As drivers of vehicles, bicyclists have the same legal responsibilities as other drivers at traffic signals. Many traffic signals use sensors to detect vehicles before they will turn green for cross-streets or left-turn-only lanes. These “demand-actuated” traffic signals can increase the efficiency of traffic flow, but cause problems when they fail to detect a waiting vehicle. Drivers of small vehicles such as bicycles often have difficulty being detected by the sensors because the sensors are improperly designed or adjusted. This article describes how cyclists can maximize their probability … [Read more...]
Bicycle Detection at Demand-Actuated Traffic Signals
Bicyclists are unnecessarily delayed and put at risk by demand-actuated traffic signals that will not turn green for bicyclists. Bicycles with metal rims (aluminum or steel) are easily detected by inductive loop detectors that have been properly designed and adjusted to do so. Appropriate loop sensor designs also detect motorcycles, cars, and trucks over the loop without detecting large vehicles in the adjacent lane. The State of California has standardized on traffic signal sensor designs and adjustment procedures to detect bicycles. Unfortunately, most communities in North Carolina do not … [Read more...]