The Stability of Multi-modal Traffic Network

There is an explicit and implicit assumption in multimodal traffic equilibrium models, that is, if the equilibrium exists, then it will also occur. The assumption is very idealized; in fact, it may be shown that the quite contrary could happen, because in multimodal traffic network, especially in mixed traffic conditions the interaction among traffic modes is asymmetric and the asymmetric interaction may result in the instability of traffic system. In this paper, to study the stability of multimodal traffic system, we respectively present the travel cost function in mixed traffic conditions and in traffic network with dedicated bus lanes. Based on a day-to-day dynamical model, we study the evolution of daily route choice of travelers in multimodal traffic network using 10000 random initial values for different cases. From the results of simulation, it can be concluded that the asymmetric interaction between the cars and buses in mixed traffic conditions can lead the traffic system to instability when traffic demand is larger. We also study the effect of travelers' perception error on the stability of multimodal traffic network. Although the larger perception error can alleviate the effect of interaction between cars and buses and improve the stability of traffic system in mixed traffic conditions, the traffic system also become instable when the traffic demand is larger than a number. For all cases simulated in this study, with the same parameters, traffic system with dedicated bus lane has better stability for traffic demand than that in mixed traffic conditions. We also find that the network with dedicated bus lane has higher portion of travelers by bus than it of mixed traffic network. So it can be concluded that building dedicated bus lane can improve the stability of traffic system and attract more travelers to choose bus reducing the traffic congestion.     

Numerical study of urban traffic flow with dedicated bus lane and intermittent bus lane

Based on the cellular automaton traffic flow model and the concept of public transport priority, a two-lane traffic model with an intermittent bus lane is proposed and the properties of urban traffic flow are studied. The cases of traffic with a dedicated bus lane (DBL), an intermittent bus lane (IBL) and an ordinary two-lane traffic are simulated, and comparisons in the form of the fundamental diagrams and the velocity-density profiles are made between them. It is shown that the DBL has the advantage of freeing buses from traffic interference and also has the disadvantage of disrupting traffic, the IBL is more efficient in improving the bus flow than ordinary two-lane traffic and maintaining the car flow at a higher level at the same time than the DBL, while the ordinary two-lane traffic suppresses public transportation and is not advantageous in easing urban traffic congestion. Also it is indicated that the DBL is only appropriate for low traffic flow in a two-lane traffic system, and this limitation can be partly overcome by opening the bus lane to general traffic intermittently when the bus lane is not in use by buses.     

Modeling U-turn traffic flow

Median U-turns are sometimes installed to improve the traffic flow at busy intersections by eliminating left turns. Using a microscopic traffic model, we confirmed the presence of transitions from free flow to congested flow with increasing car inflow density. In addition, our proposed rules inside a U-turn curve, which accounted for safety issues and an asymmetric lane changing behavior (outer-to-inner vs. inner-to-outer lane transitions), predicted the speed distribution of cars after the U-turn curve. We found that U-turn curves installed for improving traffic flow at busy intersections produced their desired effects only when there is minimal interaction between cars.     

Traffic Congestion Mechanism in Two Ramp Systems

The aim of this paper is to study traffic properties in an on/off-ramp system with a bus stop close to the on/off ramp. The location of the bus stop in the on/off-ramp (thereafter downstream or upstream case) is discussed. The simulation results show that in the two ramp systems, the reasons for traffic congestions are different. In the on-ramp system, buses and cars coming from on-ramp interweave each other, while in the off-ramp system, busesinterweave with cars exiting to off-ramp. Thus, in the on-ramp (off-ramp) system, the upstream (downstream) bus stop is helpful to reduce the interweaving situation. Moreover, the negative effect will disappear when the distance between the bus stop and the on/off-ramp is more than 20 cells (i.e. 150 m). These qualitative findings may provide some suggestions on traffic management and optimization.     

A study on the effects of the transit parking time on traffic flow based on cellular automata theory

This paper mainly deals with the effects of transit stops on vehicle speeds and conversion lane numbers in a mixed traffic lane.Based on thorough research of traffic flow and cellular automata theory,it calibrates the cellular length and the running speed.Also,a cellular automata model for mixed traffic flow on a two-lane system under a periodic boundary condition is presented herewith,which also takes into consideration the harbour-shaped transit stop as well.By means of computer simulation,the article also studies the effects of bus parking time on the traffic volume,the transit speed and the fast lane speed at the same time.The results demonstrate that,with the increase of the bus parking time,the traffic volume of the transit stop and the transit speed decrease while the fast lane speed increases.This result could help calculate the transit delay correctly and make arrangements for transit routes reasonably and scientifically.     

中小学门口道路上学期间的一个元胞自动机模型

在已有交通流道路瓶颈、交织区和混合交通流研究的基础上,建立一个中小学门口道路区段上学期间的元胞自动机模型,对上学期间的道路交通流特性进行了模拟,对驾私家车送学生上学比例、乘校车上学比例和交警现场指挥对道路交通流的影响进行实验分析.模拟结果表明减少驾车送学生上学比例、增加乘校车学生比例、辅助以交警现场指挥,可保证交通安全,从而达到抑制交通拥堵、减少车辆总通行时间提高道路实际通行能力的目的.     

Traffic states and jamming transitions induced by a bus in two-lane traffic flow

We study the traffic states and jamming transitions induced by a bus (slow car) in a two-lane traffic of cars. We use the dynamic model which is an extended one of the optimal velocity model to take into account the lane changing. The fundamental (flow-density) diagram is presented. The fundamental diagram changes highly by introducing a bus on a two-lane roadway. It is found that there are the six distinct states for the two-lane traffic flow including a bus. The spatio-temporal patterns are presented for the distinct traffic states. The dynamical state of traffic changes with density of cars. It is shown that the dynamical transitions among the distinct traffic states occur at some values of density. The phase diagram (region map) is shown for the two-lane traffic flow including a bus.     

A Cellular Automaton Model for Two-Lane Traffic

We present some long time limit properties of a cellular automaton that models traffic of cars on a (infinite) two-lane road. This model, called TL184, is a natural generalization of the cellular automaton classified as 184 by Wolfram (to be abbreviated by CA184) and studied before as a model for one-lane traffic. TL184 models cars' motions on each lane by particles that interact via the CA184 rules, and cars' lane changes by a possibility for particles to flip from one CA184 to another. We calculate the infinite-time limit of the particle current in TL184, starting from a translation invariant measure, and use this result to show how the possibility of lane changes may enhance the current of cars in TL184 compared to that in a corresponding model of two non-interacting one-lane roads. We provide examples which demonstrate that even though the rules that regulate lane changes are completely symmetric, the system does not evolve to an equipartition of cars among both lanes from a given initially asymmetric distribution; moreover, the asymptotic car velocities and currents may be different on different lanes. We also show that, for a particular class of initial distributions, the asymptotic car density on a lane may be a non-monotonic function of the initial car density on this lane. Finally, we derive the current-density relation for an extended continuous-time version of TL184 with asymmetric lane-changing rules.     

Analysis of the influence of occupation rate of public transit vehicles on mixing traffic flow in a two-lane system

Based on the existing classical cellular automaton model of traffic flow, a cellular automaton traffic model with different-maximum-speed vehicles mixed on a single lane is proposed, in which public transit and harbour-shaped bus stops are taken into consideration. Parameters such as length of cellular automaton, operation speed and random slow mechanism are re-demarcated. A harbour-shaped bus stop is set up and the vehicle changing lane regulation is changed. Through computer simulation, the influence of occupation rate of public transit vehicles on mixed traffic flow and traffic capacity is analysed. The results show that a public transport system can ease urban traffic congestion but creates new jams at the same time, and that the influence of occupation rate of public transit vehicles on traffic capacity is considerable. To develop urban traffic, attention should be paid to the occupation rate of public transit vehicles and traffic development in a haphazard way should be strictly avoided.     

Cellular automaton simulations for mixed traffic with erratic motorcycles’ behaviours

Modeling mixed traffic composed of motorcycles can be a challenging issue because many erratic motorcyclists may not follow the lane disciplines, particularly when traffic is congested. Based upon the refined cellular automaton (CA) model recently developed by the authors [L.W. Lan, Y.C. Chiou, Z.S. Lin, C.C. Hsu, Physica A 388 (2009) 3917-3930], this paper further proposed a sophisticated CA model to elucidate the erratic motorcycle behaviours in mixed traffic contexts. In addition to the conventional moving forward and lane-change rules, the sophisticated CA model also explicated the lateral drift behaviour for cars moving in the same lane, the lateral drift behaviour for motorcycles breaking into two moving cars, and the transverse crossing behaviour for motorcycles through the gap between two stationary cars in the same lane. Fundamental diagrams and space-time trajectories for vehicles with various car-motorcycle mixed ratios are demonstrated.     

有限理性视野下网络交通流逐日演化规律研究

基于有限理性的前提假设,建立了"有限理性二项logit"模型,用以描述出行者路径选择行为,并以一个由2条路径构成的路网为例,探讨了理性程度不同群体的网络交通流逐日动态演化过程,通过数值实验,分析了网络交通流的演化特征,发现网络交通流演化最终状态除了与出行者群体对费用的敏感程度、对实际费用的依赖程度有关,还与出行者群体的理性程度有很大关系.在一定的情况下,出行者理性程度很高或很低均可以使系统稳定,而恰恰是理性程度一般的群体不容易达到稳定.     

两车道交通流耦合格子模型与数值仿真

考虑两车道耦合效应的影响和换道效应,提出了改进的两车道交通流耦合格子模型.同时,改进了换道时的流量转移率,这样更符合实际交通情况.通过线性稳定性分析,得到了改进模型的稳定性条件.数值模拟结果也表明,模型通过考虑耦合作用信息,更好地再现了换道情况,同时也表明两车道间的耦合效应对两车道交通流存在不可忽视的影响.     

A new dynamic model for heterogeneous traffic flow

Based on the property of heterogeneous traffic flow, we in this Letter present a new car-following model. Applying the relationship between the micro and macro variables, a new dynamic model for heterogeneous traffic flow is obtained. The fundamental diagram and the jam density of the heterogeneous traffic flow consisting of bus and car are studied under three different conditions: (1) without any restrictions, (2) under the action of the traffic control policy that restrains some private cars and (3) using bus to replace the private cars restrained by the traffic control policy. The numerical results show that our model can describe some qualitative properties of the heterogeneous traffic flow consisting of bus and car, which verifies that our model is reasonable.     

考虑公交港湾式停靠的多速混合城市交通流元胞自动机模型研究

在Nagel-Schreckenberg提出的元胞自动机模型基础上,建立了考虑公交车辆和港湾式公交停靠站的多速混合车辆单车道城市交通流元胞自动机模型.通过计算机模拟,给出了随机减速概率、混合车流密度、公交车辆平均停靠时间、公交车辆占有率和港湾式公交车站间距对混合车流速度和流量的影响图.对混合车流的特性进行了分析和讨论. 关键词： 元胞自动机 港湾式公交停靠站 混合交通流模型 计算机模拟     

A two-dimensional lattice hydrodynamic model considering shared lane marking

Lane markings are painted on the ground to permit movement turns along traffic lanes at signalized junctions. Drivers have to follow the guidance to turn different directions to enter different downstream lanes. A new two-dimensional lattice hydrodynamic model is proposed to model the effects of a shared lane marking. The control method is used to analyze the model and new stability conditions are derived. A shared lane marking can divert traffic with different directions to enter different downstream lanes. Under different turning proportion, intensities of traffic at downstream vary. Results show that the traffic diversion could influence the flow stability. Shared lane marking is able to divert traffic flows to different downstream lanes. A feedback control signal is added in the proposed model. Revised stability conditions are obtained using the proposed control method. Numerical simulations present the results for the stability under different traffic conditions.     

Effect of following strength on pedestrian counter flow

This paper proposes a modified lattice gas model to simulate pedestrian counter flow by considering the effect of following strength which can lead to appropriate responses to some complicated situations.Periodic and open boundary conditions are adopted respectively.The simulation results show that the presented model can reproduce some essential features of pedestrian counter flows,e.g.,the lane formation and segregation effect.The fundamental diagrams show that the complete jamming density is independent of the system size only when the width W and the length L are larger than some critical values respectively,and the larger asymmetrical conditions can better avoid the occurrence of deadlock phenomena.For the mixed pedestrian flow,it can be found that the jamming cluster is mainly caused by those walkers breaking the traffic rules,and the underlying mechanism is analysed.Furthermore,the comparison of simulation results and the experimental data is performed,it is shown that this modified model is reasonable and more realistic to simulate and analyse pedestrian counter flow.     

公交车停靠诱发交通瓶颈的元胞自动机模拟

利用双车道元胞自动机模型,研究公交车停靠对道路混合交通流的影响.针对港湾式和非港湾式两种不同公交车站设置,在开放边界下模拟了公交车停靠所产生的交通瓶颈问题,给出了车辆入流概率-公交车比例相平面上的相图,区分了自由流相和拥挤相,研究了相图各区中公交车站附近的平均密度和速度分布图,比较了两种公交车站情况下的道路交通流的动力学特征.研究发现,当公交车比例较小时,与非港湾式车站相比,港湾式车站可以显著改善车站处的交通状况. 关键词： 元胞自动机 混合交通流 交通瓶颈 公交车站     

Simon-Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model revisited

The Simon-Gutowitz bidirectional traffic model [P.M. Simon, H.A. Gutowitz, Phys. Rev. E 57 (1998) 2441] is revisited in this Letter. We found that passing cars get stuck with oncoming cars before returning to their home lanes. This provokes the occurrence of wide jams on both lanes. We have rectified the rules for lane changing. Then, the wide jams disappear and the revisited model can describe well the realistic bidirectional traffic.     

Two-lane traffic simulations with a blockage induced by an accident car

Based on the two-lane traffic model proposed by Chowdhury et al., a highway traffic model with a blockage induced by an accident car is proposed, in which both symmetric lane changing rules and asymmetric lane changing rules are adopted. The fundamental diagrams and spatial-temporal profiles are presented after the numerical simulation and the jam transition is studied. It is shown that the accident car not only causes a local jam behind the accident car, but also causes vehicles to cluster in the bypass lane. The asymmetric lane changing rules are more advantageous in reducing the local jam than the symmetric lane changing rules when the accident car is in the right lane, and the symmetric lane changing rules are superior when the accident car is in the left lane. Furthermore the curves of lane-changing frequency against the total density are given. It is found that the vehicles will change lane more frequently when traffic is inhomogeneous with different types of vehicle or with an accident car.