Scientific Method
Problem
Ever have more than one path to a location and wonder if you're taking the best one? I take the same route home from work every day, and I ask myself the same questions each time. Is this the optimal route? Should I take local instead? Or should I try getting on the freeway one exit up?
It's time to get some answers. Nothing definitive - that would take too long - but I want a more informed decision. Three choices, which is the best?
The blue route is the one I take now, and it is the one recommended by all the major online map services. 101 from Rengstorff, exit Oregon, left on Middlefield, right on Colorado.
The green route is the local one. Charleston to Middlefield, then left on Colorado.
The red route is the same as the blue one, but one exit further up the 101, from San Antonio.
Hypothesis
I expect the local route to be the shortest by time. It is more direct than the freeway routes, and the big benefit of the freeway is negated by the traffic and clogged on-ramps. The busiest intersection I would run into with the local route is a right turn onto Middlefield, so it isn't dependent on the light. Most of the other lights are usually green. This route also allows me to avoid the worst intersection I run into on the other routes, the Oregon/Middlefield left turn.
The freeway is most clogged between Rengstorff and San Antonio, so I think it will be faster to enter the freeway from San Antonio.
1. Green
2. Red
3. Blue
Materials
2001 Honda Accord EX
Experimental Design
From 10/9 to 10/13, I will use the blue route to drive home.
From 10/16 to 10/20, I will use the red route to drive home.
From 10/23 to 10/27, I will use the green route to drive home.
Devoting one full week to each route should dampen the effect of traffic fluctuations as the week progresses (e.g. Wednesday is more crowded than Monday).
I will drive the way I normally drive. My speed will pretty much be dictated by traffic, as there aren't really any opportunities to speed, but I will take any lane-change opportunities that I think will shorten the drive.
I will time each drive from the moment I u-turn onto Charleston to the moment I park my car at home.
The lowest average time per day will be deemed the best.
Results
Stay tuned! First update on Friday the 13th!
Ever have more than one path to a location and wonder if you're taking the best one? I take the same route home from work every day, and I ask myself the same questions each time. Is this the optimal route? Should I take local instead? Or should I try getting on the freeway one exit up?
It's time to get some answers. Nothing definitive - that would take too long - but I want a more informed decision. Three choices, which is the best?
The blue route is the one I take now, and it is the one recommended by all the major online map services. 101 from Rengstorff, exit Oregon, left on Middlefield, right on Colorado.
The green route is the local one. Charleston to Middlefield, then left on Colorado.
The red route is the same as the blue one, but one exit further up the 101, from San Antonio.
Hypothesis
I expect the local route to be the shortest by time. It is more direct than the freeway routes, and the big benefit of the freeway is negated by the traffic and clogged on-ramps. The busiest intersection I would run into with the local route is a right turn onto Middlefield, so it isn't dependent on the light. Most of the other lights are usually green. This route also allows me to avoid the worst intersection I run into on the other routes, the Oregon/Middlefield left turn.
The freeway is most clogged between Rengstorff and San Antonio, so I think it will be faster to enter the freeway from San Antonio.
1. Green
2. Red
3. Blue
Materials
2001 Honda Accord EX
Experimental Design
From 10/9 to 10/13, I will use the blue route to drive home.
From 10/16 to 10/20, I will use the red route to drive home.
From 10/23 to 10/27, I will use the green route to drive home.
Devoting one full week to each route should dampen the effect of traffic fluctuations as the week progresses (e.g. Wednesday is more crowded than Monday).
I will drive the way I normally drive. My speed will pretty much be dictated by traffic, as there aren't really any opportunities to speed, but I will take any lane-change opportunities that I think will shorten the drive.
I will time each drive from the moment I u-turn onto Charleston to the moment I park my car at home.
The lowest average time per day will be deemed the best.
Results
Stay tuned! First update on Friday the 13th!
posted by Chang Kim at Wednesday, October 04, 2006
3 Comments:
That's a great experiment :)
There have certainly been times that I have wondered just such things, although in my case it tends to crop up with visiting friends and errands running - I really don't have a good alternative route to work.
Is this another way of letting us know that you have a better commute than we do?
Otherwise, good experiment.
Other outside factors could affect the experiment...what if you are more prone to speeding and performing triple cut-offs during one of the phases? Or what if Eddy and I both drive slowly in front of you blocking all attempts to pass?
I am not bragging about my commute. If anything, this demonstrates that no matter how long or short one's commute, we'll always look for ways to improve it. :)
I'll do my best to dampen the effect of outside factors. A longer testing period would be more definitive, but I'm not that patient. Or maybe I'll repeat the experiment multiple times. We'll see!
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