Average speed messed up by traffic lights

BMKN

Jist wondering if anyone knows how much traffic lights affect your average speed I have the entire N11 and u know how many lights are in that road, on a good day I can pull 18mph average bad day 16.5mph

manwithaplan

They bring about an overall reduction in average speed of 9.26%

on_the_nickel

8.35% according to my stats.

Leroy42

How would they effect your average speed?

Wait..a...sec...don't tell me you actually stop at them?

Call yourself a cyclist, next thing you'll be telling me that we can't cycle 5 a breast!!!!!

Dermot Illogical

on_the_nickel wrote: »

8.35% according to my stats.

It drops to 7.168% if one cycles in kilometers.

Mycroft H

Isn't there something in one of the more cycling friendly countries (Denmark, Netherlands etc..) where if you maintain the speed of an average cyclist, that you will be on a rolling green light, so to speak.

Beasty

According to my spreadsheet:

Lights 6.32%, left turning T-junctions 4.13%, right turning T-junctions 5.87%, roundabouts 2.84%, crossroads 1.82%, bus stops 0.32%, jaywalkers 1.23%, hills 5.88%, wind 8.21%

I reckon my real average speed would be getting on for 40kph but for all these things that get in my way;)

Jawgap

hang on!

people are stopping for traffic lights!!! when this did start:D*






This is a joke - I stop for red lights.....

BMKN

The wind is a bitch for average speed great if it's a tailwind

HonalD

Beasty wrote: »

According to my spreadsheet:

Lights 6.32%, left turning T-junctions 4.13%, right turning T-junctions 5.87%, roundabouts 2.84%, crossroads 1.82%, bus stops 0.32%, jaywalkers 1.23%, hills 5.88%, wind 8.21%

I reckon my real average speed would be getting on for 40kph but for all these things that get in my way;)

Interesting post - kind of like a bus operator's view....if it wasn't for the stopping for those damn passengers I'd make it in no time.

The 8% for wind, does that change per direction? It can't be windy in both directions, surely

Chips Lovell

If you're trying to work whether you're improving, don't bother with trying to work out your average speed in traffic.

The simplest way of doing it is to pick a short course, about 5km, unhindered by traffic lights or junctions, and time yourself on that periodically. Once a month is enough. Note how you're feeling on the day and weather conditions. Try avoid doing it on days when there is an unusually strong tailwind or headwind as that will skew things a lot.

It's also worth doing a separate test on a hill, something that would result in 8 to 10 minutes of climbing.

ROK ON

On a related note to this, I simply cannot get over the amount of Strava segments in and around Dublin that go through traffic lights.
Bizarre.

Chips Lovell

ROK ON wrote: »

On a related note to this, I simply cannot get over the amount of Strava segments in and around Dublin that go through traffic lights.
Bizarre.

I just mute 'em and flag them as dangerous.

Lusk Doyle

Beasty wrote: »

According to my spreadsheet:

Lights 6.32%, left turning T-junctions 4.13%, right turning T-junctions 5.87%, roundabouts 2.84%, crossroads 1.82%, bus stops 0.32%, jaywalkers 1.23%, hills 5.88%, wind 8.21%

I reckon my real average speed would be getting on for 40kph but for all these things that get in my way;)

You probably actually do have said spreadsheet knowing you!

Lusk Doyle

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

ROK ON wrote: »

On a related note to this, I simply cannot get over the amount of Strava segments in and around Dublin that go through traffic lights.
Bizarre.

I just mute 'em and flag them as dangerous.

How does one mute something that makes no noise?

Morgan

BMKN wrote: »

Jist wondering if anyone knows how much traffic lights affect your average speed I have the entire N11 and u know how many lights are in that road, on a good day I can pull 18mph average bad day 16.5mph

If it bothers you, then set your computer to pause when you're stopped.

happytramp

It's also possible that their is some recovery while waiting at traffic lights that allows you to continue to ride at a slightly higher average speed. Very tricky to quantify.