable route out of a development... include a good Parking Garage for people who aren't right near the stations... Your development's exit should be headed in the opposite direction from the way your Sims want to go, and place the mass transit exit on the reasonable side. :)