If you’re a driver, is necessary to know the different types of roads to circulate. It doesn’t matter if you manage a heavy-duty vehicle, of particular use or even pedals, due in any moment you will make use of the different roads. Here we will mention the most important to know to distinguish the many classes of roads. Take note.
Types of roads, what are those?
Before knowing the different types of roads, first, we must have clear what a road is.
A road is a physical space intended for the vehicle and pedestrian circulation. Their purpose is easing journeys, making these are faster and easier.
Even though many of them share different features, also have certain qualities that make them unique. In addition, are divided in seven groups: primary, secondary, controlled access, calmed transit, pedestrian, cyclist and reversible roads.
Now you know what a road is, and how many groups of it exist (at least the stated in the traffic regulations of Mexico City), is moment of knowing each of them.
Primary Roads
Primary roads are to the length and width of city. These are characterized due the vehicle flow is continuous and controlled by traffic lights. For this reason, the maximum speed of these is 31 mph. It’s important to stand out that many primary roads have channelized lanes to create exclusive bike lanes or for public transport, as an example, the passage of metrobus or trolleybus.
Secondary roads
The secondary roads connect with primary ones. As the previous ones, also control traffic through traffic lights, the difference of maximum speed allowed is 24.8 mph, due these there is more presence of pedestrians, due that, vehicle transit is not continuous.
This is due a secondary road allows the access of city halls and neighborhoods of cities. By being part of more residential zones, in some sections is allowed the parking, likewise, even though are not cycle paths on it, cyclists can occupy full lane to circulate.
In respect of public transport, isn’t necessary to channelize lanes, for that the most common in this class of streets are buses and taxis.
Controlled Access
Roads where is allowed to circulate to a greater speed the previous ones. In the controlled access allow to go to 49.7 mph.
Generally, their intersections are present in Slopes and have center and lateral lanes, even though are separated by medians. In case of incorporate or not on these, must be through acceleration and deceleration lanes in specific points.
Roads of calmed transit
These are very related with secondary roads. The relaxed traffic roads are the ones that cover the interior of city halls, neighborhoods and downtowns.
Thanks to the allowed speed that is the lowest of everyone, 18.6 mph, allow a free circulation and coexistence among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists of the safer, of course, always when every road actor comply with their responsibilities and obligations, including pedestrians.
It’s important to respect the traffic regulations in these roads, due are used to cover school and hospital zones. In addition, due transit is pretty calmed, it controls the speed of it through bumps instead traffic lights.
Walkways
If believed the different types only cover streets and highways, in other words, the zones where only circulate cars, then, maybe surprise you to know that sidewalks are other type of road.
These are called walkways, which cover sidewalks, ramps, medians, towns, malls, parks, bridges and pedestrian crossings. In order to obtain greater safety in these, is recommended the installation of the different types or urban bollards, which avoid cars invade these zones. Whether for circulation such as parking.
Cycle paths
Other of the many and most important roads, are cycle roads. As the name mentions, infrastructure is mainly intended but not exclusively for cyclists.
These are divided in the famous separated bikeways and the many lanes with cyclist priority. Now, when we mention these aren’t exclusive for cyclists is because there are exclusive lanes for them, other must share with cars or public transport, always in a safe way.
If you want to know the many types of bikeways you can check here; meanwhile, you already know the different roads to circulate by car, bus or bike, depending the case.
