Frequently Asked Questions
What is Congestless?
Fundamentally, Congestless is a pathfinding algorithm which means that we calculate routes from A to B. The way in which these routes are communicated to motorists will be a case-by-case decision, based on your particular situation and requirements. For example, this could be achieved via a bespoke mobile app for your users, by collaborating with and integrating into existing navigation systems, or by any other method that is feasible for you. If you would like to discuss how Congestless could be implemented in your use case, please get in touch.
How effective is Congestless?
Congestless has not yet been deployed in the real-world, but we are currently undertaking a proof-of-concept analysis; the results of which should be published soon. We are also looking for potential pilot partners – if this is something that may be of interest to you, we would love to hear from you.
How does Congestless differ from existing solutions?
When we discuss the time saving and capacity benefits of Congestless, the baseline scenario is intended to represent the current situation. Therefore, Congestless is a significant step forward from the mainstream navigation solutions we use today.
What are the sustainability benefits of Congestless?
It goes without saying that start-stop traffic has a direct impact on the local environment in terms of noise and air pollution, but the sustainability benefits of Congestless stretch much further than this. For example, given that Congestless increases the capacity of the road network*, its deployment could make it viable to close or narrow some roads, and this excess space could then be converted into cycle lanes, bus lanes, tramways, green spaces, etc. As a result, it is not only motorists who would benefit from Congestless, and it instead offers a way to improve the overall liveability of urban areas.
* Please refer to Is Congestless and alternative to new roads?
Is Congestless an alternative to new roads?
Yes. In effect, Congestless increases the capacity of the road network. For example, let's assume that a hypothetical road network currently carries 1 billion vehicle miles per year, and the average journey time is 9 minutes. Then, let's assume that, if vehicle miles were to increase to 1.2 billion, the new average journey time would be 10 minutes (due to the congestion caused by this additional traffic). If, in this hypothetical scenario, Congestless were able to reduce the new average journey time by 10%, it would mean that it has effectively increased the capacity of the road network by 20% (i.e. traffic volumes could increase by 20%, yet the average journey time would remain at its current level).​​
How does Congestless compare with congestion pricing?
While Congestless and congestion pricing are both focused on fixing the same problem, they do so in very different ways. In order to explain this, we must first consider the underlying cause of congestion – fundamentally, it is a result of demand exceeding capacity.
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Congestion pricing seeks to solve this from the demand side. However, this has knock-on consequences, as each journey that is no longer taken by road must either: 1) be carried out via a different mode of transport, which merely shifts the problem, as the capacity of these modes of transport would need to increase to accommodate this additional demand; or 2) no longer take place at all, thereby impacting both economic and social activity.
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On the other hand, Congestless seeks to solve this from the capacity side*. As a result, Congestless is a much more sustainable option than congestion pricing.
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* Please refer to Is Congestless an alternative to new roads?
Where can I find out more about Congestless?
More information about Congestless and the problems we are seeking to solve can be found on our blog page. Alternatively, you can contact us and we will happily answer any questions you have.