Proceedings on Traffic Signal Shortcut

Matter: The Right Lane Theory at the Outer Ring Road Junction Proponent: The Commuter Evidence Basis: Personal experience across approximately two hundred commutes

CHAIR: Describe the theory.

COMMUTER: At the signal before the flyover, the right lane clears faster in the morning. Not always. But most days.

CHAIR: Why does it clear faster?

COMMUTER: The trucks go straight. The trucks are slow. If you take the right lane, which turns, you're ahead of the trucks by the time you reach the next signal.

CHAIR: How long does this save?

COMMUTER: On a good day, ninety seconds. On a bad day it makes no difference.

CHAIR: And on a day when the theory is wrong?

COMMUTER: It's never wrong. Sometimes conditions are unusual.

CHAIR: The proceedings note that "conditions are unusual" is how the theory handles contradicting evidence.

COMMUTER: It's been working for three years.

SECOND PARTY: I've tried that theory. On Tuesdays the left lane is faster because the school run changes the turn pattern.

COMMUTER: That's true for the school near the water tank. Different junction.

SECOND PARTY: Same junction.

COMMUTER: Different signal sequence on Tuesdays.

CHAIR: The proceedings observe that both parties have developed local knowledge that is irreconcilable with the other's and are each prepared to defend it with reference to very specific variables — days of the week, truck behavior, school calendars.

COMMUTER: The formal route, straight up the main road, adds four minutes.

SECOND PARTY: The formal route is more predictable.

COMMUTER: Predictably slower.

CHAIR: The proceedings find that Traffic Signal Shortcut is institutional after the second commute in which local knowledge produces a different route than the navigation app recommends. The local knowledge is real. Its generalizability is limited. Both commuters are right about their own conditions.

The formal option has become supporting documentation for the theory rather than a legitimate alternative. This is how local knowledge achieves authority.