Carpool, HOV, Transit lanes: Difference between revisions Discussion View history

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(updated guidelines based on discussion https://www.waze.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=276&t=102595)
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Carpool lanes, High-occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, and Transit lanes are road lanes reserved for cars carrying more than the driver. The number of required passengers in the vehicle can vary depending on the specific road.
Carpool lanes, High-occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, and Transit lanes are road lanes reserved for vehicles meeting special requirements, either carrying at least a specific number of passengers more than the driver, or being a specific vehicle type. The number of required passengers in the vehicle can vary depending on the specific road.


Although currently Waze does not support the requirements of routing over these types of lanes, there are plans to add support for them in the future.
Although currently Waze does not support the requirements of routing over these types of lanes, there are plans to add support for them in the future.


As an interim measure, these lanes should be added to the map as separate roads, with the road type as Parking Lot Roads. This means that if you are not currently in one of these lanes the routing will avoid it, but if you choose to get into the lane, the routing will work correctly. This should only be applied to dedicated lanes that have exit and entry points.
Supporting these lanes is a priority for Waze, and they are aware of the problems caused by such lanes.
 
 
==Configuration and setting restrictions==
 
 
{{Mbox|text=These guidelines have been updated {{as of|October 2014}} to prepare for the upcoming HOV features. The old method was to map these lanes as Parking Lot Roads. Although this method is now preferred, and should be used when mapping new lanes not previously on the map, there is no rush to convert all the existing HOV lanes to this method.}}
 
As an interim measure, these lanes should be added to the map as separate roads, with the road type set the same as the road they are on. However '''only''' the entrance ramps to these lanes should be set with the appropriate [[Partial restrictions|partial segment restrictions]]. the actual lanes themselves should not have any restrictions set on them, except for [[#Reversible lanes|reversible lanes]], or other restrictions which are in effect at all times on [[#Multi-use lanes|multi-use lanes]] as discussed below. This means that if you are not currently in one of these lanes the routing will avoid it, but if you choose to get into the lane, the routing will work correctly. being that only the entrance to the lane is restricted, once you are already in the lane there will be no penalty for staying there, and you will be routed the fastest and most appropriate way to your destination. The caveat will be for multi-use lanes which will have restrictions set to force everyone who does not meet the lanes use criteria (at this time that will be everyone, since the client and routing server can only handle routes for private vehicles) out of the lanes before the enforcement period begins.
 
'''This should only be applied to dedicated lanes that have exit and entry points.'''
 
Any time you are setting a road to allow ''HOV - 2'', it must also be set to allow ''HOV - 3''.
 
''In the USA'' motorcycles are allowed to use HOV lanes, therefore when setting partial restrictions to only allow ''HOV - 2'' (''HOV -3''), ''Motorcycles'' should also be allowed (unchecked). Some jurisdictions also ''Taxis'' and ''Busses'' to use the HOV lanes, these should be set accordingly in those jurisdictions.
 
 
There are special configurations needed for reversible, and multi-use lanes which change use criteria or direction at different times of the day.
 
===Multi-use lanes===
 
Lanes which only have the HOV restrictions in place for certain hours, and open to regular vehicles during other hours, need to have the restrictions on the entrance ramps set to only allow the specific vehicles for that road during the enforcement times, '''AND''' that same restriction must be set to only be in effect during the enforcement time.
 
The enforcement time should be expanded to start 15 minutes earlier, to account for drivers who experience traffic along their route prior, and prevent them from accidentally being routed onto the HOV lanes after the enforcement period begins.
 
These lanes will also require a similar restriction set on {{U|ALL}} the exit ramps, also with the enforcement period expanded to begin 15 minutes early. This will ensure that vehicles which do not meet the roads HOV criteria, but have been routed into these lanes prior to the enforcement period, will be routed out of these lanes before the enforcement begins. It is imperative that {{u|every exit ramp}} has these restrictions in place, otherwise instead of these vehicles being routed out of the lanes when the enforcement begins, they will all be funneled and routed to the one exit ramp which does not have these restrictions.
 
If when these lanes are open to the public (when the HOV restrictions are not in effect), they are still restricted to certain vehicle types (i.e. ''No Trucks''), then that should be set as a separate restriction on the actual lanes to be in effect at all times.
 
 
===Reversible lanes===
 
These lanes should be set with separate time based partial restrictions restricting travel in each direction for the appropriate hours.
 
If the hours are adjacent to each other, meaning that there is no buffer time between the two travel direction of the lanes, then we will have to add a buffer time into to Waze for safety. In that case expand the restriction to start 15 minutes earlier so there is at least a 15 minute window when there travel is restricted in both directions between the open periods.
 
 
===Example configurations===
 
A multi-use lane which is open to the all vehicles during off-peak hours has to be set as a separate restriction from each of the enforcement periods.
 
[[File:HOV Multi-use multiple times.png]]


Supporting these lanes is a priority for Waze, and they are aware of the problems caused by such lanes.
Each of those restrictions must be set to the criteria restricted to only HOV - 2, HOV- 3, Motorcycles or Busses on weekdays during the hours of 6-10 am, and 3-8 pm.
 
[[File:HOV Multi-use.png]]


==Pointers for a complete solution==
A complete solution needs to consider the following factors:
A complete solution needs to consider the following factors:
* The driver would need to tell the Waze client app how many passengers are present in the car for that trip. Waze would only offer routes over carpool lanes when there are sufficient passengers to be eligible
* The driver would need to tell the Waze client app how many passengers are present in the car , or what vehicle type they are in for that trip. Waze would only offer routes over carpool lanes when they meet the criteria to be eligible
* In some places, Electric or Plug-in Hybrid vehicles may also use HOV lanes, so this local situation must be known and the driver should be asked if the vehicle is allowed in HOV lanes for reasons other than number of passengers.
* In some places, Electric or Plug-in Hybrid vehicles may also use HOV lanes, so this local situation must be known and the driver should be asked if the vehicle is allowed in HOV lanes for reasons other than number of passengers.
* A new road type of "carpool lane" would be added with an entry for how many passengers and/or vehicle type (zero/low-emmission, mororcycle, etc) are required to use it
* As car pool lanes are often adjacent to normal roads, GPS tracking is not sufficient to differentiate the two. For accurate road speeds Waze needs to assume you are using the car pool lane when you have passengers (and/or based on your speed). However if the lanes are separated even by a few meters, the server can usually tell the difference and the speed to the correct lanes, even if the client displays you as being on the wrong lane.
* HOV lanes are being merged with Toll lanes ([[Best_map_editing_practice#High_Occupancy_Toll_.28HOT.29_Roads.2FLanes_.28USA.29|HOT lanes]]) and the user needs to be able to select if they want to allow toll roads. The map needs the ability to track multiple lane restrictions (HOV and/or Toll) for the same road rather than defining the road as either an HOV or a Toll lane.
<!-- this is now handled by partial restrictions * A new road type of "carpool lane" would be added with an entry for how many passengers and/or vehicle type (zero/low-emmission, mororcycle, etc) are required to use it
* The ability to change the direction of the car pool lane automatically based on time of day and day of week. This is also necessary for other roads
* The ability to change the direction of the car pool lane automatically based on time of day and day of week. This is also necessary for other roads
* The ability to set the minimum passenger count to zero (meaning the road is open to all drivers) based on time of day and day of week
* The ability to set the minimum passenger count to zero (meaning the road is open to all drivers) based on time of day and day of week -->
* As car pool lanes are often adjacent to normal roads, GPS tracking is not sufficient to differentiate the two. For accurate road speeds Waze needs to assume you are using the car pool lane when you have passengers (and/or based on your speed)
* HOV lanes are being merged with Toll lanes ([[Best_map_editing_practice#High_Occupancy_Toll_.28HOT.29_Roads.2FLanes_.28USA.29|HOT lanes]]) and the user needs to be able to select if they want to allow toll roads. The map needs the ability to track multiple lane restrictions (HOV and/or Toll) for the same road rather than defining the road as either an HOV or a Toll lane.

Revision as of 17:25, 26 October 2014

Template:ReturnToEditingManual


Carpool lanes, High-occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, and Transit lanes are road lanes reserved for vehicles meeting special requirements, either carrying at least a specific number of passengers more than the driver, or being a specific vehicle type. The number of required passengers in the vehicle can vary depending on the specific road.

Although currently Waze does not support the requirements of routing over these types of lanes, there are plans to add support for them in the future.

Supporting these lanes is a priority for Waze, and they are aware of the problems caused by such lanes.


Configuration and setting restrictions

These guidelines have been updated As of October 2014 to prepare for the upcoming HOV features. The old method was to map these lanes as Parking Lot Roads. Although this method is now preferred, and should be used when mapping new lanes not previously on the map, there is no rush to convert all the existing HOV lanes to this method.

As an interim measure, these lanes should be added to the map as separate roads, with the road type set the same as the road they are on. However only the entrance ramps to these lanes should be set with the appropriate partial segment restrictions. the actual lanes themselves should not have any restrictions set on them, except for reversible lanes, or other restrictions which are in effect at all times on multi-use lanes as discussed below. This means that if you are not currently in one of these lanes the routing will avoid it, but if you choose to get into the lane, the routing will work correctly. being that only the entrance to the lane is restricted, once you are already in the lane there will be no penalty for staying there, and you will be routed the fastest and most appropriate way to your destination. The caveat will be for multi-use lanes which will have restrictions set to force everyone who does not meet the lanes use criteria (at this time that will be everyone, since the client and routing server can only handle routes for private vehicles) out of the lanes before the enforcement period begins.

This should only be applied to dedicated lanes that have exit and entry points.

Any time you are setting a road to allow HOV - 2, it must also be set to allow HOV - 3.

In the USA motorcycles are allowed to use HOV lanes, therefore when setting partial restrictions to only allow HOV - 2 (HOV -3), Motorcycles should also be allowed (unchecked). Some jurisdictions also Taxis and Busses to use the HOV lanes, these should be set accordingly in those jurisdictions.


There are special configurations needed for reversible, and multi-use lanes which change use criteria or direction at different times of the day.

Multi-use lanes

Lanes which only have the HOV restrictions in place for certain hours, and open to regular vehicles during other hours, need to have the restrictions on the entrance ramps set to only allow the specific vehicles for that road during the enforcement times, AND that same restriction must be set to only be in effect during the enforcement time.

The enforcement time should be expanded to start 15 minutes earlier, to account for drivers who experience traffic along their route prior, and prevent them from accidentally being routed onto the HOV lanes after the enforcement period begins.

These lanes will also require a similar restriction set on ALL the exit ramps, also with the enforcement period expanded to begin 15 minutes early. This will ensure that vehicles which do not meet the roads HOV criteria, but have been routed into these lanes prior to the enforcement period, will be routed out of these lanes before the enforcement begins. It is imperative that every exit ramp has these restrictions in place, otherwise instead of these vehicles being routed out of the lanes when the enforcement begins, they will all be funneled and routed to the one exit ramp which does not have these restrictions.

If when these lanes are open to the public (when the HOV restrictions are not in effect), they are still restricted to certain vehicle types (i.e. No Trucks), then that should be set as a separate restriction on the actual lanes to be in effect at all times.


Reversible lanes

These lanes should be set with separate time based partial restrictions restricting travel in each direction for the appropriate hours.

If the hours are adjacent to each other, meaning that there is no buffer time between the two travel direction of the lanes, then we will have to add a buffer time into to Waze for safety. In that case expand the restriction to start 15 minutes earlier so there is at least a 15 minute window when there travel is restricted in both directions between the open periods.


Example configurations

A multi-use lane which is open to the all vehicles during off-peak hours has to be set as a separate restriction from each of the enforcement periods.

Each of those restrictions must be set to the criteria restricted to only HOV - 2, HOV- 3, Motorcycles or Busses on weekdays during the hours of 6-10 am, and 3-8 pm.

Pointers for a complete solution

A complete solution needs to consider the following factors:

  • The driver would need to tell the Waze client app how many passengers are present in the car , or what vehicle type they are in for that trip. Waze would only offer routes over carpool lanes when they meet the criteria to be eligible
  • In some places, Electric or Plug-in Hybrid vehicles may also use HOV lanes, so this local situation must be known and the driver should be asked if the vehicle is allowed in HOV lanes for reasons other than number of passengers.
  • As car pool lanes are often adjacent to normal roads, GPS tracking is not sufficient to differentiate the two. For accurate road speeds Waze needs to assume you are using the car pool lane when you have passengers (and/or based on your speed). However if the lanes are separated even by a few meters, the server can usually tell the difference and the speed to the correct lanes, even if the client displays you as being on the wrong lane.
  • HOV lanes are being merged with Toll lanes (HOT lanes) and the user needs to be able to select if they want to allow toll roads. The map needs the ability to track multiple lane restrictions (HOV and/or Toll) for the same road rather than defining the road as either an HOV or a Toll lane.