[sustran] Re: Noise barriers

[Morten Lange]

Hi,

I agree with Sujit here, but other possible measures to reduce noise pollution from traffic include reducing car speeds, and planting bushes or trees along roads. 

Reducing car-speeds ( traffic calming + speed limits and possibly increased enforcement) has the following advantages :
* improves accessibility for more sustainable modes/healthy transport ( Cycling, walking, passenging/public transport) 
* renders other modes more competitive with the private car
* reduces air pollution
* reduces petrol consumption
* improves traffic safety
* reinforces the notion that there are limits to what car drivers can be allowed to do
* more "realistic" in the short run than banning cars  :-) 

I recall having heard that actually reducing speeds can increase traffic flow. ( Building on the assumption that drivers adjust the distance to the car in front, because braking distances increase greatly with speed  - varies as speed squared, I seem to recall)


Best Regards, 
Morten Lange

--- On Tue, 4/11/08, Sujit Patwardhan <sujitjp at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Sujit Patwardhan <sujitjp at gmail.com>
> Subject: [sustran] Re: Noise barriers
> To: "Debi Goenka" <debi.cat at gmail.com>
> Cc: "sustrandiscusslist" <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>, sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
> Date: Tuesday, 4 November, 2008, 9:29 AM
> The *BEST *noise barrier for congested areas of the city is
> the decision to
> ban motorised traffic from the area. Prior to that it would
> help to be avoid
> road widening (or keep it to a minimum only to help NMT),
> to avoid building
> freeways and to absolutely ban any flyovers.
> 
> I'm saying this with complete seriousness as patchwork
> solutions never work,
> but are often forced on traffic activists by
> planners/administrators who say
> "the decision has already been taken and we can at
> best minimise the damage
> (in this case noise)". This is like saying
> "suggest a good mask as we're
> going to build a smoke belching factory right in the middle
> of this
> residential area but we want to protect your lungs".
> 
> --
> Sujit
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, Nov 4, 2008 at 7:53 AM, Debi Goenka
> <debi.cat at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> >  Hi all
> >
> > I was wondering where I can find details of noise
> barriers required to be
> > constructed along highways/freeways/flyovers,
> particularly in congested
> > areas of cities.
> >
> > Any help would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Cheers, warm regards
> >
> > Debi
> >
> >
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > Executive Trustee
> > Conservation Action Trust
> > www.cat.org.in
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> -- 
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Sujit Patwardhan
> sujitjp at gmail.com
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