What is the purpose of a one way street?

Question

Old towns are often filled with one way streets. I don't understand why they couldn't make streets that go both directions. It seems like a waste of space not to mention a headache if you miss your turn and have to drive all the way around to find a street that goes the opposite direction.

Answer 1

Allot of old towns had narrow 2 lane streets. But as traffic grew it was easier to regulate traffic by making streets one way than to try making them wider. With store fronts and sidewalks being so close to the street it was an impossibility to widen streets to 4 lanes.

Answer 2

Better traffic flow its faster

Answer 3

Some were originally built as alleys or driveways, not as streets, and are too narrow for two-way traffic.

Some are wide enough for two cars, but have too many parked cars to accomodate two-way traffic flow.

However, the main reason is that traffic backs up at intersections with cars turning in both directions and waiting for breaks in oncoming traffic so that they can make left turns.

Answer 4

One way streets speed up traffic flow and eliminate dangerous left turns.   For pedestrians,  it lessens the danger of being caught from the wrong direction.  

If you miss your turn,  no biggie.   Just stay in your lane to the next turn that goes the right direction,  usually the second street.  Then come back two blocks and try again.

Answer 5

The idea is that you should NOT miss your turn.  Traffic engineers are more interested in moving the highest volume of traffic through the streets in the most minimal amount of time.  Their concern is NOT the few who might miss a turn.

It's the same reason why, in many cities, they don't allow left turns during high volume traffic times.  It minimizes delay to through traffic.  That is why they say, "Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left."

Answer 6

One way streets reduce congestion and speeds traffic flow.  While it may be difficult for visitors to use, local people know which streets are the ones they want to use.

Answer 7

Could be that the streets aren't wide enough for 2 lanes.  They might not be able to widen the street more, because it would narrow side walks too much & or make it impossible for people to park on those streets.  Two lane streets that go one way, does make traffic go faster.  Most that I've seen have 1 of the lanes turn into a turning (or turn only) lane.  If those were not there, people who wanted to go straight would have to wait for a long time while someone was trying to take a turn.