Comments on: How to make the S-curve safe on the Bay Bridge http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2009/11/07/how-to-make-the-s-curve-safe-on-the-bay-bridge/ Getting around the Bay Area with Denis Cuff and the Queen of the Road Tue, 17 May 2011 06:04:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Esther http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2009/11/07/how-to-make-the-s-curve-safe-on-the-bay-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4712 Esther Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:27:42 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/?p=836#comment-4712 Do you know how/why CalTrans designed this S-curve? Did someone think this would be a safe design? Safer than a straight line? Do you know how/why CalTrans designed this S-curve? Did someone think this would be a safe design? Safer than a straight line?

]]> By: 16 year vet http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/2009/11/07/how-to-make-the-s-curve-safe-on-the-bay-bridge/comment-page-1/#comment-4711 16 year vet Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:20:58 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation/?p=836#comment-4711 After finally going thru the S curve at night after the new improvements I have to say I am impressed with the way it lights up at night (And I work there!!) - the only other improvement I can think of that *really* works is take a page from Italy's Highway/Autostrada system - they have sequential lights that actually flash in sequence thru the curve. I don't know *why* it works, but I know firsthand that people (1) do slow down for it, and (2) the guardrail has very few marks or dings where they do this (compare it to the Richochet curve in SF!!!) It's usually on sharp curves (READ THIS, CT traffic engineers!). Seriously, tho - DO THIS on more of the highways with curves - with the reflectorized stripe (and multi-reflectors on the pavement) You can SEE where the road goes! Add the sequential lights to this - I bet the wreck rate drops further. At least no more trucks over the side!!! After finally going thru the S curve at night after the new improvements I have to say I am impressed with the way it lights up at night (And I work there!!) – the only other improvement I can think of that *really* works is take a page from Italy’s Highway/Autostrada system – they have sequential lights that actually flash in sequence thru the curve. I don’t know *why* it works, but I know firsthand that people (1) do slow down for it, and (2) the guardrail has very few marks or dings where they do this (compare it to the Richochet curve in SF!!!) It’s usually on sharp curves (READ THIS, CT traffic engineers!).

Seriously, tho – DO THIS on more of the highways with curves – with the reflectorized stripe (and multi-reflectors on the pavement) You can SEE where the road goes! Add the sequential lights to this – I bet the wreck rate drops further. At least no more trucks over the side!!!

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