[Cyclelicious] New comment on Caltrans response to questions about bicycle detec....

Bob Shanteau has left a new comment on your post "Caltrans response to questions about bicycle detec...":

Earlier this year the California legislature passed and the governor signed AB 1581, which says in part:

Upon the first placement of a traffic-actuated signal or replacement of the loop detector of a traffic-actuated signal, the signal would have to be installed and maintained, to the extent feasible and in conformance with professional engineering practices, so as to detect lawful bicycle or motorcycle traffic on the roadway. Cities and counties would not be required to comply with those requirements until the Department of Transportation has established uniform standards, specifications, and guidelines for the detection of bicycles and motorcycles by traffic-actuated signals and related signal timing.

Almost all traffic actuated signals in California, indeed all over the world, use inductive loops to detect vehicles. Inductive loops are notorious for not detecting bicycles. And if you are not detected, then you don't get a green light.

If you want to know more about inductive loops and bicycle detection, see my presentation to Caltrans:

http://www.cyclelicio.us/files/BicycleLoops.pdf

Let me know if you need more information.



Posted by Bob Shanteau to Cyclelicious at 12/20/2007 04:49:00 PM