The article makes some good points. Very interesting, and thanks for posting.

“When humans are walking or driving, the flow of traffic usually begins to slow when occupancy reaches 40 percent. Argentine ants, on the other hand, show no signs of slowing, even when the bridge occupancy reached 80 percent.”

The trouble with motor vehicles is that we have to maintain a safe following distance. When traffic is light vehicles are spread out and they can safely travel at high speeds. As more cars enter the road there is less room so cars slow down to maintain a safe distance.

Many people don’t realize it, but a roadway is at its maximum capacity in cars per hour at a fairly low speed—40 mph or so. When you are caught in slow traffic console yourself with the knowledge that the maximum number of people are getting to their destination.

On bicycles a lot more would be able to get through in an hour.