rush hour

 

A rush hour (or peak hour, the formal term in traffic parlance) is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is worst. Normally, the two rush hour periods while people are travelling to or from work or school.

Definition

The name is sometimes a misnomer, as the peak period often consists of more than one hour. Typically, rush hour lasts from 6-10 am (0600-1000) and from 3-7 pm (1500-1900) local time. With people travelling places during their lunch time by car too, it is arguable that noon till 2pm (1400) is another, less frantic, rush hour.

The frequency of public transport is usually higher in the rush hour, and in the case of trains, longer ones are often employed. However, the increase in capacity is often less than the number of passengers, due to the limits on available vehicles, staff and, in the case of rail transport, track capacity including platform length. As a result vehicles are more crowded and not everybody has a seat. This may have the effect of making public transport less desirable, therefore pushing more people into cars and making the traffic worse.

Transport demand management, such as road pricing or a congestion charge, is designed to induce people to alter their travel habits so as to minimize congestion.

Similarly public transport fares may be higher; this is usually presented as an off-peak discount for single fares, though season tickets or multi-ride tickets, commonly used in rush hours by commuters, are also sold at a discount.

Traffic management by country

Brazil

In São Paulo, Brazil, each vehicle is assigned a certain day of the week in which they travel the roads during rush hour (7 am to 10 am and 5 pm to 8 pm). The day of the week for each vehicle is derived from the last digit in the licence plate number and the rule is enforced by traffic police and by hundreds of strategically positioned traffic cameras backed by computerized image-recognition systems that issue tickets to offending drivers. This policy is aimed at reducing the number of vehicles on the roads and encouraging the use of buses, subway and the urban train systems.

Colombia

In the pico y placa (peak and license plate) program, officially implemented in Bogotá, drivers of non-commercial automobiles are prevented from driving them during rush hours on certain days of the week. The vehicles barred each day are determined by the last digit of their license plate. The measure is mandatory and those who break it are penalized. The digits banned each day are rotated every year.^[1]

Netherlands

For trains in the Netherlands there is an off-peak discount available, giving a 40% discount. Its validity starts at 09:00 (until 4:00 the next morning) on weekdays, and all day at weekends and in July and August. In the case of a group of up to four people, all get the discount even if only one has a pass.

Rail passes not requiring an additional ticket come in two versions: for a fixed route, and for the whole network. Both are mainly used by commuters. No off-peak discount version of these passes is offered since there is insufficient demand; commuters usually cannot avoid the rush hour.

United Kingdom

In London, Peak Day Travelcards allow travel at all hours that day. Off-peak Day Travelcards are 20-50% cheaper, but are only valid for travel after 9:30am and on weekends. This is an attempt to discourage travel on the London Underground, Docklands Light Railway, buses, and trams during the crowded weekday morning peak.

In Manchester, the Metrolink light rail system offers single, return and 'Metromax' daysaver tickets at a reduced price when they are purchased after 9:30am. This incentive is designed to lure passengers into avoiding the daily crowded conditions at Metrolink stations during rush-hour.

For Young Persons Railcard holders, the offer of one-third off ticket prices is only valid after 10:00 (unless you pay a minimum fare), or at weekends. This restriction is lifted in July and August, the main summer holiday season.^[2]

For other Railcards, various other restrictions apply; for example, the Family Railcard and Network Railcard cannot be used for peak journeys within London and south-east England.^[3]

United States

Efforts to manage transportation demand during rush hour periods vary by state and by metropolitan area. In California and New Jersey, many freeways have designated lanes that become HOV only during rush hour periods, while open to all vehicles at other times. Several states, including California, New York, and Illinois, use ramp meters to regulate traffic entering freeways during rush hour. Transportation officials in Colorado and Minnesota have added value pricing to some urban freeways around Denver and the Twin Cities, charging motorists a higher toll during peak periods. Railroad operators serving New York City often charge riders a higher fare for travel during the morning and evening rush hour.

See also

• Carpool
• High occupancy vehicle
• Road traffic control
• Traffic wave

References

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