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    emmabrocker2Gabrielle Bluestone
    3/02/14 9:23pm

    OK, anyone know how he did this? Did he work out the algorithm/timing for all the lights on this strip in advance or was this edited together?

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      HiMyNameIsJayAgainemmabrocker2
      3/02/14 10:06pm

      Many (most) modern traffic signal systems are designed to be synchronized for relatively continuous traffic flow.

      Imagine 10 lights in a row along a mile of road. You arrive at the first light and it is red. That light may stay red long enough to collect and consolidate a pack of X amount of cars (based on how many cars use the road/hour). After 3 minutes there may be 50 or so cars at the light and it turns green.

      The next 9 lights are timed such that, after the first light turns green, the others should turn green as the pack of cars is arriving (based on the average speed).

      Meanwhile, as the pack passes each of the 10 intersections, the traffic lights in that direction turn red and allow the cars in the cross streets to proceed though the intersection.

      The system is designed to send packs of cars through the intersection in waves. In perfect conditions, each pack of cars should be able pass through without hitting a red light (after the first in the series).

      Of course, most people (particularly in bigger cities) never experience the joy of only hitting green lights because traffic is unpredictable. All it takes is one person driving too slow, or one lane being closed for construction and the whole system is thrown off. 3 AM is probably a good time to try.

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    Hoffy97Gabrielle Bluestone
    3/02/14 10:15pm

    This is just how it is in NYC; I used to do this all the time. The lights on the avenues (the one-way aves, at least) are timed to flip in sequence, and you can easily line them up if you drive around 20-30 mph. I lived on 2nd ave, and I could drive from the top (126) down to mid-town in one shot unless there was heavy traffic. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Lex, all follow this pattern.

    Every so often, one light would get out of sync, and it would completely screw up the traffic flow till they figure it out and reset it.

    The 2-way (Park, Broadway) would all flip at once, so you could get about 10 lights in one shot if you're heavy with the gas.

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      Búho se PierdeGabrielle Bluestone
      3/02/14 9:14pm

      Far more riveting than these Oscars.

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        bilbobagodonutsGabrielle Bluestone
        3/02/14 9:17pm

        This has been my experience with NYC. It is the city that never sleeps, but it does take a catnap around 3am.

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