What is a Tidal Lane?
2 Answers
Tidal lanes are essentially variable lanes, where one or more lanes are designated with changeable traffic directions on suitable roads, primarily to accommodate peak passenger flow during morning and evening rush hours. The main implementation methods for tidal lanes include: 1. Traffic police can manually use remote controls to adjust the direction of variable lane signs based on real-time road conditions. 2. Traffic monitoring centers can observe road conditions and remotely control the display of lane direction signs. 3. For intersections with computerized signal systems, automatic identification and adjustment can be performed through the system.
I'm a seasoned driver with twenty years of experience, and I often see tidal flow lanes in busy urban traffic areas. Simply put, it's a lane that changes direction based on different time periods. For example, during the morning rush hour when there's heavy traffic heading into the city, this lane is dedicated to inbound vehicles; then during the evening rush hour when outbound traffic is congested, it reverses to serve outbound traffic. This design is really great—it has saved me a lot of time on my daily commute. Before, my morning commute used to take forty minutes due to traffic jams, but now I can get to work in just over twenty minutes. City traffic management departments control these changes using traffic signals or electronic signs, so drivers need to pay close attention to the indicators to avoid driving the wrong way and getting fined. I also think this helps a bit with environmental protection by reducing idling emissions. Overall, this type of lane can flexibly handle peak congestion, and I suggest promoting it in more cities—just don't change it too frequently to avoid confusing new drivers.
