Road Features
Traffic Signals
- Positioning for Detection – Most demand-actuated traffic signals use inductive loop sensors buried in the pavement. These metal-detecting sensors can detect aluminum or steel rims, non-metallic wheels with metal braking strips, and carbon fiber wheels with a conductive loop of copper wire installed under the rim tape. Line up the wheels of multiple bikes in the most sensitive areas over the loop as shown in (a), (b) or (c) below depending on its shape.
- If Detection Fails – Wait for a large enough gap, get a volunteer to press a pedestrian detector button, or wave a following car to move up and over the sensor loop.
Paved Shoulders and Bike Lanes
- Wide paved shoulders and bike lanes vary in quality and surface condition. If wide and clean, they can facilitate passing by motor traffic.
- Avoid riding on edge pavement that features debris or other hazards that may force you to make sudden merges into the adjacent lane.
- Avoid using right-edge bike lanes and shoulders to pass on the right side of traffic that is likely to turn right; this can result in right-hook collisions. It is safer to get in line with the traffic queue.
Other Hazards
- Debris – Stay away from the right edge of the road if it isn’t clean.
- Seams – Beware of the potential for diversion-type falls; stay away from gutter edges, pavement seams and other cracks and height discontinuities that run parallel to your direction of travel.
- Railroad Tracks – Cross tracks at close to a 90 degree angle. Give other cyclists maneuvering space; communicate and prepare to change lane position and direction of travel as needed.
