Talk:Concurrency (road)

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Another term (possibly very obscure) - "lapping" [1] --SPUI (T - C) 19:10, 16 June 2006 (UTC)

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[edit] Move to overlap (road)?

In my (admittedly limited) studies, I have encountered the word "overlap" more than "concurrency". This word is also easier to conjugate - you can say that Routes 1 and 2 overlap, but saying they concur sounds wrong, and usually on Wikipedia I see "runs concurrent with". --NE2 15:23, 9 December 2006 (UTC)

Here are a few sources for "concurrent with": [2] I still think overlap is a better article title, because it's much more common. --NE2 06:45, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
I had never heard overlap used in regards to roads until I saw it here, so I think different regions (and different DOTs) use different terms. So I see no real reason to change it, both terms are fine. Just like we wouldn't change an article title in British English to American English, I don't think we should change based on different regions using different terms. --Holderca1 talk 14:35, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
Can you find an example of current usage of concurrent/concurrency by a highway agency? --NE2 18:12, 30 November 2007 (UTC)
Which do you want? The one more commonly used or the one more officially used? --Holderca1 talk 16:48, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
The one more commonly used by officials :) --NE2 21:39, 4 December 2007 (UTC)
Well here is at least one such use of concurrent by TXDOT. [3]. Actually, here is a google search of the TXDOT designation files: [4], there are no such uses of overlap. --Holderca1 talk 15:14, 5 December 2007(UTC)
Thank you. --NE2 17:14, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Avoiding the terminology "Multiplex"

As per WP:NEO I have tried to reword articles to avoid the term "multiplex" wherever possible, since it's a neologism that's really only used by the road geek community; in fact the word "multiplex" is often linked to this article, as if it is expected that the reader may not understand the term. It's often used somewhat sloppily too, inconsistently used in such different forms as "multiplexes", "has a multiplex with", "is multiplexed"; when it's much easier and more natural to just say "overlaps", "runs concurrently with", "joins", etc. Certainly the neologism should be explained on this page, but I think the term should be avoided everywhere else in favor of "concurrency" or "overlap". Krimpet 22:48, 23 January 2007 (UTC)

Multiplex isn't a "made-up" word! It's an English language word with a meaning that can be used for any such circumstance; hence its use in telecommunications for multiple signals across a single channel, or the use at cinemas for multiple screenings at a single building. I think it's a bit rich to simply "ban" the word and deride it as "roadgeek" jargon (besides, "roadgeek" is itself a US-centric made-up word). At worst the use of the term "multiplex" falls into the category of "using more complicated words than necessary"; not a position Wikipedia should be supporting (we don't need to dumb things down just because a lot of people these days have trouble reading or have a limited vocabulary). zoney ♣ talk 11:47, 3 December 2007 (UTC)
When used with roads, it is a "made-up" word. --NE2 18:38, 3 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Other Terms

Concurrency is not the only term used by state road departments and the like, however. For example, I believe the technical term in California is shared alignment (although considering Caltrans'--and the legislature's?--apparent disdain for giving two or more numbers to a road, I'm surprised there's any official term at all). In Oregon, ODOT uses the term common with, which sounds like an informal marriage arrangement.[1]

No wonder roadgeeks prefer the term multiplex. 4.243.206.19 05:54, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Intersate Concurrency Exit Numbers/Mile-markers

What is the rule for the exit numbers/mile markers when there are two interstates that are multiplexed? Here in Lexington, I-64/I-75 are multiplexed for a few miles and it uses the I-75 mile markers and exit numbers on the stretch of highway. Also in Northern Kentucky, I-75 and I-71 are multiplexed, and again, the road keeps I-75 exit numbers. However, in Western Cincinnati, the 3 mile stretch that I-74 and I-275 are concurrent it uses I-74's exit numbers.

I am thinking it is based on which highway has the greater number and all regular routes over spur, or maybe a "which one was there first" rule. Does anyone have any info on this? It would be nice to include it in the main article. Thanks. -KnightCrusader 00:57, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Move to a descriptive title?

I can't say that I've ever heard the term "concurrency" refer to this concept. If the term is used by highway agencies, that's not justification for its use, since Wikipedia is not written for government employees, but the general public. It's the same reason we don't use the term "multiplex" as its a term only used by a particular group (road geeks) and is completely foreign to the general public. As someone who lives near a notable case of this, the U.S. Route 50/U.S. Route 301 multiplex/overlap/concurrency/"that thing where they're using the same road", I know of a few things that the general public does call this situation. When giving directions, I've heard people say things like "right now 50 and 301 are merged, they split about 10 miles from here" or "50 and 301 run together for another 10 miles" or "50 and 301 are the same road until they split in about 10 miles". In other words, the general public doesn't really use a word for this, so they describe it instead. So perhaps a descriptive title would be the best way to go for this article, something such as Merged numbered highways or Overlapping numbered highways. Thoughts?-Jeff (talk) 17:53, 29 May 2008 (UTC)