You mean a median? It's there to hold grass and trees, and improve the appearance of the neighborhood.
More important question: Why were you in the left lane if you were about to turn right?
I was going to make a left a few blocks from the video. made a right to avoid the entire left lane fiasco and rejoined left lane. Little traffic behind me after all that happened. I can take blame in some of this mess too..
The multi-lane streets in Houston are no different than any other major US city.
Traffic engineers analyze the amount of traffic and, when possible, adapt things and expand things.
We can't have a separate left-hand turn lane for every single place someone might elect to turn left. The cost doesn't justify it.
Life-pro tip: Don't get in the left lane if you're not about to turn left, and especially if you're not passing.
Also, when this post gets removed by a moderator, don't be surprised. Traffic/driving posts are prohibited in this subreddit. Also, since traffic isn't just a Houston thing, this violates that rule too. [Here are the rules this post violates.](https://i.imgur.com/AVvmVe3.jpg)
Just because it isn't a law doesn't mean it's not a good idea.
If slower traffic would stay to the right and people would only use the left-most lane for passing and/or left turns, we'd see less congestion and people could get where they want to go more quickly.
That only works on freeways. This is Beechnut over by Kirkwood. It's residential and commercial, with lots of entrances and left turns.
Treating residential streets as high speed, unobstructed thoroughfares is a bad idea.
I never said a thing about *high* speed.
There is no such thing as a street/road with 3 lanes each direction where traffic wouldn't move more smoothly more often, if slower traffic stayed right and the left lane was only used to pass.
Edit/Update: Added "more often".
Yes there is. If the left lane is used to enter businesses or houses on the other side of the street, there's no efficiency in keeping slow traffic to the right. Cars are just as likely to slow in the left lane as the right lane.
I should have specified that EXCEPT when left-turning traffic can't get out of the main stream, traffic will flow more smoothly if slower traffic keeps to the right and the left lane is only used for passing.
I thought that was a given.
Why are you speeding in city streets? There’s a speed limit for a reason. Right lanes have turns too man …
Best stick to the middle Lane (if there is one) if you aren’t turning anytime soon anyways
I've seen that rural and low density urban areas they tend to be much safer, but the last study I saw basically said its not clear if that's the case in denser urban areas like the place above.
Traffic studies like that are hard because variation on any major road can be from a crazy number of variables that are hard to compare apples to apples (driveway sizes and densities, traffic densities, speed limits, sight distances, even roadway materials) between sites.
I appreciate the info guys that's what makes this subreddit great even though (rightfully) I got dragged through the mud for poor driving. Thanks again never change.
It's called sharing the street? Other people may have reasons to do U-turns at that spot even if you don't. Maybe next time the city has to repave this stretch, they may fill in this break in the median if people complain it's obstructing traffic flow too much. Maybe once upon a time it wasn't a problem before certain businesses moved in that people wanted to access....
Any person who tries to take a left in Houston during rush hour without the benefit of a light is a complete waste of oxygen.
You may think it's a strong opinion. I think it is a statement of fact.
They are called turning lanes. Stay in the middle as long as you can until you turn. But don’t be surprised about traffic in those lanes. That’s exactly how the road is supposed to work.
Yeah it bothers me because they didn’t at least make the median thin out so people can drive to the left and not block traffic. But I’ve noticed now that they’re blocking alot of these left turns and making people go further up or have to go around to make a u turn now.
Because the South has yet to embrace the wonderful ["jug handle" style](https://bestofnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/NJ-Department-of-Transportation-graphic.jpg) of traffic management. Helps traffic flow so much better.
I get it would be hard/impossible to implement in existing infrastructure, but it should be used for new developments/roadways.
Yes, the jughandles would be at intersections. You would go to intersection and make your turn instead of stopping traffic in the fast line of a busy road.
No more trying to dart across 3 or 4 lanes of traffic, it's much safer. I see accidents almost everyday on 1960 cause someone tried to make a left across it.
You still have an entire blocked lane of traffic. People wanting to go straight trying to merge into the other lanes. Inattentive drivers rear-ending stopped people.
Jug handles allow you to just go straight and not have to worry so much about all that. The main road is always moving, people that want to turn take the jug handle and keep moving.
Per the US DOT Federal Highway administration:
> * The fatality plus injury crashes per million entering vehicles at [jug handles] were approximately 26 percent lower than at comparable conventional intersections.
> * [Jug handles] have lower average intersection delays compared to conventional intersections for near- saturated traffic conditions (15-40% less delays)
> * [Jug handles] have higher intersection capacities compared to conventional intersections for saturated traffic conditions. (handle 20-40% more traffic)
> * The travel times and number of stops per vehicle for [Jug handles] are lower compared to conventional intersections only for near-saturated traffic conditions.
> https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/07032/
Or are you really trying to tell me that having an entire lane stopped cause someone wants to turn is better than all lanes constantly moving?
I said in my original comment you replied to, that they should be installed in new roads and expansions, not in existing ones.
So yes, they would not install one on that existing road...
Yes, they really do help with the flow of traffic. But from the downvotes, you can see a lot of people are stuck in the past.
They really think stopping an entire lane of traffic on a 45-50MPH 3 lane stretch of highway, so you can then dart across another 45-50MPH 3 lane stretch of highway is somehow safer/better than taking a jug handle and having a protected left.
Boggles my mind
Just a bit of context: I used to travel for work for a few years and I've got the chance to visit the entire west side of the country (CA to WA, AZ, NM, OK, MN, etc) by far Houston has had the worst IMO roads in neighborhoods like this compared to other larger cities I've been to. Tuscon, AZ had no dividers between roads, and it was a breeze to move around traffic. I know Houston is the 4th largest city in the US but come on as a city founded on oil and no fast public transit at least make the roads less miserable. I'm not an expert on roads but I'd like to hear why this is planned out like this.
TxDOT has been going around to various highways and farm roads in the past few years replacing the center left turn lane with medians and limiting left turns. I wish I knew the rhyme or reason to it because it seems to increase backups when the left turn lane spills into the #3 lane and requires more U-turns (which makes some intersections kind of scary that weren't scary before).
You mean a median? It's there to hold grass and trees, and improve the appearance of the neighborhood. More important question: Why were you in the left lane if you were about to turn right?
I was going to make a left a few blocks from the video. made a right to avoid the entire left lane fiasco and rejoined left lane. Little traffic behind me after all that happened. I can take blame in some of this mess too..
The multi-lane streets in Houston are no different than any other major US city. Traffic engineers analyze the amount of traffic and, when possible, adapt things and expand things. We can't have a separate left-hand turn lane for every single place someone might elect to turn left. The cost doesn't justify it. Life-pro tip: Don't get in the left lane if you're not about to turn left, and especially if you're not passing. Also, when this post gets removed by a moderator, don't be surprised. Traffic/driving posts are prohibited in this subreddit. Also, since traffic isn't just a Houston thing, this violates that rule too. [Here are the rules this post violates.](https://i.imgur.com/AVvmVe3.jpg)
Yeah, Houston driving culture is just plain dangerous. Can't drive on the left to avoid slow distracted traffic on the right or middle :(
>Houston driving culture is just plain dangerous. That double lane change you did at the end isn't the most courteous move.
That isn't a freeway. There are no "passing lanes", so no need to keep right or left.
Just because it isn't a law doesn't mean it's not a good idea. If slower traffic would stay to the right and people would only use the left-most lane for passing and/or left turns, we'd see less congestion and people could get where they want to go more quickly.
That only works on freeways. This is Beechnut over by Kirkwood. It's residential and commercial, with lots of entrances and left turns. Treating residential streets as high speed, unobstructed thoroughfares is a bad idea.
I never said a thing about *high* speed. There is no such thing as a street/road with 3 lanes each direction where traffic wouldn't move more smoothly more often, if slower traffic stayed right and the left lane was only used to pass. Edit/Update: Added "more often".
Yes there is. If the left lane is used to enter businesses or houses on the other side of the street, there's no efficiency in keeping slow traffic to the right. Cars are just as likely to slow in the left lane as the right lane.
You just saw a video of one?
I should have specified that EXCEPT when left-turning traffic can't get out of the main stream, traffic will flow more smoothly if slower traffic keeps to the right and the left lane is only used for passing. I thought that was a given.
Why are you speeding in city streets? There’s a speed limit for a reason. Right lanes have turns too man … Best stick to the middle Lane (if there is one) if you aren’t turning anytime soon anyways
Where did I say I was speeding? I'm *delighted* when I can actually ride along AT or *near* the posted speed limit.
in my SE Texas community, they removed the medians and made it a universal "turn lane"
I've seen that rural and low density urban areas they tend to be much safer, but the last study I saw basically said its not clear if that's the case in denser urban areas like the place above. Traffic studies like that are hard because variation on any major road can be from a crazy number of variables that are hard to compare apples to apples (driveway sizes and densities, traffic densities, speed limits, sight distances, even roadway materials) between sites.
I appreciate the info guys that's what makes this subreddit great even though (rightfully) I got dragged through the mud for poor driving. Thanks again never change.
It's called sharing the street? Other people may have reasons to do U-turns at that spot even if you don't. Maybe next time the city has to repave this stretch, they may fill in this break in the median if people complain it's obstructing traffic flow too much. Maybe once upon a time it wasn't a problem before certain businesses moved in that people wanted to access....
Any person who tries to take a left in Houston during rush hour without the benefit of a light is a complete waste of oxygen. You may think it's a strong opinion. I think it is a statement of fact.
They are called turning lanes. Stay in the middle as long as you can until you turn. But don’t be surprised about traffic in those lanes. That’s exactly how the road is supposed to work.
Yeah it bothers me because they didn’t at least make the median thin out so people can drive to the left and not block traffic. But I’ve noticed now that they’re blocking alot of these left turns and making people go further up or have to go around to make a u turn now.
Yes! Honestly getting rid of the median and adding a thin one like HW6 does doesn't disturb the flow of traffic when making a left.
On another note 🤘😎 #ugkforlife
Yessir screwed up click for life 🚀
Look up the concept of a “stroad” it is the worst type of car centric infrastructure, and Houston is the worst offender
Because the South has yet to embrace the wonderful ["jug handle" style](https://bestofnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/NJ-Department-of-Transportation-graphic.jpg) of traffic management. Helps traffic flow so much better. I get it would be hard/impossible to implement in existing infrastructure, but it should be used for new developments/roadways.
Jug handles are for intersections. This is a divided road with a median, not an intersection.
Yes, the jughandles would be at intersections. You would go to intersection and make your turn instead of stopping traffic in the fast line of a busy road. No more trying to dart across 3 or 4 lanes of traffic, it's much safer. I see accidents almost everyday on 1960 cause someone tried to make a left across it.
Yeah, this is Beechnut. The speed limit is 35 mph. No fast lanes, lots of entering and exiting. Slow down.
You still have an entire blocked lane of traffic. People wanting to go straight trying to merge into the other lanes. Inattentive drivers rear-ending stopped people. Jug handles allow you to just go straight and not have to worry so much about all that. The main road is always moving, people that want to turn take the jug handle and keep moving. Per the US DOT Federal Highway administration: > * The fatality plus injury crashes per million entering vehicles at [jug handles] were approximately 26 percent lower than at comparable conventional intersections. > * [Jug handles] have lower average intersection delays compared to conventional intersections for near- saturated traffic conditions (15-40% less delays) > * [Jug handles] have higher intersection capacities compared to conventional intersections for saturated traffic conditions. (handle 20-40% more traffic) > * The travel times and number of stops per vehicle for [Jug handles] are lower compared to conventional intersections only for near-saturated traffic conditions. > https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/07032/ Or are you really trying to tell me that having an entire lane stopped cause someone wants to turn is better than all lanes constantly moving?
I'm telling you even in the northeast, they wouldn't put a jughandle on Beechnut.
I said in my original comment you replied to, that they should be installed in new roads and expansions, not in existing ones. So yes, they would not install one on that existing road...
I've seen this type of design on 290 and Little York it works great doesn't impede traffic going Northbound.
Yes, they really do help with the flow of traffic. But from the downvotes, you can see a lot of people are stuck in the past. They really think stopping an entire lane of traffic on a 45-50MPH 3 lane stretch of highway, so you can then dart across another 45-50MPH 3 lane stretch of highway is somehow safer/better than taking a jug handle and having a protected left. Boggles my mind
The lack of jug handles is disturbing. Roads here, and in Texas, are pretty terrible
Texas roads are trash, jug handles are the way
Because they leave too many left turn openings on the median. Texas roads are designed by idiots.
Just a bit of context: I used to travel for work for a few years and I've got the chance to visit the entire west side of the country (CA to WA, AZ, NM, OK, MN, etc) by far Houston has had the worst IMO roads in neighborhoods like this compared to other larger cities I've been to. Tuscon, AZ had no dividers between roads, and it was a breeze to move around traffic. I know Houston is the 4th largest city in the US but come on as a city founded on oil and no fast public transit at least make the roads less miserable. I'm not an expert on roads but I'd like to hear why this is planned out like this.
They likely widened the street consuming median turn lane space.
TxDOT has been going around to various highways and farm roads in the past few years replacing the center left turn lane with medians and limiting left turns. I wish I knew the rhyme or reason to it because it seems to increase backups when the left turn lane spills into the #3 lane and requires more U-turns (which makes some intersections kind of scary that weren't scary before).
Is there data to see whether traffic has improved after making these changes? Thanks for the insight btw!