I work in Shanghai and go back to Hangzhou on weekends. Here are some of my observations about Shanghai that might offer a bit of help to Hangzhou's traffic situation. For example, the first instance of an illegal government vehicle being confiscated may serve as a reference.
1. Maintenance and upkeep of elevated roads and ground-level roads. Their working hours are from 12 midnight to 5 AM the next morning, minimizing the impact on vehicle passage. This includes road repairs, street cleaning, maintenance of elevated roads, and line marking.
2. Traffic light and intersection lane settings. Shanghai’s traffic lights are uniformly coordinated. In most cases (including peak hours), you can pass at least two intersections at a time. The green light duration is relatively long, preventing vehicles behind from attempting to cut in due to impatience. If there are three straight-going lanes at an intersection, then after passing through the intersection onto the main road, there will also be three lanes, which does not affect the passage capacity of vehicles crossing the intersection. There are also strong vehicle storage capacities at intersections. In Hangzhou, many intersections have 3 lanes turning into 2 or even 1.
3. Rapid evacuation of accidents. Always remember to carry a piece of chalk when driving in Shanghai. In case of an accident, immediately report it and follow the instructions of the operator to quickly locate the position. If the vehicle can be moved, quickly pull over to the side (not just any side, but on the elevated road move to the diversion strip, avoiding hindering the passage of vehicles behind).
4. Restricting access to certain elevated entrances and exits during peak hours. The North-South Elevated Road exit to the train station from north to south is closed from 7 AM to 10 PM, requiring detour to the next exit, reducing the pressure on the Tianmu West Road roundabout. During the morning rush hour, the off-ramp from Yan'an Elevated Road westbound to Zangxi Road is also closed, reducing the pressure of left turns off the elevated road into Zangxi Road and further left turns into Henan Road. This is a long-term measure.
5. Separation of motorized and non-motorized vehicles. Many sections in Shanghai have separated motorized and non-motorized vehicles. Some one-way streets do not allow bicycles, effectively increasing the speed of motorized vehicles.
6. Police directing traffic at intersections rather than auxiliary officers. Drivers fear police more than auxiliary officers. In Hangzhou, many intersections experience chaotic direction by auxiliary staff that drivers ignore, leading to worse congestion.
7. Reducing roadside parking. Roads are for passage, not parking. Due to the high number of skyscrapers, underground space is well utilized in Shanghai. All parking lots are open to the public. If there is illegal parking, it will certainly be ticketed by the police (vehicles obstructing passage will be towed away immediately).
8. Electronic monitoring of violations. Driving on the elevated diversion strip is prohibited. Many diversion strips have cameras above them. The entrance to the elevated road displays electronic signs indicating whether it is open or closed. If closed, vehicles entering will be photographed by electronic police at the entrance. Some no-left-turn intersections also have electronic police.
Source: Author: Hangzhou Network netizen Yuhang Beike Editor: Zhang Rui