US20040091313A1

US20040091313A1 - Method of modifying traffic roads to create efficient transportation of both full-size and mini-size vehicles

Info

Publication number: US20040091313A1
Application number: US10/340,958
Authority: US
Inventors: Jie Zhou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-07
Filing date: 2003-01-13
Publication date: 2004-05-13

Abstract

A method of modifying current traffic roads to create more efficient transportation of both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles includes a step of applying a material along the center of a conventional traffic lane of an automobile roadway to form at least a line of marks in the middle of the traffic lane, such that the line of marks is parallel to a set of bordering lines of the traffic lane and the line of marks is dissimilar to the set of bordering lines of the traffic lane to create at least two mini-vehicle lanes within each of the traffic lanes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a regular application of a provisional application, application No. 60/424,068, filed Nov. 7, 2002.[0001]

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of modifying current traffic roads to create efficient transportation for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

As the population has increased, the growth of motor vehicle ownership and usage on our roads has similarly increased. Unfortunately, the roads, freeways and highways of this country cannot meet the rapid increase in vehicles on the road.

The proliferation of motor vehicles is not limited to automobiles. During these past years, there have been more mini-vehicles purchased, more scooters, and other small vehicles or “concept” vehicles are being introduced, such as a road worthy golf carts, or a thin two-seated vehicle shaped like the cockpit of a plane. During the years, as drivers have gotten younger and younger, with have small or no incomes, costs of owning automobiles have risen. Also individuals who do not drive like to drive on freeways still may desire transportation to nearby stores and restaurants. These same individuals desire smaller vehicles, or “mini-vehicles” which are easier to control and do not drive as fast.

In addition, the growth in motor vehicle usage has been expanded by a growth in mini-vehicles and scooters. Mini-vehicles are becoming more and more popular with young people, and professionals as a way of increasing excitement and/or a cheaper form of transportation.

Unfortunately, the growth in vehicle usage, and the lack of improvement and lack of increase of our roads, freeways and highways, means that there is more traffic on those same roads, highways and freeways. In such circumstances it is possible to have two mini-vehicles side by side, in adjoining lanes. These two small vehicles, or others like them, can lead to increased traffic, simply because two small vehicles which can fit side by side in one lane, take up the space of two. There is no room for a larger vehicle to pass these motorcyles.

Therefore, the present invention provides a method for improving this traffic dilemna, encouraging more efficient use of freeways, highways and roads, and decreasing traffic jams.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a method of modifying current traffic roads to create more efficient transportation of both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of modifying current traffic roads to create a safer transportation roadway for simultaneous use by both full-size and mini-size cars.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a method of modifying current traffic roads to create efficient transportation for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles, which comprises a step of applying a material along a center line of a conventional traffic lane of an automobile roadway to form at least a line of marks in the middle of the traffic lane, such that the line of marks is parallel to a set of bordering lines of the traffic lane and the line of marks is dissimilar to the set of bordering lines of the traffic lane to create at least two mini-vehicle lanes within each of the traffic lanes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of conventional traffic lanes divided by three bordering lines, one solid line and two dashed lines. [0012]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of conventional traffic lanes each bisected by a second center line forming four mini-vehicle lanes within the two conventional traffic lanes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, a method of modifying current traffic roads to create efficient transportation for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. [0014]
The method of modifying current traffic roads to create efficient transportation for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles comprises a step of applying a material along a center line of a [0015] conventional traffic lane 10 of an automobile roadway 1 to form at least a line of marks 11 in the middle of the traffic lane 10, such that the line of marks is parallel to a set of bordering lines 12 of the traffic lane 10 and the line of marks 11 is dissimilar to the set of bordering lines 12 of the traffic lane to create at least two mini-vehicle lanes 101 within each of the traffic lanes 10.
A conventional road, as in FIG. 1, has at least one lane of traffic for each direction, which is utilized by any and all vehicles. It generally has a width larger than the width of an average car or truck. Using a conventional road, a mini-vehicle, such as a motorcycle, for example, may travel in the middle of the road or on either side, followed by a car. If the mini-vehicle drives in the middle of the lane, the car cannot pass the mini-vehicle, no matter how slow the mini-vehicle goes. If there are two lanes and there are two mini-vehicles, one in each lane, then no one can pass. Traffic is substantially blocked. Even if one mini-vehicle is not in the middle of one of the lanes, if the other mini-vehicle in the other lane is close to the first lane, or in the middle of the other lane, then there is no possible way of passing without risking hitting one of the mini-vehicles. There is no room around the mini-vehicles in this instance. Furthermore, there is no guidance to mini-vehicles how or where they should drive their mini-vehicles on roads. [0016]
According to the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, a center line is painted in the middle of a conventional traffic lane to form the line of marks [0017] 11, dividing each of the conventional traffic lane 10 into the two “mini-vehicle lanes” 101. A mini-vehicle, such as a golf cart, motorcycle or mini-sized automobile would then be regulated to ride within the mini-lanes.
For example, if there are two conventional lanes, each would have two mini-lanes, creating four mini-lanes. If there are two mini-vehicles side by side, and each one travels in the farthest lanes from each other, there is room between the mini-vehicles such that a car can pass between them if they are riding side by side. Similarly, if there is one mini-vehicle, a car can pass by easier, if the mini-vehicle remains on one side of the conventional lane, in one of the mini-vehicle lanes. [0018]
Another example of the use of these mini-lanes is a two-lane roadway, where the two traffic lanes are used by opposing traffic, one in each direction. Passing a car can be very dangerous. It is no less dangerous for a car passing a mini-vehicle that drives in the middle of the road. When two mini-lanes are formed by the adding a center line in the middle of the traffic lane, then the mini-vehicle will be required to drive in one of the mini-lanes. This may allow a vehicle, full-sized or mini-sized, to more easily go around the forward mini-vehicle. [0019]
Another example of the use of these mini-lanes is when there are only mini-vehicles on the road. By having the mini-lanes, motorists will know that they can drive side by side with another mini-vehicle, and thus reduce traffic congestion, and reduce wasted space when there is traffic. With the present system, although a mini-vehicle can stand side by side with another mini-vehicle, unless the two drivers are traveling together, the drivers will not usually drive side by side. Furthermore, a mini-vehicle driver can choose to drive in the middle of the lane, preventing any other mini-vehicle from driving beside him. Thus, when there are only mini-vehicles on the road, the mini-lanes reduce traffic congestion, provide guidance to mini-vehicles, and help to make the use of the roads more efficient by the mini-vehicle drivers. [0020]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of modifying a traffic road having at least a conventional traffic lane for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles, comprising a step of forming at least a line of marks in a middle of said traffic lane and extending along said traffic lane so as to divide said traffic lane into two mini-vehicle lanes within said traffic lanes, thereby a full-size vehicle is capable of driving within said traffic lane while a mini-size vehicle is capable of driving within one of said mini-vehicle lanes of said traffic lane.

2. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said traffic lane has two bordering lines and said line of marks is extended along a center line of said traffic lane and parallel to said bordering lines of said traffic lane.

3. The method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said traffic lane has two bordering lines and said line of marks is made in a different pattern with respect to said bordering lines of said traffic lane.

4. The method, as recited in claim 2, wherein said line of marks is made in a different pattern with respect to said bordering lines of said traffic lane.

5. An automobile roadway for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles, comprising:

a traffic road surface;

at least a traffic lane defined by a side of said traffic road surface and a bordering line provided along said traffic road surface; and

two mini-vehicle lanes provided within said traffic lane wherein a line of marks is formed along said traffic lane and extended between said side of said traffic road surface and said bordering line so as to divide said traffic lane into said two mini-vehicle lanes;

thereby a full-size vehicle is capable of driving within said traffic lane while a mini-size vehicle is capable of driving within one of said mini-vehicle lanes of said traffic lane.

6. The automobile roadway, as recited in claim 5, wherein said line of marks is formed in parallel to said bordering line and extended along a center line of said traffic lane so as to evenly divide said traffic lane into said two mini-vehicle lanes.

7. The automobile roadway, as recited in claim 5, wherein said line of marks is provided in a different pattern with respect to said bordering line of said traffic lane.

8. The automobile roadway, as recited in claim 6, wherein said line of marks is provided in a different pattern with respect to said bordering line of said traffic lane.

9. An automobile roadway for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles, comprising:

a traffic road surface;

at least a traffic lane defined by two parallel bordering lines provided along said traffic road surface; and

two mini-vehicle lanes provided within said traffic lane, wherein a line of marks is formed on said traffic road surface, along said traffic lane and extended between said two bordering lines, so as to divide said traffic lane into said two mini-vehicle lanes;

10. The automobile roadway, as recited in claim 9, wherein said line of marks is formed in parallel to said bordering lines and extended along a center line of said traffic lane so as to evenly divide said traffic lane into said two mini-vehicle lanes.

11. The automobile roadway, as recited in claim 9, wherein said line of marks is provided in a different pattern with respect to said bordering lines of said traffic lane.

12. The automobile roadway, as recited in claim 10, wherein said line of marks is provided in a different pattern with respect to said bordering line of said traffic lane.

13. A traffic road for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles, comprising:

at least two bordering lines defining a traffic lane therebetween; and

a line of marks formed along said traffic lane and extended between said two bordering lines so as to divide said traffic lane into two mini-vehicle lanes;

14. The traffic road, as recited in claim 13, wherein at least one of said bordering lines is a side of said traffic road.

15. The traffic road, as recited in claim 13, wherein said line of marks is formed in parallel to said bordering lines and extended along a center line of said traffic lane so as to evenly divide said traffic lane into said two mini-vehicle lanes.

16. The traffic road, as recited in claim 13, wherein said line of marks is provided in a different pattern with respect to said bordering lines of said traffic lane.

17. The traffic road, as recited in claim 15, wherein said line of marks is provided in a different pattern with respect to said bordering line of said traffic lane.

18. A method of converting a conventional traffic lane for both full-size vehicles and mini-size vehicles, comprising a step of dividing said traffic lane into two mini-vehicle lanes by forming a line of marks in a middle of said traffic lane, thereby a full-size vehicle is capable of driving within said traffic lane while a mini-size vehicle is capable of driving within one of said mini-vehicle lanes of said traffic lane.

19. The method, as recited in claim 18, wherein said line of marks is extended along a center line of said traffic lane so as to evenly divide said traffic lane into said two mini-vehicle lanes.

20. The method, as recited in claim 19, wherein said traffic lane has two bordering lines and said line of marks is made in a different pattern with respect to said bordering lines of said traffic lane.