Traffic systems are part of a larger system
Rethinking how we get from point A to point B means applying new technology and new policies to old assumptions and habits. It means improving the drivers' experience, not just where and when they drive. And it could lead to advances in the cars we drive, the roads we drive them on, and the public transit we might take instead.
For example, seeing a city's traffic in a consolidated, real-time view can help anticipate problems, alleviate congestion and decrease emergency-response times. IBM Intelligent Transportation, a compliment to the Intelligent Operations Center for Smarter Cities, enables advanced analysis of the many factors that make up traffic flow, and gives planners and responders a comprehensive look at the state of their city's roadways on ground level.
Social media is the new public forum, creating an opportunity for a new level of responsiveness from city leaders.
IBM Commuter Pain Index
In 2011, IBM performed its fourth comprehensive Commuter Pain Study. 8,042 drivers in 20 cities were asked a total of 27 questions, such as the duration of their longest commute, their best and worst roadways and how gas prices affect their choices.
The results have been compiled into the Commuter Pain Index, which ranks the emotional and economic toll of commuting in each city on a scale of one to 100―with 100 being the most onerous. The Index reveals a tremendous disparity in the pain of the daily commute from city to city. For example, the commute in Beijing is four times more painful than the commute in Los Angeles or New York, and seven times more painful than the commute in Stockholm, according to the Index. Download the full report from the IBM Institute for Business Value.
Here's how the cities stack up:
