A “green wave” is a traffic signal sequence set so that vehicles will encounter green lights for some distance, so long as they are traveling at the selected speed. A green wave can also be set for bicycle speeds, though it very rarely has been, and never in Sacramento.

To some degree, all signals are set this way, though the degree and distance of sequencing varies widely. Many of the east-west streets in the Sacramento grid have signals set for motor vehicles, and when traffic is not congested, it may be possible to go all the way across downtown and midtown on green lights, for example on J Street. Very few north-south streets are set this way, I can think of only the 15th & 16th couplet, and the 9th & 10th couplet. At intersections with the east-west couplets, these north-south couplets seem to have their green wave broken. Only if the grid spacing and the selected speed calculate out is it possible to have a green wave in all directions. Sadly, many signal sequences in the Sacramento region are set above the posted speed limit, encouraging drivers to speed so that they make all lights.

A common complaint by motor vehicles drivers is that “bicyclists always run red lights.” Bicyclists do so for a reason very obvious to bicyclists but missed by motor vehicle drivers – for a bicyclist, most lights are red. If the signals are set for 25 mph, and the bicyclist is riding 15 mph, the bicyclist won’t make more that two green lights before hitting a red again, and sometimes it is every signal red. How would motor vehicle drivers react if every light was red? They’d probably look to see if there was any conflicting traffic, and then run the red light. A few drivers already do this, but unfortunately the perception skills of these drivers seems to be low, and they often misjudge whether there is conflicting traffic. Bicyclists do the same thing, but perception skills seem to be much higher with bicyclists. Maybe because there are more serious consequences for misjudgment.

Close to home, the best example of a bicycle green wave is Valencia Street in San Francisco. The bicycle green wave speed of 13 mph calms traffic and makes it an enjoyable ride for bicyclists. Valencia is a two-way street that has also been calmed with a reduction in travel lanes and the addition of bike lanes. A pilot green wave has been installed on 14th Street, a one-way street that has been partially calmed.

Farther afield, there is a famous green wave on Copenhagen’s Nørrebrogade, the busiest bicycle street in the Western world. Many other cities have implemented or are considering bicycle green waves. Great video on Copenhagendize.

How about Sacramento? I’d like to see at least two east-west and two north-streets set to a bicycle speed green wave, as a pilot to see how it works here. Since the grid area of Sacramento is so flat, a speed of 15 mph might be possible, though the common European speed of 20 kph, 12 mph, is a good starting point. The grid block size in Sacramento is different from that of San Francisco, and pedestrian crossing times have to be included in the calculation, so the resulting speed might be different. I’m sure it is possible to calculate optimal speeds for one cardinal direction or two cardinal directions, and various grid sizes, but to be honest, this is beyond my math abilities at the moment.

I’d propose the J Street & I Street couplet as the first location. Why pick what is perhaps the busiest street in Sacramento, J? Because it has so much business along it that would benefit from traffic calming. J is packed, some times of day, with motor vehicles going somewhere else. If it were instead packed with motor vehicles and bicycles going along slowly enough to notice and patronize the businesses, we’d all be better off. The reasons for the reinvigoration of Valencia Street in San Francisco are many, but the green wave has certainly contributed. The conversion of parts of J Street from three lanes to two lanes with bicycle lanes has been proposed by the City of Sacramento, but so far as I know, has not yet been funded. A green wave could be the first step for calming J Street, and it costs nothing except some staff time to change the signal timing.

I am not unaware that many commuters will hate this idea. William Burg coined, or at least used, the expression NIMC, not on my commute, referring to suburban commuters who will be opposed to anything that slows their commute into and out of downtown where they work but don’t live. So what! Livability should be the right of everyone who lives in of downtown and midtown, and the suburban commuter should have no say. They are the ones that have chosen to work one place and live another, and I have no sympathy. I’m tired of having the quality of my life stifled for the benefit of commuters.

So how about it – a bicycle green wave for Sacramento! First, some pilot streets, eventually, all streets.

Note: I am not generally in favor of either stop signs or traffic signals. I believe that we have far too many of them. I am certainly not suggesting that there be more traffic signals in order to create a bicycle green wave, just that the signals which exist should be used to create a bicycle green wave rather than a motor vehicle green wave.